Looking back at three Irish Greyhound Derby winners

1981 – BOLD WORK  –  The sprinter who won the Derby 

The 50th running of the Irish Derby in 1981 attracted 118 entries for a record first prize of £Ir25,000. 

With sub-29.00 runs a rarity for the 525-yard grass circuit at Shelbourne Park, the first round was lit up by Paddy Keane’s Kool Dude with a 28.88 run. The only other clock of note was Millbowe Sam’s 28.96. 

George Curtis’ Upland Tiger looked the most likely UK raider and clocked a satisfactory 29.08. 

There would be no sub29s in the second round. Quickest on the night was Cooladine Super in 29.06. Ultimately it would prove a year too early for the pup. 

The night wasn’t without incident though. In a race wrecked by trouble the 7/4f Bonifacio won in 31.55, the disgruntled bookies demanded a void race. When the management declined, the layers packed their satchels and went home. 

Quickest in the third round was ‘reject’ Bold Work. The 64 pound (29 kilo) brindle had been sold to England but had flopped in his trials, a situation not helped by his habit of turning in traps. 

Sent back to small owner-trainer Frank O’Regan, the son of Itsachampion was never headed in his heat and held off Sinbad to clock 29.10. 

One spot slower was Francie Murray’s Irish Produce Stakes winner Calandra Champ though his reputation only grew further when he landed the quickest semi final in 29.32. 

The other two semis went to Moreen Rocket (29.44) and Murlens Blond (29.36). 

Calandra Champ went to traps at 4/6f for the final on July 25. They went 6/1 about Bold Work, Brickyard Gem and Murlens Blond, 10/1 Moreen Rocket and Robbie Lad the 16/1 outsider. 

In truth, it was a messy final. Bold Work, who had finished runner-up in the Islandbridge Sprint, took the early lead. 

Trouble formed behind him and although Calandra Champ ran a phenomenal race to get within three-quarters of a length, Bold Work’s 29.32 was good enough to hang on. 

The Derby consolation went to I’m Lovely in 28.93. 

It was a second classic win for retired gard Frank O’Regan , some 28 years after winning the Irish Laurels with Templenoe Rebel. 

At the time, Bold Work was generally considered a fortunate winner. The sprinter who slipped the field to win a Derby. 

Interestingly though, in hindsight he would be in the minority of Irish Derby winners who enjoyed success at stud. 

His sons included Curryhills Fox and Skelligs Tiger (sire of Slaneyside Hare). Their brother Curryhills Brute was exported to Australia and threw a Melbourne Cup winner. 

Bold Work’s daughters included Trade Gold (dam of Trade Official and Trade Union) and Valoris (dam of Slippy Blue). 

Trainer Frank O’Regan (holding Bold Work) with wife Breda (owner) and family on a lap of honour – pic Ruth Rogers. 

1996 – TINA MARINA  –  The sister who came out in front 

A year after finishing 1-2 in the Irish Derby Final, York born Batties Rocket and sister Batties Spirit returned to Shelbourne Park looking for a double. 

The Matt O’Donnell-trained pair won their respective opening heats in 30.34 and 30.16 for the 550 yards and only one hound went quicker than Spirit, the new Kilkenny 525-yard track record holder Spiral Nikita. His 30.10 wouldn’t be beaten in the remainder of the event. 

Nikita also had a sister in the contest, the Seamus Graham trained Tina Marina, though the Irish Puppy Oaks finalist arguably wanted further and had already won a €4,000 stake over the 575-yard course. 

But while Spirit kicked on with the fastest time in the second round (30.17), Spiral Nikita was bettered by a dog completing a 12-timer, Mountleader Peer (30.37)

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The drama came in the third round when Batties Spirit was attacked by Executive Jet who was rightly DQd. In the meantime, Spiral Nikita moved from third to first and duly clocked the fastest time of the round, 30.23. 

Deerfield Bypass, who was destined to finish fourth, was promoted by the stewards into the third qualification slot – something that would not have been allowed in the UK. 

To make matters all the more interesting, Deerfield Bypass went on to win his semi-final. He led up a messy race where Bookies Delight was KO’d at the first bend.  

Batties Whisper (8/11f) looked likely to challenge for the lead and definitely qualify until making a mistake at the third bend. Emly Express went through and the favourite was outstayed for the last qualifying place by Tina Marina. The winner clocked 30.29. 

There was also a turn-up in the other semi where Mountleader Peer’s long winning sequence finally came to an end when beaten a short head and half a length by Sir Grand (30.16) and Spiral Nikita. 

And so to the final.  

Would Mountleader Peer, who would have preferred a 525-yard final be able to hold off the powerful back straight pace of Spiral Nikita? 

