Derry Greyhounds: La Calabaza squashes her rivals’ challenges in Derby Semi-Final

The two semi-finals of the Len McKinney & Track Lotto Derby were the highlight of a 7 race programme at the Brandywell on Monday.

Racing got underway with a couple of sprint races over the 300 yards. Leslie Hunter’s home bred Golan Mum (Jaytee Jerry x Golan Hunter, Sep ’22) was first to earn her place on the winners podium. After a slick exit from trap 6, Golan’s early pace kept her just ahead of her rivals at the first turn.

She drove the bends well to open up an unassailable lead. Staying on well up the home straight, she won by 2.5 lengths in 17.03 and recorded her third career success over course and distance.

Race 2 was won in similar fashion by the Paddy Hallissey owned Getondecky (Good News x Droopys Dream, Sep ’22). Trained by Lee Ferris, Decky notched up his second career success over this sprint trip when a fast start from trap 2 put him in pole position. Decky moved middle but had just enough early pace to get to the first turn in front of Emily Amore. He ran strong bends gathering up enough of an advantage to hold off his rival by 1.25 lengths as he crossed the line in 17.17.

The first semi-final of the Len McKinney & Track Lotto Derby over 525 yards was a real cracker of a race with solid performances by all three qualifiers. It was Kirsty Harpur’s Rossna Millie (Ballymac Bolger x Urban Honey, Jun ’22) in trap 5 that really caught the eye as she made her way from midfield to land the spoils.

The early pace came from Galliagh Bolt in trap 4 and Starcash Barry on his inside from trap 1. They turned the first bend in front and despite this being only Millie’s fifth race, she cleverly tucked herself in behind them around the bends to emerge in a challenging position entering the back straight. Millie showed good pace behind the leaders and once again demonstrated excellent track craft to pass Barry on his inside at the third bend in a race winning move.

Bolt swung off wide entering the home straight and Millie sailed past him opening up 1.75 lengths as she crossed the line in 29.26. Barry held on for third place a further 3 lengths away.

The Roy Ball and Trevor Pearson owned La Calabaza (Ballymac Bolger x Coolavanny Chick, Nov ’22) followed up on her first round success in the Len McKinney and Track Lotto Derby with a determined win the semi-final.

Drawn in trap 2, Calabaza paced up to the first bend just behind Monroes Kiss who was racing from trap 5. Kiss led to the third bend where Calabaza nipped up her inside and despite rallying again, Kiss’s stamina was no match for the Michael Corr trained Calabaza who ran on strongly to win by 5 lengths in 29.10 which was the fastest time of the two semi-finals.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 1, was won by GOLAN MUM in 17.03. Pictured with (from left) Barry Holland, Lesley Hunter (winning owner) Patsy Doyle from the BGSG, Ashley Caldwell & Cellach Ming.

Last year’s Derby winner Tuttles Bruno came with his customary late charge to earn his place once again in the Final.

Trap Draw for the Len McKinney and Track Lotto Brandywell Derby Final: T1; Starcash Barry, T2; La Calabaza, T3; Galliagh Bolt, T4; Monroes Kiss, T5; Rossna Millie, T6; Tuttles Bruno.

Gary McHugh’s Dreenan Jill (Ballymac Cashout x Wee Maisie, Oct ’21) always gives a good account of herself over the 500 yards at the Brandywell circuit and it was no different when she landed Race 5.

She was well away from the 1 box and had enough early pace to hold her inside pitch at the first bend. Despite pressure from her rivals she forced her way to the front and opened up a good advantage on the back straight. It was enough to carry her to victory in 28.00 and notch up her 7th career success, with 5 of those being over course and distance.

Brandywell on Monday; Kian Mc Gettigan (centre) presented Tasha Montgomery with the Do It Kennels Trophy sponsored by Seamus Boyce after Derrinasafa Bale was voted our favourite performer at the 28/10/24 race meeting. Robert Montgomery on right of photo.

Race 6 turned into a procession after the Sarah Leahy owned Journalist (Good News x Oldburrin Queen, May ’21) used trap 6 to full advantage. He paced up fast to the first turn and ran great bends on the outside of Owen Sound to take up the lead entering the back straight.

