Diamond and Kathleen set new records on way to superstardom

Diamond and Kathleen set new records on way to superstardom

A monthly video record of the major SIS UK and Irish races run during 2024 with accompanying reporting.

16/11 - Shel Park: Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks - Droopys Kathleen

DROOPYS KATHLEEN was given more of a race than an SP of 1/10 might have suggested likely but was still a dominant winner of the €10,000 Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks final over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park.

Taking her career unbeaten record to five following her stunning track record in the semis, Robert Gleeson's May 2023 daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dancer got inside fast-starting Hopes Kitty to lead at the first bend.

Unanimous Roxy, who had also won heat and semi of the event albeit in significantly slower times, did close in approaching the third turn and a shock briefly looked possible only for Droopys Kathleen to power away on the run-in for a three lengths victory in 28.05sec.

The winner, owned by leading jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, had taken nine spots off Paradise Madison's 12-year-old 525 yards track record when clocking 27.58sec in the semis.

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23/11 - Shelbourne Park: BoyleSports Irish Derby - Bockos Diamond

“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, set in round three and equalled in the semis, 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 joined 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. 

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23/11 - Shel Park: Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate - Elite Josh

ELITE JOSH, a first round casualty in the Irish Derby, timed it perfectly to land a first victory since July when outstaying his rivals to claim the €7,500 Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate final over 550 yards on the Shelbourne Classic night undercard.

Owned and trained by Myles Roban, he was supported from 20-1 into 8-1 but turned only fifth before sidestepping trouble to move into third early in the back straight.

Going second before the penultimate turn, he then set his sights on long-time leader Knockeen Dazzler, collaring the Kirby Memorial champion on the run-in for a length and a half victory in 29.61sec.

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23/11 - Oxford: BetGoodwin Series Maiden Sprint - Broadway Steel

BROADWAY STEEL was able to spot his rivals a start an addition to steering his now trademark ultra-wide course on the way to victory in the £3,000 final of the BetGoodwin Series Maiden Sprint over 253m at Oxford.

Sent off 7/4 favourite after victories in heat and semi, the Sean White-trained dog fluffed his lines at the start as outsider Savana Spiderman led the charge but the market leader flew up to challenge at the bend.

As usual, he then moved right off at halfway and again into the home straight but quickly regained equilibrium and powered past Savana Spiderman close home for a three-parts of a length win in 15.19sec (-10) with another outsider, Danas Best, just under two lengths away in third.

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24/11 - Towcester: English Puppy Derby - Bombay Birch

BOMBAY BIRCH produced a stunning second half rally to outstay favourite Ballymac Kobe and claim the £10,000 English Puppy Derby title over 500m at Towcester.

Ballymac Kobe broke well from trap one and led up despite steering a middle course to the turn, entering the back straight some four lengths ahead of a wide-running Bombay Birch who had recovered to turn second following a less-than-stellar start.

Bombay Birch began to make significant inroads into the lead of Ballymac Kobe by the third bend and there was a sense of inevitability to him eventually proving strongest.

And so it proved as he completed an unbeaten run through the Category One as he went past close home to score by just over a length in 29.60sec, the track rated -50 after heavy rain.

Do Gooder was third a similar distance back and rank outsider Savana Woody a creditable fourth.

It was a third win the famous event for trainer Young following On Line Deal in 2002 and Bubbly Beauty in 2013, the champion owned by J Cornish, G Curtis, B W H Jackson-Gee and D P Minto.

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27/11 - Harlow: BGBF Sprint - Pro Parker

PRO PARKER brought his trapping boots on the occasion it mattered most to claim the £3,000 final of the BGBF Sprint over 238m at Harlow.

Having won just one in ten at the start of the year, Michelle Brown's May 2022 son of Magical Bale and Pro Penny was scoring for the fifth time in his last eight as he cleared Jobbrruda to lead into the opening turn.

With litter-brother and odds-on favourite Teaboy Brownie playing catch-up after a moderate start, Pro Parker was never threatened after hitting the front and came home almost three lengths to the good of a staying-on Zebedee Cluasa in 15.18sec (+5).

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