FLYTLINE A MAGICAL JUVENILE CHAMPION

Ian Fortune

This certainly wasn’t Droopys Flytline’s unveiling but his success in the final of the TIME Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby did feel like a coronation.

Those at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night witnessed a young greyhound with the world at his feet performing at a level far beyond his age.

FLYTLINE WINS THE BATTLE IN THE RING

As predicted, the money came for Droopys Flytline with the young superstar knocking Ballinakil Alf off the top of the betting before going to traps the 15-8 market leader.

Ballinakil Alf was 5-2 while there was plenty of support for Short Grip on the inside. She would eventually start at 7-2 before running the more remarkable race in defeat.

Droopys Flytline went a little early at traps and was forced to readjust, meaning he was last to hit the ground. But the real action was happening on the inside of the track. Once again, Short Grip made a fast start from trap one before immediately edging across to trap three.

This manoeuvre effectively cost Ballinakil Alf any chance of victory as the door was closed on him. While all this was happening, Droopys Flytline was beginning to motor. Short Grip continued to lead the field into the bend but she now had Droopys Flytline on her shoulder.

With the inside line in her favour, Short Grip increased her advantage slightly as they began to turn but Droopys Flytline ran a remarkable second turn to join his rival early in the back straight.

Behind the front two, Ballinakil Alf edged off the fence at the bend, bumping into Highview Splash and allowing Droopys Zelda slip into third, three lengths behind the pace-setters but with little chance of getting to the front two.

A STRAIGHT MATCH

The race was now a straight match. Carrying real momentum into the back straight, Droopys Flytline got his nose in front passing the sprint traps.

By halfway he was a length and a half to the good and still he pressed on.

He hit the third turn two and a half lengths in front and was clearly on his way to a famous first classic success. Short Grip was never going to lie down and she began to rally in second, while Droopys Zelda also displayed fine pace to sit just over two lengths further behind. Short Grip continued to close on the run in but Droopys Flytline had put the result beyond doubt.

A SENSATIONAL WINNER

Coasting up the straight, the sensationally fast son of Laughil Blake and Droopys Curio ran out a brilliant winner by a length in a stunning 27.93.  

Short Grip ran an incredible race in defeat, posting a stunning 28.00 in the process, while Droopys Zelda further enhanced her big reputation, finishing just four lengths adrift in third.

Not only did the winner break the magical 28 second barrier in the decider, but he also became the fastest 525yd classic winner of all time. For trainer Robert Gleeson and owners Michael Dunphy and Robert’s mother, Alice Guiney, it must be the most exciting time.

Have no doubt, Droopys Flytline is an incredible young greyhound and the world is his oyster. We can’t wait to see where he ends up in the future.

Caitriona Fox presents the trophy to Jennifer Traynor after Droopys Flyline won the final of the 2023 Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne Park. Also included are sponsors William Rigney, John Fox, Pat Flanagan GRI, Shane Rigney and Derek Frehill Director of Racing GRI.                         Pic: Imelda Grauer

Remainder of card

TEDDY BLOWS AWAY THE COBWEBS

Derby third Bens Teddy was expected to run out a comfortable winner of the opening heat and, while he did have to work a little, he duly obliged for Kim Prichard and Pat Buckley.

Lotto Six One went up fastest to set the pace into the turn but Bens Teddy (Droopys Sydney/ Beechgrove Bell) pulled off a great manoeuvre at the bend.

Slipping inside Romeo Atomic as he edged off the fence, Bens Teddy was second into the back straight. It was now a case of when he would strike. Lotto Six One did all he could to contain his rival but Bens Teddy nudged his way through on the fence.

The 1-3 favourite hit the front on the final bend before staying on powerfully to emerge a two and a half length winner in 32.44. Lotto Six One was second with McNeill third.

ELVIS STEALS THE SHOW

Glengar Elvis certainly appreciate the step up to 600yds in Heat 3 with the extra emphasis on stamina playing to his strengths.

Again, he broke fastest from trap four but this time he was able to hold his lead into the turn.

Optic Chico turned second and did try to bridge the gap to the third turn but Glengar Elvis is clearly a young greyhound with a huge engine. Once containing his rival to the third turn, the impeccably well- bred son of Brett Lee and Droopys Smasher kicked again off the final turn to emerge a superb three and a half length winner for the potent Pat Buckley/ Kenny Glen combination, recording a double for the former. His time of 32.22 also happened to be the fastest of the round. Barefoot Supremo ran a fine race to finish just two lengths further back in third.

