Lahdedah the Irish headline in UK as Tuono makes news back home
A monthly video record of the major SIS UK and Irish races run during 2024 with accompanying reporting.
29/06 - Towcester: Star Sports/TRC Derby - De Lahdedah
DE LAHDEDAH continued the recent Irish domination of both the Derby and major Towcester races by claiming the £175,000 final on the last Saturday in June.
In doing so, he filled a rare gap on the fantastic cv of trainer Liam Dowling who handled the October 2021 whelp for the Garsuns Syndicate.
Click below for Derby report, supporting finals indexed by date:
Jonathan Kay
14/06 - Tralee: Callaway Pro Am Race Of Champions - Coolavanny Otto
COOLAVANNY OTTO reversed heat form with record-setting Dashing Toro to claim the €15,000 final for trainer Pat Buckley plus owners James and Nathan Corden.
Early eliminations from the Kirby Memorial and English Derby had followed his unlucky run in the Juvenile Classic final at the Kingdom Stadium but he chased home Dashing Toro to make the decider and then got it right when it mattered most.
Producing one of his better starts, he turned second behind High Trend and always looked the likely winner from that point, flying down the back straight to lead before the third bend.
Dashing Toro battled on really well but Coolavanny Otto was gone and scored by one and a half lengths in 29.38sec.
15/06 Shelbourne: Sporting Press Oaks - Fleadh Saraide/A Lucky Julie
HISTORY was made when the judge could not split Fleadh Saraide and A Lucky Julie in the €25,000 Sporting Press Online Edition Irish Oaks final over 525 yards at Shelbourne Park.
It was the first dead-heat in an Irish classic this millennium, and the first since Lumber Boss and Tigers Eye shared the 1999 Irish Laurels title.
Fleadh Saraide, the 14-1 outsider of the field, paced up well to get inside Droopys Fidget at the opening turn and was clear at halfway but A Lucky Julie (3-1) got into second at three-quarters and a thrilling lunge out wide saw her join the leader on the line as they jointly-clocked 28.53sec.
Fleadh Saraide is trained by Murt Leahy for Alan Quinn, while A Lucky Julie is owned and trained by Jerry Melia.
23/06 - Clonmel: Kasko National Produce Stakes - Unanimouspanther
UNANIMOUSPANTHER credited trainer Pat Buckley with a second victory in the event in three years with a fine all-round display to land the €20,000 Kasko National Produce Stakes final over 525 yards at Clonmel.
Fastest semi winner Romeo Taylor was sent off favourite but it was the other semi-final scorer In Good Time who showed in front from traps although he was quickly passed by Unanimouspanther who sped up on the rails.
Taking command at the opening turn, the Ciaran O'Sullivan-owned April 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Mystical Moll powered on to a three lengths victory over In Good Time in posting 28.38sec.
Romeo Taylor was a further four and a half lengths away in third having failed to clear the first bend unscathed.
29/06 Towcester: Genco Puppy Invitation Trophy - Wicky Ned
WICKY NED, winner of the Gymcrack at Sheffield on only his fourth career start, rebounded from subsequent early Derby elimination to once again dominate his own age group in the Genco Puppy Invitation Trophy over 500m.
A comfortable heat winner from Slick Sentinel, Jimmy Fenwick's youngster again saw off that gallant rival in the final, leading early and showing excellent all-round ability to score by just over two lengths in 29.02sec (normal).
The August 2022 son of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy is owned by Neil McGregor.
29/06 Towcester: Hope Jeal Sprint Trophy - Aero Sacundai
AERO SACUNDAI, who had raced just once since the Winter Derby final at home track Monmore in February, blew his rivals away to claim the £2,500 prize in record time.
Trained by Richie Taberner for the Aero Syndicate comprising Stuart Forsdike, Mike Woolgar, Geoff Ansley and Taberner himself, Aero Sacundai had set the heat standard with a 15.43sec success then better that in the final by demolishing his rivals to win by five and a half lengths from Salacres Ned in 15.32sec (normal).
That represented an improvement of seven spots on the previous track record set by Irish star Flashing Willow two years earlier.
