Graham Holland is hoping his Bockos Crystal can make it through Saturday’s semi-finals of the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby – keeping alive hopes of landing a fourth victory in the famous race.
Already on the Derby Roll of Honour with Rural Hawaii (2016) Lenson Bocko (2019) and Newinn Taylor (2020), the Englishman has once again teamed up with Lenson Bocko’s part-owners Bev Lochead and Graham Box with Bockos Crystal, whom Box bought from breeder Ronny Wuyts.
The three-year-old daughter of Droopys Sydney and Vigorous Hilary lines up in a red-hot second semi-final of the Irish Derby against leading contenders De Lahdedah and Coolavanny Hoffa – but Holland feels this experienced and talented tracker can play her part in what is a top-class contest.
“Look, it’s all about qualifying at this stage,” he says. “There’s no margin for error in semi-finals and it’s always a case of being so close, yet so far perhaps. We’ve been lucky enough to win Irish and English Greyhound Derbys so know how good success feels, but we’ve also suffered disappointments along the way. Never count your chickens.
“Bockos Crystal has always been top class. She won the Shelbourne 600 last year, reached the Easter Cup final this year, and has beaten the likes of Ballinabola Ed and Bobsleigh Dream, both brilliant greyhounds, so Saturday’s challenge will not faze her.
“She’s taking on De Lahdedah and Coolavanny Hoffa, two greyhounds who have pretty much dominated the betting on the Irish Derby from the off – I’ve been especially impressed by De Lahdedah – but Bockos Crystal has mixed with the best throughout her career.
“She starts and stays well and, if anything, has come back after a break showing a lot more early pace. That’s serving her well and we’re drawn the right side of The Other Kobe who definitely prefers the rails – if she breaks well she’ll be fine.”
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