The further he went, the further he stretched his lead and this 4.5 year old recorded a career best performance when winning by 8.25 lengths in a fast 27.89 to record his 5th career success.

On paper the last race of the night over the 300 yards looked to be a really competitive affair but it was the searing early pace and determination of Jim Connor’s Mallogs Swift (Droopys Jet x Bettys Hope, Oct ’22) that earned her place on the winners podium. Fast away from trap 6, Swift was battling with Drumcrow Simba on her inside for the lead.

As they turned the first bend, Swift forced her way into the lead and ran on well to win by 1.75 lengths in 16.97. There should be plenty more to come from this lady with racing experience and she already boasts an impressive record of 3 wins from only 5 starts.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

The final of the Northwest Greyhound Supplies S1/S2 325 served as the feature over the past weekend at Lifford Stadium and the €1,000 to the winner event went the way of Follom Wave as she just held on to record back-to-back victories in the stake.

Brandywell on Monday; Race 7, was won by MALLOGS SWIFT in 16.97. Pictured with Tommy Connor.

Owned by Fermanagh man John Mohan, the even money favourite was a flying winner of her semi final assignment in 17.49, however, she was made to pull out all the stops to fend off the advances of Import Duty.

Indeed, ‘Wave’ used her inside berth in one to her full advantage as she showed fine early dash to lead into the opening bend. From here, the daughter of Laughil Blake and Dalcash Kalade made every post a winner and despite the powerful finish of Import Duty, had a half length to spare passing the winning line. The time was another blistering 17.48.

Prior to that, Swift Landan produced an exhibition of sprinting in race six. Owned by Patrick Doyle, the September 22’ whelp arrived with solid Mullingar form and it’s fair to say that he proved a class above his rivals on his first appearance to the Northwest.

Lifford on Sunday; Race 1 - The WELCOME TO LIFFORD STADIUM A3 525 was won by URBANESQUE in 29.07. Pictured with Tom Mullan.

2/1 at the off, the orange jacketed runner broke with intent and immediately outpaced his rivals early on. In doing so, the son of King Elvis and Swift Tabby drew clear of the field to storm up the home straight and win by five and a quarter lengths. The time was a rapid 17.43.

There was a welcome return to marathon action at Lifford in race seven as the tough 820-yard distance was called into action. Maggies Aim (Black Parachute - Cornamaddy Arrow) had marathon form around the Brandywell in recent months and she certainly gave the impression on those occasions that the additional yardage would prove fruitful.

As a result, Martin Corr’s bitch was sent to traps as the 6/4 second favourite and she duly obliged in coming from off-the-pace to score. In a race where the lead changed on several occasions, Liberty Katy held all the aces around the final bend, however, her wide-running style saw ‘Maggies’ take full advantage as she flew home to record a one length victory. The time was 46.56.

Sunday evening saw a trial run for the upcoming SIS racing at Lifford and plaudits went to the grader in what was a card that proved very difficult in finding a winner.

On the night, the track was in pristine condition and as such, it was rated as .20 fast for the standard trip. The fastest performer of the night was Kooga Kora (Good News - Kooga Klass) as she doubled her career tally to two wins for Eddie Hurson. Running from trap one, the 3/1 chance took charge entering the penultimate bend and she stayed on stoutly to see off Coldwater Rolo by an extending five and a quarter lengths.

Lifford on Saturday; Race 7 - The TAN ME SALON- DERRY A1-A5 820 was won by MAGGIES AIM in 45.56. Pictured with her owner Martin Corr (left) & sponsor Raymond Hamilton Jnr.

The time was a slick 29.01. Elsewhere on the card, there was a nice double for Willie Mullan and Urbanesque got the ball rolling in the curtain raiser. A 9/4 shot, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat was another who stayed on strongly to take charge late on and secure a three and a quarter length victory.

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The time was a brisk 29.07. The double was completed shortly after as Knockroe Pearl continued her purple patch.

This lady has proved an astute purchase from the Kilkenny sales as she made it three wins since arriving at Lifford. Donning the red jacket, the 2/1 chance never saw another tail as she comfortably saw off Sam Your Man by two and a quarter lengths. The time was 29.10.