Скачать или смотреть Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby Semi-Finals 2016

The icing on this particular cake was that Sonic and Rural Hawaii won their heats impressively while Sidarian Pearl also qualified comfortably in third place.
The other big story is that last year’s champion Ballymac Matt finished third behind Sonic and Liam Dowling’s dog will be bidding to become only the second greyhound ever to successfully defend his title. The line-up for the final will be completed by Gerry Melia’s Holycross Leah and Owen McKenna’s Escapism. It has all the ingredients for a very special contest on a very special occasion.
SONIC IN COMMAND
Sonic has visibly grown as a greyhound through this year’s Derby and he will now certainly start favourite to claim the €125,000 winner’s purse next weekend following a truly brilliant display in the opening semi -final.
Much had been made of his trap five draw, but the son of Knockglass Billy and Vickis Dream made light work of his assignment as he posted a magnificent 29.40 on a track that was clearly running a little slower than normal.
Sent to traps the evens favourite, Sonic soon took charge. Making his fastest start of the Derby thus far, the Graham Holland trained superstar soon headed the other fast starter, Ela Alecko, to lead the field into the bend.
Once doing so there was never any doubt about the result. Ela Alecko turned second, but had little chance of containing Escapism, who entered the back in third, while defending champion Ballymac Matt was fourth and was also too close for comfort.
Sonic duly raced to an emphatic three length verdict over the fast finishing Escapism, while Ballymac Matt finished well to keep his dream of defending his title alive a further two lengths back in third.
HAWAII RULES
The Graham Holland domination of the Derby continued in the second semi-final where he was represented by Sidarian Pearl and Rural Hawaii and they both qualified for the final.
From traps it was the remarkably consistent Rural Hawaii out from for owners Helen and Michael O’Dwyer and the son of Head Bound and Duck Fat led up from Holycross Leah with Sidarian Pearl and Roxholme Barkley next.
The finishing order was basically decided on the opening bends as Rural Hawaii led into the back by over three lengths from Holycross Leah and it was then four lengths to Sidarian Pearl in third. The latter was now clear of the rest of the field. Holycross did make ground into the third bend and there were fears that Rural Hawaii’s habit of running very wide turning for home might prove costly.
Not a bit of it! Rural Hawaii drifted very wide as usual but he was galloping very strongly and he remained firmly in charge up the straight as he raced to a two and a half winning margin over Holycross Leah in 29.58 with Sidarian Pearl some four lengths third.
Boylesports Derby Final
1 HOLYCROSS LEAH
2 SIDARIAN PEARL
3 BALLYMAC MATT
4 SONIC (M)
5 ESCAPISM (W)
6 RURAL HAWAII (W)