A BREEZE FOR JETSTREAM

Jetstream Breeze is certainly bred to be fast and he produced a superb front running display to emerge a very impressive winner of the second heat for Mike Freshwater and Marie Gilbert.

Taking charge in the opening yards, he was chased by Laughil Rocky but there was no stopping the pace-setter.

The son of Droopy Sydney and Aayamza Breeze ran right to the line to emerge a facile two and a half-length scorer in 32.27. Laughil Rocky was second with Capuletto another two lengths adrift in third.

NICE ONE STILL A STAR

Droopys Nice One has been a star since the very start of her career in early 2022 and she added another victory to her already impressive tally in the final heat.

Trained by Murt Leahy for John Coleman, the brilliant bitch was third on the turn behind the fast-starting Stripe Sparky but soon moved second.

Once doing so, she was always eyeing up the pace-setter. Taking charge into the third turn, he stayed on powerfully to run out a ready winner. The daughter of Droopys Sydney and Droopys Dance it the line two and a half lengths clear in 32.43. Stripe Sparky ran well in second with third going to the fast-finishing Borna Flame, a further three lengths back.

WELL IN CHARGE

In what was his first start since his Derby final appearance, Well Met was at his very sharpest in the finale over 550yds, repelling the persistent challenge of Clonbrien Treaty to emerge a superb scorer for John Jones.

Making a flying start from the inside box, the son of Ballymac Best and Corduff Flame was over a length clear of Clonbrien Treaty into the bend but he was pressed hard by that same rival into the third turn.

Well Met continued to control the inside of the track, however, and he kicked again of th final turn to see off Clonbrien Treaty by a length and a half in 29.59.

HAWKFIELD LEAVES RIVALS FEELING BLUE

Hawkfield Blue was a hot favourite for the third race and he readily ran away from his rivals to emerge a facile winner.

Trained by John McGee for Jerry Connors, the son of Good News and Brownstown Tango was simply too good.

Despite making only a moderate start, he flew up the fence to assert into the bend before easing away. Droopys Bro came through for second but Hawkfield Blue was in a league of his own as he emerged a facile five and a half length winner in a stunning 28.04.

NOVA SETS THE TONE

Graham Ashe’s Nomadic Nova was a tremendous winner of the opener, stepping up considerably on previous form to win in a rapid 28.17.

Prominent into the turn, alongside Watch It You, he began to assert into the third turn. Once going to the front, the Graham Holland trained son of Broadstrand Bono and Some Girl Isla eased right away to eventually see off the staying on Hard To Figure by six lengths. 

RURAL GIVES GRAHAM A QUICK DOUBLE

The second race on the card, an open bitch 525, went right down to the wire with Rural Kihei getting up on the line to deny Stonepark Molly, in turn completing a very quick double for Graham Holland.

Stonepark Molly broke fastest and held Ballygur Orla into the turn to set a strong pace but Rural Kihei began to catch the eye passing halfway. Showing superb back straight pace, Rural Kihei moved second soon after the final turn before closing rapidly on the pace-setter. Owned by the Scots Clan Syndicate, the daughter of Newinn Taylor and Rural Maui got up in the final stride to win by a short head in 28.39. 

BOTTOM ON TOP

Early speed and a rails draw is so often the key to success over the 525yd trip around Shelbourne Park and Foggy Bottom had both in the fifth race.

Laurence Jones’ son of Ballymac Best and Corduff Flame has tremendous early zip and he shot to the front into the corner.

Once doing so it was all quite straight forward. Chelms Ramona gave chase but ultimately ran out of steam allowing Kilcolgan Zeus to finish runner-up but Foggy Bottom was one of the most straightforward winners on the card as he hit the line five lengths clear in a fast 28.20.

MARCIA TO HOT TO HANDLE

Ballymac Marcia continued her rise up the ranks with a fine display in the third race as she reeled in the long-time pace-setter Lincoln Legacy.

The latter has yet to win a race but it can only be around the corner. She again set a searing gallop but ran out of steam.

In contrast, Michael Butler’s Ballymac Marcia, who was only fourth passing halfway, charged into the third turn to slip through into second along the fence. Now in full stride, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Minton switched to the middle of the track to join the leader off the final turn before storming home for a comfortable length victory over the eye-catching Epic Chick in 28.34.