Historic win for Druids Say Go
The Patrick Janssens-trained daughter of Droopys Sydney is the first to do the Oaks and East Anglian Derby double.
Druids Say Go (t2) leads Icemans Girl (t3) and Droopys Eunice (t4) on the run to the first bend in the PGR Oaks Final.
Photo: © Steve Nash
When Joe Conneely spoke to Patrick Janssens earlier in the week the trainer said “I’ve never known a dog breaking 28 seconds three times on the trot at Perry Barr.” Even if there had been, she did it for a fourth straight race last night, winning in 27.82. In fact, all four of her wins were sub 27.90 (one 28.10 on -30), a remarkable consistency at such a high level.
She now owns the three fastest times of 2024 over 480m at Perry Barr. Just a few weeks after the boys produced an outstanding Birmingham Cup, Druids Say Go has blown them out the water. It was a second Oaks in three years for Janssens who won it in 2022 with Slick Sakina. She produced a 27.85 in the final.
“It was a fantastic run,” said James Couldwell, the founder of Value Racing Club. “There was pressure coming into the race as many people expected her to win, but that’s exactly what she did.
Druids Say Go photo presentation after the PGR Oaks.
Photo: © Steve Nash
22 open race wins on the year has tied her with Different Speed for the 2024 lead. Those have come in just 27 runs at six different tracks. Fastest of the year over 480m at Perry Barr and 462m at Yarmouth she is second quickest over 400m at Romford and 388m at Suffolk Downs.
In the interview with Janssens, Conneely rightly said that we are running out of superlatives for her. Perhaps two that we are yet to see in the greyhound press are that she slayed them with a performance that was lit! Perhaps there is a reason for that? #downwivdakids
She was the final leg of a superb four-timer on the night for Janssens. Droopys Plunge got the night started with Crossfield Enzo and Romeo Steel producing the goods as well.
Icemans Girl chased her home for Nathan Hunt. It’s the second straight Category One that she has finished runner-up in after the bet365 Empress Stakes at Towcester. Coppice Ella was doing her best work late on and will be a fascinating recruit to six bends. Front Alice, Chamberlain Kate and Droopys Eunice rounded out the contest.
Kevin Hutton lifts the sprinter’s trophy
Rioja Oisin and Magical Bluebear served up a thriller in the ARC Scurry final.
After setting new figures for Perry Barr’s 275m in his semi-final, Rioja Oisin had to work harder last night. Magical Bluebear on his inside for William Russell gave the odds on favourite a proper race. The Silver Salver winner lost absolutely nothing in defeat to an unexposed and talented type.
It was just the seventh race of Oisin’s career, winning six of them. His only defeat came at the hands of Magical Bluebear in a trial stake for the Scurry. The May 22 whelp is making up for lost time now, making it a big race double for Droopys Sydney.
Trouble behind meant that the front pair pulled a long way clear of Bramble Linton in third. Steve Anderson guided a pair into the final, Bramble Oreo finishing fifth. Liz McNair’s King Capaldi was fourth with Matt Dartnall’s Long Fellow rounding out the field.
Rioja Oisin after winning the ARC Scurry for Kevin Hutton.
Photo: © Steve Nash
Other Perry Barr photos
Droopys Plunge winning at Perry Barr on Oaks night.
Photo: © Steve Nash
Jet Stream Angel (t1) beats All Along at Perry Barr.
Photo: © Steve Nash
Hopiehopiehopie and Beach Babe are split by the width of the track in their match race.
Photo: © Steve Nash
Dead heat drama at Shelbourne
The draw for the third round of the Boylesports Irish Derby will not be made until Tuesday.
Patrick Godfrey was left disappointed and frustrated after UK challenger Arthur Cornflake dead-heated for third in heat 15 and then missed out after connections of Dashing Toro turned down the offer of a coin toss
“They wanted to trial on Tuesday and that’s just impossible for me,” said Godfrey. “It’s been splashed across everywhere that I’ve been back and forth on the boat and I won’t get home until late on Sunday.
“I’m not even sure we should be asking to trial anyway – it’s the Derby after all. Putting another race into these runners just doesn’t seem right and it just seemed the right thing to do – to toss a coin.
“I’m gutted to be honest,” Godfrey added. “I probably lost it a bit when they told me the situation but I just didn’t get it, and still don’t.
“But Cornflake is oblivious to it all, thankfully. He did his job well enough on Saturday and found a bit of time, too, which I’m delighted about. I suppose we didn’t get knocked out and I thought we might stand by a reserve.
“I got the impression that’s not the case, however.”
Saturday’s Irish Derby results
The above race was won by Jennifer O’Donnell’s Scooby Pacemaker at 16/1. He was the biggest priced winner of the night but 29.16 was a smart performance, the second quickest of the night.
