2003 Irish Greyhound Derby

2003 Paddy Power Irish Greyhound Derby
Venue	Shelbourne Park
Location	Dublin
Start date	14 August
End date	20 September
Total prize money	€150,000 (winner)

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. ^[1]

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.^{[2] [3]}

Final result

At Shelbourne, 20 September (over 550 yards):

Position	Winner	Breeding	Trap	SP	Time	Trainer
1st	Climate Control	Larkhill Jo - Ballinclare Star	5	4-5f	29.71	Seamus Graham
2nd	Mustang Mega	Roanokee - Knockeevan Joy	4	7-2	29.85	Stephen Bourke
3rd	Maryville Rumble	Smooth Rumble - Budwiser Mary	6	8-1	29.88	Francie Murray
4th	La Fontaine	Split the Bill - Bunnys Joy	1	25-1	29.99	Andy Iaonnou
5th	First Charter	Jamella Prince - Newbridge Girl	3	50-1	30.00	Reggie Roberts
6th	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.^[4]

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.^[4]

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Oasis, Droopys Agassi, Climate Control, Serene Rumble, Bookie Burglar and Maryville Rumble but Serene Rumble was withdrawn injured from the competition.^[4]

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.^[4]

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.^{[4] [5]}

Quarter-finals

^[6]

Heat 1 (Sep 6) Pos Name SP Time 1st Mustang Mega 5-4f 29.86 2nd First Charter 5-1 30.28 3rd La Fontaine 6-1 30.38 4th Special Trick 6-1 30.45 5th Top General 2-1 00.00 N/R Serene Rumble

Heat 2 (Sep 6) Pos Name SP Time 1st Kings Cadet 3-1 29.71 2nd Climate Control 9-10f 29.81 3rd Priceless Rebel 20-1 29.95 4th Droopys Oasis 3-1 30.13 5th Sinabhfuilbertie 50-1 30.15 6th Drumsna College 20-1 30.50

Heat 3 (Sep 6) Pos Name SP Time 1st Droopys Agassi 5-2f 29.69 2nd Droopys Joel 7-2 29.79 3rd Maryville Rumble 3-1 29.85 4th Kanoute 4-1 29.99 5th Goldmember 8-1 30.09 6th Jewel Nikita 6-1 30.16

Heat 4 (Sep 6) Pos Name SP Time 1st Bookie Burglar 5-2 30.03 2nd 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

^[7]

First Semifinal (Sep 13) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time 1st Droopys Joel 11-4 29.73 2nd Mustang Mega 5-1 29.78 3rd La Fontaine 66-1 29.92 4th Bookie Burglar 10-1 29.94 5th Priceless Rebel 20-1 30.12 6th Droopys Agassi 4-5f 30.19

Second Semifinal (Sep 13) Pos Name of Greyhound SP Time 1st Climate Control 5-4f 29.80 2nd Maryville Rumble 8-1 30.01+ 2nd First Charter 66-1 30.01+ 4th Chestnut Jet 20-1 30.08 5th Borna Pilot 5-2 30.18 6th Kings Cadet 11-4 30.18 +dead-heat

See also

• 2003 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year

References

1. Hobbs, Jonathan (2008). Greyhound Annual 2008, pages 177-178. Raceform. ISBN 978-1-905153-534.
2. Hobbs, Jonathan (2004). Greyhound Annual 2005, pages 164-165. Raceform. ISBN 1-904317-58-8.
3. "Irish Derby Final". Greyhound Data.
4. Fortune, Michael. The 75 Years History of the Irish Greyhound Derby. Irish Greyhound Review. ISSN 0332-3536.
5. "Remember When - September". Greyhound Star.
6. "Quarter Final results". Irish Greyhound Board.
7. "Semi Final results". Irish Greyhound Board.