Bockos Diamond brilliant again as Holland goes in history books

“BOCKOS DIAMOND is the greatest ever,” exclaimed Shelbourne Park commentator Ian Fortune after Graham Holland's superstar completed his unbeaten march through the Classic by winning the €125,000 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby final.

Taking his winning sequence to 15, the September 2022 son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow was sent off the shortest-priced favourite in Irish Derby final history, 30/100, and was in command before the opening turn.

Kennelmate Cheap Sandwiches was gallant in defeat as Holland landed a one-two but the winner was never threatened and scored a length in 29.25sec on a wet Dublin night which meant his track record of 28.94sec was safe.

It was an historic fourth Irish Greyhound Derby win for his Tipperary-based trainer Holland which sees him take his place in the history books by becoming only the third trainer in the almost 100-year history of the Irish Greyhound Derby to achieve that feat. 

He joins trainers Tom Lynch (who completed his last win in 1967) and Gay McKenna (in 1972).

The rain could not dampen the spirts of the owners, the Remember Them Syndicate' as there were jubilant scenes on the podium for the presentation for their winning greyhound.