Yet another English Derby winner for Tipperary’s ‘Golden’ greyhound trainer

Golden, trainer Graham Holland won the blue tiband of greyhound racing for the second year in succession when Gaytime Nemo, one of three dogs trained by him to reach the final, won the title and £175,000 prize money.
Gaytime Nemo, owned and bred by Brendan O’Connell of Blarney, county Cork, a member of a long-established family of greyhound owners and breeders, had been a late inclusion on Holland’s team for the classic at Towcester after being injured early this year.

However he made a sensational comeback and though the outsider of Holland’s three finalists, belied his odds of 9/1 with a very fast break from traps and he led all the way to win in a time of 28.89 seconds over 500 metres.

After the race, Holland said: “The pressure was on with three in the final: Swords Rex, who was unbeaten, and Clona Duke, the track record holder, and we didn’t mind which one won.
“Nemo was a late entry as he was injured in January and had gone well in a few sprints after coming back racing, and we took the chance and entered him.

“He got better with each outing and when he led in the final, he wasn’t going to be beaten.”
Swords Rex, unbeaten throughout the Derby, was the hot odds-on favourite and the second string was Clona Duke, who broke the track record in the semi-finals.

However, when Clona Duke and Swords Rex came out in fifth and sixth places, their chances had gone and it was their kennelmate Gaytime Nemo who went around the first bend two lengths in front of Romeo Command.

Down the far side Nemo never relented and maintained his clear advantage, while Swords Rex moved into third place.
However, the leader wasn’t stopping and he came home three and a half lengths clear of Romeo Command in a fast 28.89sec.
Cochise was a further three lengths back in third, a head in front of Swords Rex. Clona Duke and Ninja Kerry, involved in first-bend trouble, were fifth and sixth respectively.

ANOTHER DERBY WIN
Holland, who has trained three winners of the Irish Derby from his Riverside Kennels outside Golden, won the English title last year for the first time with Romeo Magico.
Last weekend was a wonderful occasion for him, his wife Nicky, daughter Rachel who led the winner out and handled him on Saturday night, and also for his sons, Christopher, and Timmy, who was in charge at home, bringing runners to Shelbourne Park.