2009 GREYHOUND DERBY

The 2009 Greyhound Derby Final

An excellent clip of the 2009 Greyhound Derby Final was produced by Sky and lasts 1 minute 11 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSCi6PLeKaQ

This race was run at Wimbledon on Saturday 30th May 2009

The most successful winner throughout the early Rounds was Trap 2 Ballymac Ruso and he was strongly fancied to follow up in the final, although Wise Thought had the plum outside draw and Fear Zafonic, the antepost favourite, still had her supporters having been awarded her favoured inside berth. As the boxes went up it was Fear Zafonic who led from Ballymac Ruso, but as they went around the first bend Fear held a clear lead of some 3 lengths from Kinda Ready, as Ballymac Ruso and Farloe Reason suffered severe bumping. Down the far side and Fear Zafonic maintained a clear 4 length lead, persistently followed by Kinda Ready and Wise Thought. Around the final bend Fear still held a 2 1/2 length lead, but on the run in Kinda Ready chipped away at the lead and eventually got up to win by a neck with Wise Thought never a factor in third. After significant early crowding, Farloe Reason, Ballymac Ruso and Glenard Sunrise were never factors and finished in that order.

SEMI FINALS (23rd May)

First Semi Final

It was Trap 3, Ballymac Ruso, who was made the 7/4 favourite in a closely fought 3 way battle at the head of the market, and in the event the market got it exactly right. Ballymac was quick away from the boxes and matched early strides with Jogadusc Ace on the inside. At the first turn Ballymac took up the running and continued to lead throughout. Whilst Fear Zafonic and Stop The Show were both bumped at the first, effectively ending Fear's chances of winning, Wise Thought had a clear passage on the wide outside and came home second, albeit a length and half behind Ballymac Ruso, who won the semi in an impressive 28.47. Fear Zafonic was 5 3/4 lengths back in third, denying Stop The Show a place in the final by a length.

Second Semi Final

In the second semi it was Trap 2 Farloe Reason that went off the strongly fancied 5/4 favourite, closely followed by Bubbly Maestro and Glenard Sunrise at 3/1. As the traps lifted it was Love Mac and Glenard Sunrise who broke smartly with Glenard managing to lead around the first bend, missing any bumping that affected his 5 rivals. Glenard led throughout, making all in 28.77 and winning by a length and a half, with Kinda Ready, despite bumping, running on strongly to gain second. A further length behind was the favourite, Farloe Reason, who had suffered bumping throughout, just holding on by a short head from Cabra Boss in third.

QUARTER FINALS (19th May)

First Quarter Final

In the first quarter final Wise Thought, the new ante post favorite, was made odds on in the outside box, with Ja Mann quietly fancied on the inside. At the first bend it was Trap 3 Jogadusc Ace who broke smartest to lead Wise Thought and Ja Mann on the inside. As Ja Mann went wide at the bend it took out Deanridge Fury to allow Love Mac to move into third. Down the far side Jogadusc kept up a good gallop and maintained a length lead over Wise Thought, but as they came round the final bend Wise Thought (4/5 f)  took it up and ran on strongly to score by a length and a quarter in 28.69 from Jogadusc Ace (20/1) with Love Mac claiming the third qualifying spot.

Second Quarter Final

In the second quarter final Trap 2 Kinda Ready was made favourite from the highly regarded Cabra Fly. From the boxes Cabra Fly and Bubbly Maestro broke quickly, but it was Bubbly who led around the first bend, followed by Cabra Boss, Cabra Fly and Kindred Sparky. Bubbly extended his lead down the far side and around the final bend was 3 lengths clear. At the line Bubbly Maestro won by 2 3/4 lengths in the fastest time of the Derby 28.53. Cabra Boss claimed second spot with Kinda Ready running on strongly to claim the final qualifying spot.

Third Quarter Final

In a closely matched, 'heat of death' it was the 3 Charlie Lister inside runners that contested favouritism. From the boxes it was Ballymac Ruso who led from Fear Zafonic and Farloe Reason with Greenwell River in fourth. Ballymac maintained his lead around the second bend and a good tussle ensued between kennel companions Farloe and Fear Zafonic. Around the final bend Ballymac Ruso ran on strongly to score by 3/4 length at 4/1 in 28.51, the fastest time of the night. Farloe claimed second spot, also 4/1, with Fear Zafonic just holding on from the fast finishing Shelbourne Aston.

Fourth Quarter Final

In the final quarter final Trap 4 Windy Millar was made odds on favourite at 1/2 from Glenard Sunrise at 5/2. As the lids went up it was Glenard Sunrise who led on the inside from Windy Millar and Stop The Show, but as they went around the first bend Stop the Show clipped the heals of the favourite and put paid to Windy Millars hopes. Around the second bend Shelbourne Denny took over second place some lengths behind the strong running Glenard Sunrise who won in 28.77 by 4 1/4 lengths, with Shelbourne Denny second and Stop the Show claiming the final qualifying place.

THIRD ROUND HEATS (16th May)

SECOND ROUND HEATS (8th & 9th May)

Strike rate on second round heats:- 44% top rated winners;

FIRST ROUND HEATS (1st & 2nd May)

Strike rate on first round heats:- 58% top rated winners;

SCOTTISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Shawfield)

IRISH GREYHOUND DERBY (Shelbourne Park)

Email me at johnwslusar@gmail.com if you have pictures of the event or a racecard.