The 2003 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 20 September 2003.
The winner Climate Control won €150,000 and was trained by Seamus Graham, owned by Kevin Smith & Aidan O'Regan and bred by Ailish and Aisling McCann. The race was sponsored by the Paddy Power.
Final result At Shelbourne, 20 September (over 550 yards): PositionWinnerBreedingTrapSPTimeTrainer1st Climate Control Larkhill Jo - Ballinclare Star 5 4-5f 29.71 Seamus Graham2nd Mustang Mega Roanokee - Knockeevan Joy 4 7-2 29.85 Stephen Bourke3rd Maryville Rumble Smooth Rumble - Budwiser Mary 6 8-1 29.88 Francie Murray4th La Fontaine Split the Bill - Bunnys Joy 1 25-1 29.99 Andy Iaonnou5th First Charter Jamella Prince - Newbridge Girl 3 50-1 30.00 Reggie Roberts6th Droopys Joel Droopys Kewell - Droopys Choice 2 7-2 30.07 Fraser Black
Distances 1¾, neck, 1¼, short-head, ¾ (lengths)
Competition Report Climate Control led the ante-post betting for the 2002 Irish Derby. The blue dog had won the Consolation Stakes the previous year and had maintained good form since, even recovering from a hock injury at one stage. Serene Rumble was next in the ante-post list with World Class just behind.
Owen McKenna's Droopys Oasis was the first to impress in round one recording 29.74 and in round two Borna Pilot went even faster setting the best time so far (29.59). World Class was the first major name to eliminated before round three.
After the completion of round three there were six unbeaten greyhounds, they were Droopys Oasis, Droopys Agassi, Climate Control, Serene Rumble, Bookie Burglar and Maryville Rumble but Serene Rumble was withdrawn injured from the competition.
Only Droopys Agassi and Bookie Burglar remained unbeaten after the quarter-finals with the two remaining heats going to Kings Cadet and Mustang Mega. The first semifinal saw Kings Cadet break a hock when prominent and despite hampering Climate Control the latter won from the dead heating second place pair of First Charter and Maryville Rumble. Droopys Joel provided a shock result in the second heat after taking advantage of Droopys Agassi and Bookie Burglar bumping into each other, both were eliminated. Mustang Mega and La Fontaine sealed the final two places.
Climate Control took control of the final with a turn of early pace that saw him pull clear of the challenging First Charter and Mustang Mega. Climate Control won from Mustang Mega and the strong finishing Maryville Rumble talking third. The presentation was conducted by the Irish president Mary McAleese.
Quarter-finals
Heat 1 (Sep 6)PosName SP Time 1st Mustang Mega 5-4f 29.862nd First Charter 5-1 30.283rd La Fontaine 6-1 30.384th Special Trick 6-1 30.455th Top General 2-1 00.00N/R Serene Rumble
Heat 2 (Sep 6)PosName SP Time 1st Kings Cadet 3-1 29.712nd Climate Control 9-10f 29.813rd Priceless Rebel 20-1 29.954th Droopys Oasis 3-1 30.135th Sinabhfuilbertie 50-1 30.156th Drumsna College 20-1 30.50
Heat 3 (Sep 6)PosName SP Time 1st Droopys Agassi 5-2f 29.692nd Droopys Joel 7-2 29.793rd Maryville Rumble 3-1 29.854th Kanoute 4-1 29.995th Goldmember 8-1 30.096th Jewel Nikita 6-1 30.16
Heat 4 (Sep 6)PosName SP Time 1st Bookie Burglar 5-2 30.032nd Borna Pilot 7-4f 3rd Chestnut Jet 8-1 4th Simply Vintage 20-1 5th Mobhi Gamble 3-1 6th Killaharra Dream 12-1
Semifinals
First Semifinal (Sep 13)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st Droopys Joel 11-4 29.732nd Mustang Mega 5-1 29.783rd La Fontaine 66-1 29.924th Bookie Burglar 10-1 29.945th Priceless Rebel 20-1 30.126th Droopys Agassi 4-5f 30.19
Second Semifinal (Sep 13)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st Climate Control 5-4f 29.802nd Maryville Rumble 8-1 30.01+2nd First Charter 66-1 30.01+4th Chestnut Jet 20-1 30.085th Borna Pilot 5-2 30.186th Kings Cadet 11-4 30.18 +dead-heat
See also 2003 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References