EXPLOSIVE BOY RETIRES AS ONE OF THE GREATS

Ian Fortune

After an incredible racing career, one of the true greats of the past decade, Explosive Boy has been retired to stud.

That was the news that came through in the past couple of days, ending one of the most remarkable racing careers.

His racing career started just over two years ago and, in that time, he has been one of the more brilliant and consistent trackers imaginable. A winner of 23 of his 42 starts, all in the very best company, he was a dream dog to both own and train.

PAT PAYS TRIBUTE

Pat Guilfoyle paid tribute to his superstar, "Explosive Boy, or Bertie as he was known at home was a dog of a lifetime. He possessed that rare combination of pace, temperament and chase. Irish racing has become so competitive that it takes a very good to win a major title but you need a truly exceptional dog to win 4 majors including a track record.

“That's what Explosive Boy was, just exceptional. He will make a super sire. I trained his sire and grandsire too and I look forward to having some good Explosive Boy offspring in the future. We miss him but look forward to seeing his progeny race".

Pat sums it up perfectly. At a time when there are so many incredibly talented greyhounds around, few, if any, made more headlines than Explosive Boy over the past two years. His consistency, while also maintaining his brilliance right to the end of his career has been scarcely matched.

A WONDERFUL START

It all began in November 2020 when he debuted at Shelbourne Park, winning an ON2 525 in brilliant fashion, clocking 28.32.

It would be the only race in his career that wasn’t in top grade. Despite his inexperience, connections felt he was ready to be thrown in at the deep end and his next appearances came in the National Puppy Stake where he duly reached the final.

He was far from the finished article but held his own, eventually finishing behind Ballymac Ariel and Billys Diva in the decider. Pat Guilfoyle clearly had a plan for his tracker as he returned early in the year for a series of sprints at Thurles, all the while gaining valuable experience ahead of a Kirby Memorial challenge.

THE WORLD TAKES NOTICE

It was in the valuable Limerick showpiece that the world stood up and took notice of Explosive Boy.

In what was a vintage renewal of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial, the brilliant was the stand out performer from the very start.

He posted a stunning 28.08 in the opening round and continued his superb form through the prelims, clocking 28.15 in the quarter finals and 28.08 in the semis. Understandably, he was installed the hot favourite for the decider but was left tight of room in the early yards before being badly baulked on the turn.

A FIRST CLASSIC

He didn’t have to wait long to atone for that defeat, however.

Following his Kirby disappointment, he was aimed at the Produce Stakes at Clonmel and it was to provide Explosive Boy with the classic success his talent so richly deserved.

After an opening round defeat, he went unbeaten through the remainder of the competition, making all in the final to stop the clock in 28.25.

A TRACK RECORD AND CHAMPION SUCCESS

A week later, he stepped up to 550yds for the first time in the semi-finals of the Race of Champions and gained bragging rights over his Derby winning sire, Good News.

Showing the most incredible speed, the flying black left his rivals standing to win by almost ten lengths in a track record breaking 29.22. Not only did he break the four-year-old clock of his sire, but he did so by almost two lengths.

As expected, he justified odds-on favouritism in the decider, leaving a talented field behind him as he came home clear in 29.36.

HOTTEST DERBY FAVOURITE IN YEARS

And so, in the summer of 2021, Explosive Boy’s record read four competitions entered, two victories including one in a classic, one track record and thirteen wins from twenty outings.

Is it any wonder he was installed a red-hot favourite for the Boylesports Derby.

In fact, such was the weight of money for the star that he was sent to traps the shortest priced ante-post favourite since Clares Rocket. Ultimately, it wasn’t meant to be. Despite starting the 9-4 second favourite in the decider after some superb displays through the early rounds, he again found traffic on the big stage before finishing fourth to Susie Sapphire.

It was his final meaningful start of 2021 as he made an early exit from the Leger after finding bad traffic but he was to return in 2022 as good as ever.

A SELECT WINNER

His first big assignment of the year came in the Select Stakes at Waterford.

He was at his imperious best in the decider, seeing off some of the very best in training including Laurels champion One Time Only, Gold Cup and former Juvenile Derby winner Skywalker Barry and the Derby runner-up Singalong Sally.

ADDED STRENGTH ON SHOW

He again reached the final of the Race of Champions at Tralee, finishing a good third before getting back to winning ways on the big stage at Dundalk.

After winning a 575yd contest at Shelbourne Park in a sizzling 30.75, proving his newly found strength, he came from behind Singalong Sally to win the Dundalk International in the manner of a true racing machine.

Remarkably, the morning of the International he had served a bitch. It certainly didn’t affect his performance but that was a constant through his career. No matter the obstacle, Explosive Boy performed at his best.

THE END OF THE ROAD

And so, to the final assignment of his career and a crack at the 2022 Boylesports Derby.

He was again amongst the favourites for the Blue Riband and began his campaign in fine style, picking up subsequent Derby champion Born Warrior in the opening round. A week later, he recorded a typically professional display to clock 29.40 in the second round.

It would be his final win. He again ran well in the third round and the quarter finals but early crowding ended his Derby hopes in the semi-finals.

That final race came two months ago. We waited to see if he would appear in the Laurels or Leger but connections decided against it and we now know that he has run his final race. He was a truly brilliant greyhound and also one of the most aptly named.

In his first full season, in particular, he was awesome. Blessed with lightning-fast trapping speed and unbelievable early dash, few could live with him on his night. In more recent times, he strengthened up, highlighted by his run in the Dundalk International and his exceptional 30.75 return for 575yds at Shelbourne Park.

A SPECIAL GREYHOUND

Every time he turned up, he left it all on the track. He won four major titles but it could have been more had luck always been on his side.

Given his wonderful pedigree, it seems certain he will be a success at stud and there are good reports about his first pups on the ground, the oldest of which are ten months.

He has served over twenty bitches and has a couple of litters on the ground in Australia.   

For owners Peter and Cheryl Sutcliffe he must have been a dream greyhound to own, while Pat Guilfoyle has never hidden his admiration for the sensational son of Good News and Delightful Girl. He is standing with Sean and Ann Bourke at the Newpark Stud and look set for a long and fruitful career as a sire.

We wish him the best, thank him for the wonderful entertainment he provided over the past two years and look forward to seeing his progeny hit the track in the coming months. Dogs like Explosive Boy don’t come around too often.