In what was a hectic weekend from the Clare point of view, Sidaz Jack, bred by Ennis man Jerry Moloney, won the William Hill English Greyhound Derby. Mullagh native and Ennis-based Paddy Darcy had the honour of winning the final of the Greyhound and Petworld Golden Muzzle in Limerick. Galway track record holder, Mall Brandy, owned by another Mullagh man, Michael Casey, was on fire again at the College Road venue with a brilliant 29.83 run in a 550-yard final.

While Irish hearts were broken when hot favourites Droopys Jet and Ballymac Vic failed in their bid to land the £150,000 prize for the winner of the William Hill English Greyhound Derby final in Wimbledon last Saturday night, it was a different story for Jerry Moloney. As the one who bred the winner, Sidaz Jack, he was a proud man when joining in the celebrations with the winning connections and 73-year-old trainer, Charlie Lister.

Sidaz Jack, owned in England by Simon Wooder and Daren Johnson, produced a record-winning seventh English Derby for Lister. It was described as the most awesome of his Derby triumphs. The fact that the very inexperienced and lightly raced June 8 whelp produced the goods against the top Irish raiders made the win all the more memorable.

The white and blue son of Westmead Hawk-Ballaghboy Cool won the Derby in what was just his sixth career start. Up to his appearance in the English classic, he had just one outing when posting an exciting 28.88 in his maiden race, an A5-graded event in Galway on November 17 last.

Available at odds of 5/1 before the trap lifted, Sidaz Jack was ideally drawn on the rails and held his position as he and Droopys Jet (trap two) and Ballymac Vic (trap three) raced to the first corner. Ballymac Vic was just fractionally ahead as he tried to clear the first bend but he and Droopys Jet were baulked. Ballymac Vic came out best to put up a big challenge down the back straight. However, the advantage was with Sidaz Jack in the inside lane and once hitting the front at the third bend, he was not going to be denied. He galloped on well to the finishing line, where he had a length and a quarter on the fast-finishing Airlie Impact. The time was 28.37. Ballymac Vic was beaten a short head into third place. Unable to get a clear run, Droopys Jet finished in fifth place.

It was celebration time for Charlie Lister and the owners of Sidaz Jack, who were joined by Jerry Moloney, who travelled to London with his wife, Josephine and grandson, Ethan. He said he was quite confident  Sidaz Jack would be in the shake-up after getting the trap one draw. Among those who wished him well and joined him in Wimbledon were Joe Keane from West Clare and coursing slipper Richie Quinn and friends from Limerick.

After the race, Gerry, who will be presented with a £2,000 cheque as winning breeder, was introduced to Charlie Lister by well-known Abbeyfeale trainer, Jerry Griffin.

Sidaz Jack was previously known as Hittheroad Stud. One of a litter of seven dogs, his first owner was Denis Torpey of Clarecastle, who sold him on to the English owners after his win in Galway last November when handled by Donie Duggan from near Tulla.

The grand dam is Sues Beauty, owned by Johnny Burke, Tubber and the grand sire is Larkhill Jo.

A great supporter and member of Ennis-Clarecastle Coursing Club, Jerry received many messsages of congraulations during the week from members of the club and dog owners throughout the county.

 

No passing Darcy’s Bypass Blackie

It was also a great weekend for Paddy Darcy from ­Ennis, after his Bypass Blackie ­(Royal Impact-Ardvagga Dazl) won the final of the €12,000 Greyhound and Petworld Golden Muzzle Open 550 at a well-attended Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night.

Drawn in trap three for the top race of the night, the black was soon in front after a level break to lead at the opening bend.

Once he got in front, he seemed to be well in control and was three lengths clear by the second bend.

By the third bend his advantage had increased to four lengths on Droopys ­Banner (trap four), trained by Pat Guilfoyle for Clonlara brothers Diarmuid and Eoin Garrahy and Clare hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald.

He was always his nearest pursuer and while he gained some ground in the run-in, Bypass Blackie remained in front to claim the winner’s cheque for €5,000 prize by two lengths in a time of 29.73.

On the night of the Greyhound and Petworld finals, the other Clare winner was Tromora Roxy (Head ­Bound-Tromora Wish) owned by David Hogan, Quilty and winner of the Interchem Prowormers N2 final.

The black bitch led from the opening bend on her way to a fast 28.89 and two lengths win.

Ballymac Juice, trained by Stephen Murray for the X In Bed syndicate from Feakle, was runner-up to the Tally Ho Lee, the four lengths and 29.98 winner of the Greyhound and Petworld A1/A2 final.

Kilrush owner John Conway was third, with Wood Nina in the Red Mills A3 525 final won by Ballyelan Kewell in 28.35.

Also similarly placed in the Kasco A4 600 final was the Joe Collins-trained Scariff Hawk. The event was won in 33.20 by the Kimalock-owned Bill.

It was a close call in the Gain Dog Food A5 final, with the verdict going to Shine Rascal (29.10), who beat Inislosky Mossy, owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briebridge, by three parts of a length.

