TRAPRISE - Lila lights up Shelbourne ahead of Derby action
Lightly raced throughout her puppy campaign, Rory & Aoife McLoughney’s Liosgarbh Lila (Droopys Sydney-Liosgarbh Ene) had repeatedly hinted at Open class potential and having gone a long way towards confirming her immense promise when fastest in the semi-final of the This Runs Deep A2 525 Stake at Shelbourne Park a fortnight ago, the Ardcroney youngster returned a performance to rival the elite of racing when scorching to final victory on Thursday.
Posting 28.82 in her debut on the Dublin circuit, the August 2020 whelp found a swifter start from her ideal trap 6 draw this time when only just headed in the initial exchanges. Pacing up well with superior early dash on the outside however, Liosgarbh Lila struck the front before tackling the opening bend with a length in hand of her closest pursuer.
That was that in terms of race victory for having stayed stoutly to score semi success, the McLoughney speedster was never going to be contained in such a scenario. Readily extending to the backstraight, she thoroughly caught the eye when streaking away from hapless rivals with every stride thereafter and held a commanding eleven length margin at the line when stopping the clock at a simply magnificent 28.26!
That time will see Liosgarbh Lila rise to AA0, and the cream of racing lie in wait her next outing. However, on the evidence of this stunning display, that level is where she belongs as she graduates from puppyhood this month.
All About Rigney on Derby opening night
The opening session of heats in the first of the 2022 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby featured thirteen heats on Friday and announcing a strong challenge from within the kennels of Peter Cronin, Rathcabbin owner William Rigney enjoyed a quick double with a brilliant brace of contrasting Derby stars.
First into action for Heat 3 was last season’s finalist All About Ted (Kinloch Brae-Enable) and his light 2022 campaign saw him present in fresh form when leading throughout a pleasing opening victory following a smart start from his favoured trap 6 draw. Leading One Time Only by a length and a half around the first bend, the Rigney stalwart retained that same winning margin at the line when posting 29.73 for the 550-yards when defeating Killeacle Phelps. With his season targeted at this Derby tilt, all involved will be delighted with this opening effort as Ted reminds all of his extensive classic credentials.
With just five races to her name as a December 2020 pup, the Rigney double arrived soon after when All About Annie (All About Ya-Enable) roared onto the elite scene with a brilliant victory in Heat 5, on her debut in the grade.
A warm score over 600-yards last time out prompted her Derby entry and she would bely odds of 25-1 when proving too strong for some of the biggest names in the sport. Breaking well from trap 6, the Cronin trained youngster tracked Scooby Duchess and Part Blake to the top of the backstraight at a one length deficit. Still third when keeping pace with those exalted rivals on the run to the closing bends, it was in the home straight where the baby of the Derby dismissed what should have been a huge task.
Sweeping late and wide, All About Annie powered to the lead close home for an ultimately cosy two-length verdict over Scooby Duchess in 29.75, and though William suggested that her future may lie at further in time, she will hold every claim for qualification from even the hottest Derby heats going forward.
Cody Ignites Guilfoyle Derby challenge
The opening Friday session of the Derby was fruitful for our local hopes in the main and confirming his realistic designs on the title, Good Cody (Definate Opinion-Soho Ark) was first to traps for trainer Pat Guilfoyle when a stunning winner of Heat 7 in a sizzling fastest of the round performance.
Housed in an ideal trap 1, last season’s National Sprint champ broke on level terms before displaying the best early dash while drawing clear to a one length lead over Ballymac Finn at the first bend. Doubling that advantage when scorching a path to halfway, the Moneygall star would see out the trip admirably well when fending off strong runners in the latter stages while holding a length over Ballymac Finn in a stunning 29.25, with Priceless Jet held in third.
On to Saturday where the bulk of the Guilfoyle Derby team commenced their respective campaigns, and the session could hardly have gone much better with last year’s returning finalist Explosive Boy (Good News-Delightful Girl) sparking a wonderful hat-trick on the night.
The 2021 Dog of the Year was ideally housed in trap 1 for Heat 19 and despite breaking just off the pace, secured command of the rails on the run to the opening bend before finding Born Warrior rushing around the outside to lead by two lengths at the top of the backstraight. Undaunted however, the ever-professional Explosive Boy closed to within a length of the pacesetter at the closing bend before getting up in the shadow of the post for a thrilling head verdict in 29.64.
Next up, Kirby runner-up Magical Kuba (Magical Bale-Impact Miami) contested a warm Heat 21 from trap 6 and the remarkable Moneygall talent again wowed in a hugely game victory.
Breaking just behind the pace from trap 6, the May 2020 whelp showed smart pace on the run to the bend before ceding some ground with his usual wide path while turning. Powering into the backstraight however, Magical Kuba ranged up on the outside of Iso Fantastic and Twoinarow before just edging to the front at halfway. Fully claiming the lead when tackling the third bend, the Guilfoyle star again gave away ground when wide into the home straight but nonetheless contained exalted rivals when registering a three-quarter length verdict over Twoinarow in 29.53.
Suffering their only defeat of the opening round in Heat 23, all involved will have been very pleased with the opening effort of Vincenzo (Droopys Sydney-Alien Nipper) as the Champion 550 winner thoroughly caught the eye in his two and a half length second to Sentimental Boy, having been bumped in 29.48.
Rounding out a first-round quartet of winners for Pat Guilfoyle, the victory of Wi Can Dream (Cabra Firmino-Cabra Angel) in Heat 24 may well have been the most pleasing of all for the kennels as the puppy star finally appears to be over the niggling injury concern which had curtailed his season to this point.
Only a third outing since winning the Juvenile Classic at the start of the year, the June 2020 whelp displayed powerful early dash on the run to the corner and leading Annagh Bailey thereafter, posted 29.62 in a three-length verdict.