29/06 Towcester: Greyhoundtrader.com Trophy - Gary The Arb
GARY THE ARB was rerouted to the greyhoundtrader.com Stakes, for greyhounds purchased via the sponsoring auction company's sales, after being eliminated at the second round stage of the Derby.
It proved an inspired decision by connections - trainer Belinda Green and owner Garry Smith - for the greyhound purchased at a Hove sale the previous November for £3,800.
He went unbeaten through the three-round event, claiming the £2,500 first prize by outstaying long-time leader Vixons Filofax for a one and a half lengths victory in 29.18sec (normal).
29/06 Towcester: Bombay Bitches Trophy - Crafty Shivoo
CRAFTY SHIVOO had lost her unbeaten Towcester record at the tenth time of asking when just pipped for qualification for the Derby semis but rebounded with victories in heat and final of the Bombay Bitches Trophy over 500m.
Trained by Mark Wallis for the MWD Partnership, the 2023 Irish Oaks and Empress Stakes winner was sent off 4-11 favourite for the final after a six length heat success.
She had to battle harder in the decider but rode crowding to lead off the second and went on to beat Flying Desire by a length in 29.26sec (normal).
29/06 Towcester: Townview Kennels Derby Plate - Queen Joni
QUEEN JONI went into the Derby on a winning run of nine including Category One titles in the form of the Kent Plate and Brighton Belle only to stumble at the start in round one of the Classic and crash out.
Normal service was quickly resumed for the Liz McNair-trained, KSS Syndicate-owned bitch registered victories at Towcester and Hove prior to a crack at the 'consolation' Derby Plate.
She duly won her heat, was involved in a no-race semi but progressed to the decider where she was quickly in control and landed the £5,000 first prize by almost five lengths from Kilara Roberto in 28.81sec.
29/06 Towcester: Mark Siddall Prime Beef Trophy - Haka Carlo
HAKA CARLO landed quite a gamble in the six-bend final, the Jason Heath-trained, Amanda Jeal-owned dog being supported from a morning 20-1 into 5-1 at the off.
A finalist in the Corn Cuchulainn at Shelbourne Park and George Curtis/Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove in 2023, he had not raced for over three months coming into the event but got better with each run.
Queen Georgia looked to steal a march in the decider but Haka Carlo got into second with a circuit to go and gradually ground the pacesetter down, prevailing late on for a neck victory in 42.70sec (normal).
29/06 Towcester: BGBF Truframe Champion Stake - Romeo Command
ROMEO COMMAND, trained by Patrick Janssens for Dave Firmager, saw his second Derby campaign end as early as round one having finished runner-up in 2023 but he rediscovered his form gradually.
Second in both a one-off and then the opening round of this event, he flew round in 28.68sec in the semis and was sent off a shade of odds-on for the final.
The one-time track record holder did not go quite as quick on final night but more than quickly enough as he powered past Keefill Goose at the third bend and went away for a near three lengths win in 28.96sec (normal).
29/06 Towcester: Fox Sports Dorando Marathon - Ballymac Taylor
BALLYMAC TAYLOR had missed out in a number of previous finals but there was never much danger of a repeat in the traditional Derby night curtain call.
Trained by Mark Wallis for the MWD Partnership, she took her course and distance record to four wins in four starts with an emphatic victory befitting a 3-10 favourite.
Unusually, she was soon at the head of affairs and never gave another greyhound a look-in as she went on to beat Savana Jackpot by seven lengths in 58.17sec (normal).
29/06 - Shelbourne: Corn Cuchulainn - Tuono Charlie
TUONO CHARLIE landed his third, and most important, staying title of the year when digging in to hold off Ballyhooly Tejay in the €10,500 final of the Corn Cuchulainn over 750 yards at Shelbourne Park.
In doing so, the Sharon Hunt-trained, Paul Dyer-owned star was stretching his unbeaten six-bend record to 11, and winning sequence to ten, and it looked like being plain sailing when he raced clear early.
However, that reckoned without Ballyhooly Tejay who ran the race of his life to close with every stride, the winning line coming in the nick of time for Tuono Charlie who prevailed by a neck in 41.32sec.
Tuono Charlie had previously landed the TP Weadick Open 725 at Kilkenny and Cork's Deadly Kennels Open 750.