To round off a memorable night at the Limerick ­Greyhound Racing Stadium, Irish Derby winner, Skywalker Pumma, won the Greyhound and Petworld Open 550 with a record-breaking run.

The Frances O’Donnell-trained son of Royal Impact-Dianas Ranger won in 29.35, six spots better than the previous best set by Varra Rumble. The winning distance was six lengths.

There were two Clare winners in Limerick on Friday night.

Reserve runner Gerco Ranger (Droopys Kewell-Rushaun Breeze ) won an N2/N3-graded 525 for Colmaan McDonagh by three and a half lengths in 29.63 and Dunsallagh Pride (Droopys Scolari-Dunsallagh Lucy) won again for Miltown Malbay owner, Sean Hehir, this time in an S2/S3-graded sprint. He won by a length and a half in 19.11.

Placed in their races were Jenody (Jennie Griffin, Gort), Portdrine Bobby (Liam Carroll, Cratloe) and Knockdine Zac (Helen O’Briern, Miltown Malbay).

Mullagh’s Mall Brandy enjoys another brilliant run

The brilliant run by the Mullagh-owned Mall Brandy was the talk of the track at the College Road stadium on Friday night.

The Martin Fahy-trained and Michael Casey-owned son of Head Bound-Paradise Alanna, who recently set a new record for the sprint distance in Galway, won the Connacht IRFU A3 550 in  29.82, just .17 outside the track record. It was by far the best clock so far this season at College Road. Qualifying for the final  after meeting trouble on three occasions, Mall Brandy made no mistake on this occasion, winning by nine lengths from the locally owned Willrose Champ with  Muloc (Martin Griffin, Caherea) taking third spot.

Willbrook Madness (Sheepwalk Mac-Missouri) owned by Mary Davoren, Ennistymon, broke best to win the first semi-final of the Liam Brussels Memorial A56 event by a short head from the favourite, Kebab Claire, in 29.28. Feed Me Bubbly (Kim Knell, Mountshannon ) was runner-up in the second semi-final, won easily by Midland Trip (29.45).

Our Little May (Shane Curtin) and Derrylough Boy (JJ O’Dea) were second and third placed respectively in the A6 final won by Crafty Sara in 29.09.

Placed in their races were Hurler of Inagh (Niall Arthur, Inagh), Lismadine Jack (Patrick Troy, Kilkee and Conor McInerney, Clarecastle), who was third in the A2 550 final and Mad For Money, trained by Bernard Coffey for John Whelan, Sixmilebridge, who was runner-up in the A1 final won by Combo Ann in 29.09.

Repeat win for Rathmeehan Brett

A winner at the venue on June 14,  Rathmeehan Brett  won again in Galway on Thursday night for John Browne, Ballyea.

This was in the last race of the night, the top-graded A3 over 525 yards, which saw the son of Eden Brett-Rathmeehan make progress out wide at the second-last bend and go on to win by two lengths in 29.40 from Pat Hogan’s Aulton Ron.

A newcomer, Rusha Hill (Sheepwalk Mac-Mythical Girl) owned by Tom Flanagan, Russa, Ennistymon, was fastest  away in an A7-graded 350 and won by eight and a quarter lengths in 19.20. Third placed was  Willbrook Shivers (Claire Davoren, Ennistymon).

East Clare owner Kim Knell, Mountshannon, won an S6-graded 350 with Feed Me Scampi (Thurlesbeg Joker-Avonside Rioja) who got the better of Tyrur Potter on the way home to win by two and a half lengths in 19.40.

Inagh owners Cyril and Thomas Hehir got their names on the winner’s frame  after their Winword Lucky (Hondo Black-Youlbesolucky) won an A7-graded race by two and a half lengths in  29.88.

Placed in other races were Clune Topps (Michael Clancy and Pat Madigan) and Corker Maldini (Kevin Fahey, Kiltartan).

A good night for Quin trainer

With the news out that Sidaz Jack, which he  trained at one time, had just won the William Hill English Greyhound Derby in London, Donie Duggan, Knappogue, had a spring in his step as he put Fred The Pilot  to traps for the feature race in Galway on Saturday night, the open 525.

The trainer of Sidaz Jack – when he was known as Hittheroad Stud – was delighted with the performance of Fred The  Pilot, who had a two lengths advantage going down the back and stood up to the best that Tyrur Latoya had to win the featured race by a length and a quarter. The son of Cashen Legend-Shiraz Surprise  won in 29.07.

Placed in their races were Hurling Nun (Noel Mullins, Gort), Annagh Bridge (Sean Cooke, Kilbeacanty) and Blaze Bandit (Anthony Brigdale and Margaret Burns, Ennis) who were runner-up and third-placed respectively in an S5-graded sprint with the Maurice Mullaney-trained Loughan Lad, Feed Me Peaches (Kim Knell, Mountshannon) and Snuggie Jack (Myles Cummins, Newmarket-on-Fergus).