Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Co. Limerick
Saturday, July 15th
Susie strikes to become first Time Graders Derby winner
HEADLEYS SUSIE became the first winner of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Graders Derby with an all-the-way victory in the €5,000 final over 525yd at Limerick.
A new competition confined to A4 greyhounds, 12-dog qualifiers were held at six tracks – Galway, Tralee, Newbridge, Clonmel, Kilkenny, Thurles – each worth €1,000 to the winner before the winners lined-up in the grand final at Limerick.
Trapping smartly, the May 21 daughter of Good News and Pennylane Star, winner of the Tralee qualifier, edged wide on the run-up but was clear of her field and made all for a length success over fast-finishing Fantasy Tuppence and Proud Mercurial.
The winning time was 28.93sec, with the winning distances a length and the same, and the performance delighted trainer John Walsh, who praised Time Greyhound Nutrition for supporting the initiative from Greyhound Racing Ireland.
“This was a fabulous stake for the small lads and we are really delighted to win it,” he said of his two-year-old runner owned by Nick Cotter. “I thought she might lead and thankfully the line came in time for her.”
Willie Rigney of Time Greyhound Nutrition congratulated winning connections, commenting: “This was novel way to support grassroots racing and we were delighted to get involved when GRI approached us.“
“This competition gives the ordinary greyhound man a chance for a sizeable pot. It’s the grassroots man and woman who keep the whole thing going.”