De Lahdedah got back to winning ways in the opening heat for Liam Dowling. He brought his trapping boots with him from the red jacket, producing a slick 3.35 split on the way to a 29.30 victory. Third to Ballinabola Jim in his opening round heat, it was Brendan Murphy’s dog who was quickest on the evening in 29.07. He would beat Callaway Knegare nine and a half lengths.
29.41 saw Bombay Pat comfortably extend his winning sequence to four for Graham Holland. His was the shortest winning price on the night with Cheap Sandwiches scoring at 3/10 in the final heat, also for Holland. He clocked 29.20.
Heat 11 was the closest of the evening. Robbies Galaxy got his head in front on the line to beat Superfast Gordon and Southwood Stan. A short head and a short head were the margins for Shea Campbell’s dog, stopping the clock at 29.66.
Bubbly Shadow was visually impressive in 29.24 for Brendan Matthews. Six lengths was the second widest margin on the card for the Kirby runner-up. Pat Buckley’s Beanos Podge won the remaining heat in 29.42.
Fair Warrior Final
Mullingar plays host to the biggest race on Sunday, the final of the €5000 Droopys Stud Fair Warrior.
Pat Buckley’s Road Exile has been unbeaten through the three rounds so far. Sent off as the odds on favourite for each of them, he is short once more. One of two in the field who has dipped under 21 seconds, the other is Born Racer who was two lengths behind Road Exile in the semi-final stage last week.
Zippy Canning is yet to reproduce his smart first round run. He clocked 21.10 off a 6.86 split, no dog has a faster split in the final but he needs to find that level again, especially as he is directly outside the favourite.
Manalishi Jet won the other semi and has the striped jacket to help. Scarborough Fair missed eight months after this competition last year and is yet to get back to his 21.09 best. Killeshil Ranger is the youngest of these and has the fifth quickest 525y time of the year at this track but the drop back to sprinting has not been in his favour so far.
Best prices
1/2 Road Exile 7/2 Born Racer 6/1 Zippy Canning 8/1 Manalishi Jet 14/1 Scarborough Fair 20/1 Killeshil Ranger
Dual Crayford Cat Ones start in a fortnight
Who will follow Laughil Jess as the Gold Collar winner?
There are the first trial stakes this evening for the Gold Collar and Grand National.
Havana Top Note will represent the Liz McNair kennel in the Gold Collar trial stake. Fresh off a fourth Cat one final appearance of 2024 in the Kent Derby, he returns to a track that saw him picked up close home in the Golden Jacket in February.
Ricky Holloway has four of the five in the Grand National trial stake. They include the hurdling debut of Mickeys Tribute who was disqualified in the semis of the Northern Flat.
It is a full card of 12 open races with three hurdles, plus contests over four, six and eight bends.
Quality afternoon upcoming at Towcester
Romeo Command is back at his favourite track looking for a sixth straight sub 29-second win there.
His return from injury has been superb but he is going to have to be on his mettle in the 2.52. Droopys Extragud to his immediate right will want to be moving left to the rails and he has recent Gone To The Dogs – Live! scorer Fabulous Sonique on his left. Add in Keefill Rocky who was runner-up to him in the recent BGBF Greyhound Stud Book Trophy Final in six and it’s a strong contest.
Phil Milner will have Keefill Maverick later on the card at 4.07. His two starts here have were both in the Derby. He is taking on a solid bitch in Bockos Sapphire today. The final standard contest at 5.54 contains another Milner runner in Keefill Goose who has Droopys Doughnut to take on as well as Bombay Nutty who was the 29.20 winer of a maiden here two starts back.
Sheffield also in action this afternoon
The Standard Final at 4.24 is the pick of the action with 11 spots covering three of the six last week.
Innfield Storm was marginally the quicker of the two heat winners. Tom Heilbron’s pup clocked 28.84, turning in front and never looking in danger. She has five spots in hand over Stephen Naylor’s Catunda Ciaran who was the other heat winner. He got the better of a decent tussle with Cornelius Condon’s Bombay Mercury by three-quarters of a length. Heilbron also has Trinity Brett and Silverhill Ben with the field completed by Senahel Tedster for Chris Fereday.
Farneys Willie steps back up to six bends for the first time since August for Richard Wales in the final contest at 5.57. He was only beaten a length when fourth in the final of the Bresbet Steel City Cup last week. He already has the quickest 660m of the year to his credit and three of the top five runs over this far.
Stats
- Romeo Command – 2.52 Towcester – 8/9 in the white jacket at the track.
- Newinn Luna – 4.42 Sheffield – 6/10 in A3 grade.
- Bennys Champ – 7.33 Crayford – 7/11 from trap two here.
- Foxrock Donie – 8.43 Clonmel – 5/6 when running in an A2.
Opens
Friday: Romford
