The sun shone, the crowds turned out and a briliant Derby undercard all delivered.
Picking out a particular performance is impossible but the return of the Greyhound of the Year Droopys Clue in the opener set a bar that was never lowered.
Richie Taberner’s transformation of the early paced middle distance star Aero Sacundai into one of the top sprinters in training was confirmed when the Winter Derby finalist set a new sprint track record in the Hope Jeal Sprint Trophy Final.
The youth were represented by Wicky Ned whose path towards the 2025 Derby took another step forward with a win in the Genco Puppy Invitation. While Barntick Bear confirmed his adult career will be over six bends with a hugely impressive win in the Steve O’Malley six bend invitation.
Bear’s kennelmate Romeo Command, just beaten in last year’s feature event, won the British bred competition, the second leg of a double for Patrick Janssens following Not So Slow‘s sprint win earlier in the evening.
while Clairekeith Remy beat another 2023 finalist, Cochise in the battle of the Hove pensioners. Overall it was a good night for the South Coast with Gary The Arb winning for Belinda Green and Haka Carlo obliging for Jason Heath.
Two of the finest bitches in training, Crafty Shivoo and Queen Joni won their respective races.
The Salacres Team, who hosted the Derby winner and were all (allegedly) on the Derby winner at 28s, helped themselves to some 10/1 about the night’s biggest priced winner, Salacres Tipster.
The meeting concluded in a tradition going back to pre-war years with the Dorando Marathon. It was won by the no.1 marathon hound in training, Ballymac Taylor.
But then, it was a fitting end on a night that belonged to the Ballymacs from Ballymacelligott
DROOPYS CLUE (t4 2nd from right) leads at the first bend in Saturday’s opener – named by Star Sports in memory of Maurice Newman – clocking 28.72 Photo: © Steve Nash
NOT SO SLOW wins the Final Farewell to GTV Sprint from My Lennie (t6). Photo: © Steve Nash
CLAIREKEITH REMY (t3) disputes lead wth Ballyblack Speed (t2) in the StarSports.Bet trophy Photo: © Steve Nash
BARNTICK BEAR (t1) leads at the first bend to win 712m Steve O’Malley Top Betting Shop Manager Stakes. Photo: © Steve Nash
AERO SACUNDAI setting new figures for the 270m trip with an impressive Hope Jeal Sprint Trophy Final victory in 15.35 Photo: © Steve Nash
QUEEN JONI (t4) leads Kilara Roberto (t5) at the bend in the £5000 Townview Kennels Derby Plate Final Photo: © Steve Nash
QUEEN JONI. Derby Plate winner Photo: © Steve Nash
WICKY NED (t3) takes early control on the way to winning the Genco Puppy Invitation Trophy Final Photo: © Steve Nash
SALACRES TIPSTER (t4 right) wins Molson Coors Derby Invitation from Coss Tokyo (t2) Photo: © Steve Nash
ROMEO COMMAND after winning the BGBF TruFrame Champion Stakes Final Photo: © Steve Nash
BALLYMAC TAYLOR rounds off the Derby night action with a comfortable Fox Sports Dorando Marathon win – pictured around halfway in the finale. Photo: © Steve Nash
After Derby entertainment by EAST 17 – caught giving instructions to the sound desk, possibly to turn down their stage monitors Photo: © Steve Nash
