WARRIOR COMPLETES THE SET TO THIRD TURN
Ian Fortune
By now there’s not a person in the greyhound racing world that isn’t aware that Born Warrior was the first finalist to the third turn in Saturday’s Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby decider.
In doing so, he completed the perfect set, leading to the third turn in each of the six rounds of the classic.
The consistent brilliance of the Jennifer O’Donnell trained star to the corner and down the back straight over the six weeks really was something. He posted his slowest third bend clock in the opening round, when still amongst the fastest of the round, with a 17.15 return. A week later he recorded 17.04, followed by a 17.14 in the third round.
It was from this point that he really did start to show his class. A brilliant 16.97 was his fastest of the competition in the quarter finals followed by a 17.01 in the semis. And on Saturday night, in front of the loudest stands imaginable, on the biggest stage, the brilliant son of Ballymac Best headed his rivals into the turn before going on to record 17.02 to the third turn.
It was enough to secure him Derby glory. For the record, his opening bend sectionals were also pretty special and remarkably consistent through the classic. Again, his slowest sectional came in the opening round when recording 3.52, but in the subsequent rounds he clocked 3.42, 3.41, 3.34, 3.39 and on Saturday in the decider, 3.39. Is it any wonder he led to the turn in each and every round?
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Leaders Clocks (Fastest to Slowest): |
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*dead-heat to the third turn |
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1st round |
2nd round |
3rd round |
Q-Finals |
S-Finals |
Final |
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Born Warrior |
17.15 |
17.04 |
17.14 |
16.97 |
17.01 |
17.02 |
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Ballymac Finn |
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17.01 |
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17.12 |
17.18 |
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Coolavanny Hoffa |
17.10 |
16.80 |
17.10* |
16.88 |
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Callaway Pro Am |
17.23 |
17.01 |
17.10* |
17.06 |
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Tullig Raven |
17.20 |
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17.15 |
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Bockos Budsit |
17.07 |
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17.15 |
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Vincenzo |
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17.26 |
17.23 |
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Bulletfromagun |
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17.28 |
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Romeo Magico |
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17.28 |
17.28 |
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Callaway Masters |
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17.38 |
17.55 |
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Ballinabola Ed |
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17.02 |
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Cryptopunk |
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17.09 |
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Explosive Boy |
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17.14 |
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Mustang Jet |
17.09 |
17.14 |
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Bockos Crystal |
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17.18 |
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Stefans Rock |
17.23 |
17.25 |
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All About Ted |
17.38 |
17.28 |
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Macho Pride |
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17.31 |
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Annagh Bailey |
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17.33 |
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Good Cody |
16.94 |
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Bobsleigh Dream |
17.15 |
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Kildare |
17.18 |
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Sentimental Lad |
17.20 |
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Coolavanny Calvn |
17.21 |
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Flaminmoneybags |
17.23 |
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Decs Guinness |
17.26 |
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Galloping Sydney |
17.26 |
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Wi Can Dream |
17.26 |
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Well Met |
17.28 |
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Magical Kuba |
17.28 |
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Singalong Sally |
17.28 |
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Kilgraney Sydney |
17.29 |
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Part Blake |
17.36 |
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Fernandes |
17.41 |
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Athlacca Zette |
17.44 |
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Benalmadena Roxy |
17.47 |
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Crafty Kokoro |
17.55 |
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