Graham Holland “does okay”. He is “just very lucky to have so many good dogs”. He “finds out every day how much I don’t know about training.” He “just let my dogs do the talking” You get the idea.
So when so when the multi time champion Irish trainer concedes that Clares Rocket “is probably the best dog I have ever trained”, it should be taken in context from the master of underplay.
On Saturday night at Shelbourne Park, the Produces Stakes winner produced another stunning performance to land the €15,000 Doire Construction Champion Stakes.The 1-6f, may have benefited by the withdrawal of kennelmate Highview Rocket – but then maybe it was irrelevant. The white trapped in front from five and then saw his inside three neighbours try to occupy they same three foot strip at the centre of the Shelbourne run-up.
The favourite cleared the first bend clear of Droopys Awesome. When they met in the heats, the margin between the pair had been seven lengths. When the money was up for grabs, Fraser Black’s runner managed to keep the margin down to two and a half lengths though he had no answer to the brilliance of the winner.
It was Rocket’s 13th win in his last 14 races though the time of 29.29 was 10 spots slower than the qualifier – which was the second fastest time ever over course and distance.
Holland said: “I thought the one ran very well. He was the one you didn’t want to see on your tail and although Rocket was three clear along the backstraight, the runner-up never let him away. The time was back a little bit. I think the track was very safe but more ‘normal’ than ‘fast’. I also think Rocket took quite a lot out of himself in the heats. Thankfully he has come off in good order.”
It was a sensational night for the kennel who had six winners at Shelbourne – plus a couple at Cork – and it was the other performances that put Rocket’s run into some perspective for Holland.
He said: “Rural Hawaii (29.78) ran well but might have lost a bit by being overexcited. But Skywalker Rory, who is a top, top class dog who has won a Leger, clocked 29.53, which is all that needs to be said about Rocket’s time. I think he has to be the best I have handled”
The Holland sextet was completed by Mullaca Pyscho (29.87) plus over the 525 yard trip: Vancouver Colin (28.54) and Riverside Oscar (28.58) who beat another kennelmate Ballydoyle Honey by a short head.
Holland said: “Honey came in as a reserve over 525 and ran a brilliant race, I was delighted with her.”
His Irish Derby team will not re-appear on a track again before the start of the event on August 11.
