If there is ever a book produced about the history of Irish greyhound racing, Born Warrior is unlikely to find his name in the ‘Fastest Winners’ section. (Though he will feature on the Irish Derby winners table where so many of ‘superstars’ do not.)
But somewhere after the chapter on the O’Donnell family, as Irish Derby breeders and trainers, (next to the McKenna chapter of course), there should be a section donated to ‘gutsiest hounds’ or possibly ‘most consistent trappers’ (31 of his last 32 sectionals are 1s). Perhaps the fairest would be ‘dogs who won a Derby over a distance probably 50 yards further than their optimal.’ (An English Derby equivalent would feature I’m Slippy).
If any of this sounds disparaging, it shouldn’t. But when the history books show an 11-2 SP winning in 29.53, and a PB of 29.46, they don’t begin to explain the brilliance of the training or the early pace that was consistently able to destroy the cream of Irish racing for a complete lap.
Nor will they show the flame of enthusiasm that will keep burning within hundreds of owners in forthcoming Derbys. . ‘he’s really only a 525 yard dog, but . . .”
No, when Born Warrior features in the History of Irish Greyhound Racing it will be in the first paragraph of the chapter headed ‘Most aptly named greyhounds to have won the Irish Derby’
In terms of other performances on the night, Swords Rex was only 12 spots outside Paradise Madison’s freakish ten year old track record (27.67). In fact only Ballymac Araminta (27.70) has gone quicker than Rex in the last ten years. A mention too for fastest 550 winner on the night Kildare – showing that English and Irish Derby form isn’t so different after all.
Jenna Boyle Presents the trophy to John Mitchell and the Whatever-you Like-Syndicate after Born Warrior won the 2022 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park , Also inc are Jennifer O Donnell (Trainer), Matthew and Frances O’Donnell, Dolores Ruth, Frank Nyhan Chairman GRI and Peter Burke Minister for Local Goverment and Planning
