TRAPRISE - Super Scaglietti still unbeaten in Derby
A favourite night of the entire season for many racing enthusiasts, the 2023 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby was reduced to a single fixture on Saturday last for eight heats in the third round of a quality renewal and in chase of a second victory in the sport’s blue riband event, trainer Pat Guilfoyle is double handed ahead of this week’s quarter-final session as Cheryl Sutcliffe’s brilliant Scaglietti (Magical Bale-Outdoor Roller) registered a hattrick of heat wins in stunning fashion.
Having twice posted 29.26 for the 550-yard classic trip at Shelbourne Park with dominant heat wins to commence his Derby campaign, the February 2021 whelp faced a stiff task on Saturday when contesting a hot Heat 6 but proving well suited to his rails draw on the fence, began on level terms to command the inside within a tight tussle to the opening bend. Matching strides with main market rival Ballymac Marino, the Guilfoyle star eased to a one length lead while tackling the turns and little changed along the backstraight as the pair served up a brilliant buckle. Always strong at the trip however, Scaglietti extended his lead from the closing bends and striking the line with two and a half lengths to spare, stopped the clock in a brilliant 29.27.
There was some disappointment for the Moneygall kennels as Undisputed agonisingly lost out on a place in the quarter-finals by just a half-length when fourth behind De Lahdedah in 29.15 but the session had begun in more pleasing fashion when the Pension Plan Syndicate’s Music Glideaway (Newinn Taylor-Glideaway Magic) gamely filled second in the opening qualifier.
A first round winner in 30.09, the June 2021 whelp progressed despite defeat to Balymac Marino a week later and proving pleasingly progressive within his Derby tilt, found further improvement on Saturday when chasing home the redoubtable Bobsleigh Dream. Breaking on terms from trap 5, he would cede early advantage to Tommys Hewick on his outside before reaching the backstraight with four lengths to recover on the advancing Bobsleigh Dream. Very strong at the Derby distance, Music Glideaway reduced arrears in highly pleasing fashion from halfway and denying Tommys Hewick for second, was just three lengths adrift of Bobsleigh Dream at the line in 29.29.
The Guilfoyle duo have gratefully avoided each other in the draw this week but with no straightforward task as just 24 remain, both face tricky assignments. Drawn in trap 4 for the opening heat, Scaglietti is housed on the immediate outside of last weekend’s fastest winner De Lahdedah. In qualification terms, it may prove beneficial if that rival again breaks smartly to guide Scaglietti to the corner while outpacing those nearer the rails. In such a scenario, the duo could serve up a cracker along the backstraight. However, a smart break will be required as he will not want the early paced trap 6 runner Tommy Hewick turning across his eye-line at the first bend, for a clear run will be essential to fend off the fast finishers which includes the brilliant Raha Mofo in trap 5.
One of those fast finishers in the concluding heat will be Music Glideaway and he again faces Bobsleigh Dream in another tough assignment. However, a live outsider in the classic, he can stalk early paced rivals throughout the early exchanges and his strength beyond halfway will see him difficult to eliminate if securing crucial clear passage, especially as he appears to be improving with each outing at Shelbourne.
Outside of the capital, there was plenty to entertain across many venues but one of the most pleasing victories of the weekend came at Thurles where Jack Duff’s Yousonofathena (Skywalker Logan-Greenisle Athena) shed his maiden tag at the sixth time of asking in A6 company over 525-yards.
Steadily improving of late, the May 2021 whelp only went down a half-length when runner-up in a similar contest last time out and again began smartly from his trap 4 draw this time when easing his way to a one-length lead at the opening bend before stretching that advantage on the run to the backstraight. Settling the race with smart pace to the closing bends, the Duff youngster maintained a strong gallop to the line when three and a half lengths to the good while posting 29.89 (-20).
Taking just a small rise to A5 for his next assignment, Yousonofathena looks a progressive racer at present and can prove worth following now breaking adeptly to implement his obvious early pace.
The late Tim Cahalan
It was with great sadness that our greyhound community bid a final farewell to Tim Cahalan of Grennanstown, Norwood who was laid to rest over last weekend.
A most popular figure across a host of venues with racers under his Grennanstown prefix, Tim leaves behind a wealth of friendships forged through a competitive but ever sporting presence in racing.
That participation that no doubt guided his daughter Imelda along a path that saw her take charge of commercial operations for the early years of the new greyhound stadium at Limerick, further extending the Cahalan imprint on the sport in their most positive manner.
A most amiable and entertaining personality who will be greatly missed, we extend our sincerest sympathies to all of Tim’s family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.