The 2009 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 12 September 2009.
The winner College Causeway won €175,000 and was trained by Pat Buckley, owned by the Mike & Vincent McKenna and bred by Frank Culloty. The race was sponsored by the Paddy Power.
Final result At Shelbourne, 12 September (over 550 yards): PositionWinnerBreedingTrapSectionalSPTimeTrainer1st College Causeway Go Wild Teddy - College Tina 53.57 5-4f 29.53 Pat Buckley2nd Oran Classic Top Honcho - Jo Bluebell 23.48 11-2 29.67 John 'Ginger' McGee Sr.3rd Cashen Legend Balintore Brave - Fergus Gold 43.54 7-1 29.77 Chris Houlihan4th Faypoint Man Yeah Man - Go Wild Donna 3 3.55 9-2 29.98 Owen McKenna5th Shaneboy Lee Brett Lee - Shaneboy Ruth 6 3.59 4-1 30.16 Denis Kiely6th Belvedere Champ Droopys Maldini - Belvedere Tina 1 3.63 25-1 30.17 Michael O'Donovan
Distances 1½, 1¼, 2½, 1¾, 2¼, short-head (lengths)
Competition report College Causeway (a 2008 semi-finalist) broke the track record setting a new mark of 29.21 in the first round and is cut from 16–1 to 8–1 to win the competition. Defending champion Shelbourne Aston went out in round two. The challenge of Scottish Greyhound Derby winner Cabra Cool ended in round two and Champion stakes winner Fatboyz Nodrog was eliminated in round three but Easter Cup champion Droopys Joel made it to the quarter-finals.
Three of the quarter-finals were won by Royal Tornado, Cashen Legend and Oran Classic with Droopys Noel managing only fourth. College Causeway continued his winning ways and securing a fourth successive victory in 29.47, the best of the round.
In the semi-finals College Causeway beat Shaneboy Lee and Oran Classic; Slip the Lark was eliminated as was Mid West Blue who went out at the same stage as he did the previous year. Cashen Legend defeated Faypoint Man and Belvedere Champ in the second semi-final in a time of 29.87.
When the traps opened in the final Oran Classic from trap two forged out a good lead by halfway, Cashen Legend was prominent but College Causeway was positioned last out of the second bend before slipping inside some of the field by halfway. Oran Classic had a good lead but by the fourth bend College Causeway was making ground. College Causeway went passed Oran Classic on the run-in to complete an unbeaten campaign. Buckley dominated throughout the derby having 5 of the 8 heat winners in the 3rd round while College Causeway remained unbeaten throughout the derby and broke the track record in the opening round.
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (Aug 29)PosName SP Time 1st College Causeway 11-10f 29.472nd Shaneboy Lee 5-2 29.683rd Belvedere Champ 14-1 29.924th Deanridge Fury 7-1 29.985th Contador 12-1 30.126th Mecano 7-1 30.40
Heat 2 (Aug 29)PosName SP Time 1st Cashen Legend 7-1 29.822nd Slip The Lark 3-1 29.963rd Three One Three 20-1 30.064th Corporate Attack 14-1 30.075th St Louis Spirit 7-4f 30.216th Tyrur Giovanni 3-1 30.32
Heat 3 (Aug 29)PosName SP Time 1st Oran Classic 6-1 29.652nd Faypoint Man 4-5f 29.703rd Mid West Blue 10-1 29.844th Droopys Noel 5-1 29.955th Global Hope 20-1 30.006th Magna Venturer 5-1 30.02
Heat 4 (Aug 29)PosName SP Time 1st Royal Tornado 9-2 29.732nd Airport Pilot 5-1 29.873rd Group Skater 25-1 29.944th Mesedo Blue 9-4 30.085th Scolari Me Daddy 2-1f 30.296th Must Be Keano 6-1 30.30
Semi finals
First Semi-final (Sep 5)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st College Causeway 9-10f 29.532nd Shaneboy Lee 7-2 29.673rd Oran Classic 6-1 29.724th Slip The Lark 4-1 29.835th Mid West Blue 20-1 29.936th Group Skater 33-1 29.94
Second Semi-final (Sep 5)PosName of Greyhound SP Time 1st Cashen Legend 7-2 29.632nd Faypoint Man 1-1f 29.643rd Belvedere Champ 14-1 29.924th Airport Pilot 7-1 30.235th Three One Three 16-1 30.296th Royal Tornado 7-2 30.46
See also 2009 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References