FINAL TWELVE BOOK THEIR SPOTS IN ‘TIME’ CLUB GRADERS DERBY
Peter Farrell
Saturday night’s fourth-round heats of the TIME Club Graders Derby 525 at Limerick Greyhound Stadium produced another highly competitive chapter in the event, with little separating the heat winners on the clock.
The mass elimination of several heat winners in round two for breaking the 28.90 qualifying threshold, a key condition underpinning the very concept of the ‘Graders’ Derby, has played a significant role in shaping the competition. Since then, the event has more than lived up to expectations. With no standout performer emerging on the clock, the race for Derby glory remains wide open heading into next week’s semi-finals. As a result, each contender can approach the penultimate stage with genuine confidence as connections chase the €20,000 winner’s prize.
LUNA MAKES-ALL
Of the three fourth-round heats on Saturday night, the marginally fastest winner was Private Luna in Heat 2 for John Ryan and John Byrne. The August 2024 bitch had arrived at this stage of the event without a win, so it was no surprise to see her sent off at 8/1. However, she made a mockery of those odds, leading from trap to line and, in the process, underlining her outright credentials in style. Drawn in five, ‘Luna’ broke smartly from her wide berth and disputed on the run-up with both Eimears Lady and Ballysloe Max. With little between the trio in the early exchanges, Private Luna showed superior early gears and rode a slight bump well to enter the back straight with a two-length advantage over Eimears Lady in second. Further back was the strong-running Bounceback Poppy, who remained close enough if good enough. Private Luna was in no mood to be reeled in, however. Maintaining a strong gallop around the bottom two bends, the daughter of King Sheeran and Diego Lolo kept enough in reserve late on to hold off Bounceback Poppy by a length, with Eimears Lady just a neck further back in third. The final qualifying position went the way of Carrigmore Hazel, in a time of 28.70.
IMAGINE IMPRESSES AGAIN
Imagine If had emerged as a major player in the event after posting 28.54 .10f in the previous round and he did little to diminish that status as he produced another polished performance in the opening heat.
Jointly owned by Liam Cahill and Tony Lacey, Imagine If went to traps as the 2/1 second favourite behind Kells Ruby (6/4), but it was Gortkelly Bart who produced a flying exit from trap four to show first. The latter was immediately challenged by Imagine If, however, and the September 2024 pup powered up the inside of his rival before taking control approaching the second bend. In doing so, the son of Koblenz and Tory Aria set a strong standard but was never quite able to shake off Gortkelly Bart, who was running a huge race in second for Andrew Murray. Further back was Millmount Jacko and the order remained unchanged thereafter as Imagine If stayed on stoutly to see off the persistent Gortkelly Bart by two lengths. Millmount Jacko came under pressure late on but held firm to claim third, with Kells Ruby also advancing in fourth. The time was 28.72.
LAST-TO-FIRST FOR FIVERS
The concluding fourth-round heat saw Bundle Of Fivers (Grangeview Ten–Rockmount Royce) produce his customary big finish to pounce late and land the spoils for Pauline McNamara.
A greyhound that has showcased serious pace from the halfway mark in recent weeks, Bundle Of Fivers was always likely to prove difficult to keep out of the frame and so it proved as the brindle recovered from last position early on to arrive late and score for just a second career success. Drawn in six, Bundle Of Fivers was a 2/1 chance but looked to have it all to do after a tardy start left him trailing the field in the opening exchanges. In contrast, Knockroe Jersey flew from trap one and quickly asserted to take a three-length lead into the back straight. Making steady progress down the back, Bundle Of Fivers began to turn the screw approaching the three-quarter mark and, at this point, the leader's advantage was beginning to diminish. With a thrilling finish developing, both Bundle Of Fivers and Musical Queen arrived with a wet sail, the former crossing the line with a length in hand to seal a dramatic last-to-first victory. The other qualifying positions went the way of Rossa Shelby and Kerryroad Al, in a time of 28.89.
The draw for the semi finals of the TIME Club Graders Derby 525 was made shortly after and is as follows :
1st Semi-Final
T1 - BOUNCEBACK POPPY
T2 - EIMEARS LADY
T3 - KERRYROAD AL
T4 - CARRIGMORE HAZEL
T5 - MILLMOUNT JACKO
T6 - PRIVATE LUNA
2nd Semi-Final
T1 - ROSSA SHELBY
T2 - GORTKELLY BART
T3 - IMAGINE IF
T4 - KELLS RUBY
T5 - MUSICAL QUEEN
T6 - BUNDLE OF FIVERS