Trainer Chat- Team Buckley send across team of five in bid for first Towcester success
Pat Buckley sends across a strong team of five across the Irish Sea. Daughter Emma speaks to us so see who her main hope is, who she would like to have in the kennel and what it would mean to win another Derby
Trainer Chat- Team Buckley send across team of five in bid for first Towcester success
Pat Buckley sends across a strong team of five across to Towcester in a bid to land a first English Derby since Deerjet Sydney’s success at Nottingham in 2020 with Ballinabola Jim, Ballinabola Joe, Ballymac Sorrel, Clona Ice and Singalong Molly all looking to take the £175,000 prize back over the Irish Sea. Daughter Emma speaks to us and has answered the following questions
Best Chance: “I’d say Ballinabola Joe would have our best chance. He was runner up in the Juvenile at Tralee and he was a very very fast pup, but he took a tumble in the first round of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, but we brought he back slowly and he trialled well at Towcester. He’s a big talent, he’s very fast and it’s a learning curve really but I’d say he has the speed to win it”
Surprise Package: “I think Clona Ice would be the surprise package. He’s a very very young dog, an October 23. He’s bred here at home, but he comes home very strong. He doesn’t have a lot of experience but again he’s plenty talented enough and it’s all about getting the experience for him really".
If you could train any other dog in the Derby, who would it be: “There’s probably two and I think they would be quite obvious ones. I think Proper Heiress is brilliant at the moment, it’s hard to beat his form. He’s proven at different tracks, different boxes and he just seem’s to have the all-round package, and I think Cheap Sandwiches is another one. He’s just so consistent, he ran a great Irish Derby last year and those early pace wide seeds can always go well in the Derby"
Favourite Derby Memory or Highlight: “Deerjet Sydney winning the Derby at Nottingham in 2020 would have to be the highlight. That was a dream come true really. I actually don’t remember much of it as it all seemed to be pretty much just a blur. We had been trying for many years to win an English Derby and to finally tick that off the list was great!”
What would it mean to win another English Derby: “It would mean everything really, it’s what you work towards, it’s what you get up for in the morning and it’s what you breed for. It’s a big undertaking and takes such a massive team effort from everyone at the kennel but you don’t mind all the hard work once you have entries in the Derby.
“I’m excited now, the track looks well, the dogs trialled well and obviously the new improvements are a great touch and it’s great that there’s such a buzz about it. There’s a different feeling about it this year, there’s always a buzz but this year it just feels a bit extra special. Dad was over for trials in the week, and he said that the track was in perfect condition given it was a hot day.
There just seems to be a lot more coverage this year and there’s a real excitement and the build up has been great this year. It’s great to see so much good work being put in as the Derby is the pinnacle of the sport.
