 BALLYBRAZIL HERO revived trainer Brian Clemenson's hopes of a first Trainers' Championship title when leading home a one-two for the Hove handler in the Betfred Eclipse Stakes final at Nottingham on Monday.
Despite going into the Category One decider undefeated, he went off an easy-to-back 3-1 chance as weight of money ensured Droopys Shearer went to traps a warm 6-4 favourite.
First to show at trap-rise was the Clemenson second-string Smooth Honcho, who showed a nice turn of foot to take command at the corner. With slow- starting Droopys Shearer taking a bump at the first and second bends, it was left to Ballybrazil Hero to give chase to the pacesetter.
Although three lengths adrift of the leader at half-way, Ballybrazil Hero was moving ominously well and, running the top bends superbly, was on his rival's shoulder as they turned into the home straight.
It was no great surprise that he powered past, pulling away to win by better than two lengths in a useful 30.53sec on a track that, having been salted, was running markedly slow.
This was Ballybrazil Hero's second Category One success of the year following his victory in the Sussex Cup, and Clemenson's fourth.
He picks up 50 trainer Championship Points for the win along with a further ten for runner-up Smooth Honcho and five more for Buy The Rumour making the final. That takes him into second place in the Trainers' standings with 973 points, although he still trails runaway leader Charlie Lister by 126.
Clemenson said: "Charlie will be very hard to catch but there's still plenty of racing left in the season. Whatever happens we won't give up trying."
Of the final he said: "Ballybrazil Hero was foot-perfect throughout the competition and I think he fully deserved his success. Smooth Honcho has a lot of early but even though he went clear I always thought Hero would pick him up over this trip.
"I'd like to keep both of them on the go as they're running so well. The Henlow Derby is a likely target for Smooth Honcho, but we'll have to look in the Calendar for something more suitable for Ballybrazil Hero."
The Eclipse was Betfred's first major sponsorship of greyhound racing. Spokesman Paul Quigley said: "We're still having a stewards enquiry at Betfred how we were ever 33-1 ante-post, a point connections made as they thanked me for the company's generosity having availed themselves of the price. Thankfully we got most of it back by getting stuck into the favourite for the final.
"I'd like to thank the hosts for all their help, and the owners and trainers who made the competition such a success. It's Betfred's first major venture into greyhound sponsorship and spurred on by this success we've signed up with Nottingham to back the Eclipse for a further three years."
by Peter Meldrum - Racing Post 01/12/2004 BACK TO TOP ^ |