The layers made the final something of a match with Spiral Nikita made the 7/4f followed by Mountleader Peer at 2/1. Sir Grand was third in at 4/1. 

Then this happened . .  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brse8ILXP6A 

Tina Marina’s winning time was her best of the competition, 30.20 and the winning margin was a neck. 

Batties Whisper won the consolation in 30.22. 

The following year, Tina Marina finished runner-up in the Irish Oaks, contested the 1997 Champion Stakes final, and was beaten in the Guinness 600 final by her brother and great rival, Spiral Nikita, who then went on to contest a second Irish Derby final but was beaten by Toms The Best. 

Tina Marina produced a string of good class open racers though the best was Marinas Tina who won two Irish Oaks and an Irish Derby consolation. 

Mountleader Peer (3) leads at the first bend from eventual winner Tina Marina (4) followed by Deerfield Bypass (2), Spiral Nikita (1, part hidden) Emly Express (5) and Sir Grand (6). Steve Nash pic Shelbourne Park 21.9.96 Irish Derby Final  

Seamus Graham on a victory parade with Tiina Marina 

2017 – GOOD NEWS – Lived up to his headline (and price) 

On 19 August 2016 Shelbourne Park held a ‘prestige’ greyhound sale.  

Coolavanny Casba (€16,000) went on to become Deanridge Casba and had a brief UK career finishing in A1 at Sheffield. Coolavanny Act (€9,500) ended up running A9 at Henlow. Soul (€12,000) finished his career in A2 at Enniscorthy. Coolavanny Buck (€18,000) became Graces Blueboy and ended up his career over hurdles at Central Park, Coolavannmy Smash (€34,000) ran minor opens and A1 at Newcastle. 

Droopys Wilbury clocked the second fastest time of the day (28.32). He went unsold and ended up running minor opens at Towcester. 

The fastest time of the day though was for a 21 month old pup Good News with a 28.32 (-20) run. It was no more than was expected. The first line on his card, recorded a month earlier, was a 28.23 trial win over the same course. 

He was rumoured that his sale reserve was €150,000. Unsurprisingly, the Pat Guilfoyle-trained blue was led away unsold. 

Ironically, Good News would prove to be the best value dog on offer that day. 

Things didn’t start out so well. He won a qualifier of an unraced stake but finished second in the final. 

A major player in the €15,000 Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake, News reached the final, as did Droopys Wilbury, but finished second behind 25/1 shot/28.86 winner Jaytee Samurai. 

After a winter break, the blue had his first and only ‘overseas’ raid for the 2017 Scottish Derby. He reached the final as an 8/1 shot but had no run from trap four in the final and was well beaten by Dorotas Woo Hoo. 

There was a switch to ‘550’ and an impressive (29.56) win in the €4,000 Golden Muzzle at Limerick. 

His next outing was at Tralee where he broke the 550 clock in the heats of the Race Of Champions (29.34) but was knocked over in the final. 

The curse of the ‘Jaytees’ continued when he finished fifth in the Dundalk International (Droopys Wilbury was third), and then again in the Champion Stakes Final by Jaytee Yankee. 

And so into the 2017 Boylesports Irish Derby and a bloody nose in the first round where he found first bend trouble only to see Sonic disappear into the distance in a flying 29.12 for the Shelbourne 550. 

That would be the low point. The Guilfoyle runner would win a second round heat in 29.49. He would come from behind the brilliant Clares Rocket to win his quarter final in 29.59. He would get revenge on Sonic clocking 29.49 in the semis. 

Good News and Sonic went to traps as 7/4 joint favourites for the 2017 Irish Derby. Buckos Dream was next best at 5/1, Black Farren was a point bigger. English Derby winner Jaytee Jet was made a 12/1 shot to maintain the curse, in what would be his final race. Hey Bound was the 20/1 outsider. 

What a night it proved to be . .  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFWgKd13_cE 

Good News only raced on another eight occasions, winning five and retired with a career haul of €174,850. 

He continues to enjoy a successful stud career having thrown a string of major stakes winners including Explosive Boy, Minnie Bullet, Bradys Bullet, Hopes Paddington, Warzone Tom and Bubbly Scorcher to name but six. 

Jenna Boyle (centre, daughter of John Boyle) presents the Boylesports Irish Derby trophy to owners Mary Kennedy (hand on head!) and Sandra Guilfoyle (white jacket) with her brother and trainer Pat Guilfoyle alongside. Guest of Honour, Minister of State Andrew Doyle TD is on far left. Shelbourne Park 23rd September 2017. Photo: © Steve Nash

Pat Guilfoyle poses with his Boylesports Irish Derby champ Good News. Shelbourne Park 23rd September 2017. Photo: © Steve Nash