Greyhounds
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It was destined to be the last ever White City Derby and 207 entries, including 30 Irish runners, paid their fees for a shot at history.
The 8-1 odds suggested the £25K winner’s prize would go to a highly rated second season son of Sand Man – but they got the wrong one!
The punters reckoned the previous year’s beaten favourite Game Ball would make amends and the Jerry Fisher trained dog reinforced that view with a hugely impressive win in the qualifying round clocking 29.83 (.50 slow) for the 500 metres.
Equally eye-catching, on normal going, was the Seamus Graham trained Dipmac who beat compatriot Morans Beef in 29.34.A year earlier Whisper Wishes was knocked out of the Derby by Amazing Man (having beaten Game Ball in the first round!). In the 1984 qualifiers, he was again beaten by Derek Knight’s Hove runner but safely survived to the next stage.
Drawn in an easy heat for that following outing, Charlie Coyle’s black won in 29.56 but was outshone by Dipmac’s 29.30. The split round went well for the Irish as Lauragh Six (29.4 5) and Count Five finished in front of Game Ball who only just scraped through. Powersville Jet was impressive in 29.36.
Matt O’Donnell’s dog went even quicker at the 48 stage when clocking 29.24 as Game Ball crashed out in fourth place.
Dipmac (29.55) remained unbeaten while Whisper Wishes headed a three runner photo finish with Count Five and Morans Beef. Future Irish Derby winner Tubbercurry Lad (20-1) finished fourth.
Into the quarters and return ferry tickets were purchased for Dipmac, Brilliant Hope, Michigan Man, Count Five, Powersville Jet and Gracious. British bred pair Glatton Grange and Westmead Milos also exited.
Fastest of the night and new Derby favourite following a 2.98 sectional, and 29.32 winning time, was Whisper Wishes.
Other winners were Nippy Law (29.41), Glenbrien Champ and Proud Dodger (both 29.49).
So to the semis with six British and six Irish trained runners.
The first went to Ger McKenna’s Morans Beef in 29.52.
Whisper Wishes was again flawless in the other qualifier and was just one spot slower.
Four of the Derby finalists were trained by Irishmen, though the 7-4 favourite Whisper Wishes was handled by Surrey based Charlie Coyle.
Ger McKenna’s future Irish Greyhound of the Year Morans Beef was next in the betting at 9-4.
Future Irish Derby fourth Spartacus was a 9-2 chance while Eddie Costello’s chances of winning his first English Derby with Proud Dodger were rated at 7-1.
British bred duo House Of Hope (12) and The Jolly Norman (20) completed the sextet.
A crowd of 25,000 assembled for the historic meeting and Whisper Wishes never put a foot wrong.
The black jacketed runner trapped clear and some 29.43 seconds later had held off his only serious competitor Beef by three quarters of a length.
It was a remarkable exhibition of consistency for a dog who had flattered to deceive earlier in his career.
In his puppy year, the 30 kilo black had won the Select Stakes and the Scurry consolation final for Gill Holt.
But a record of six wins in 15 races combined with a catalogue of injuries and cramping had seen connections lose faith and sell him on to John Duffy the previous December.
Five years later, Whisper Wishes and Game Ball were renewing their rivalry in the sire’s table. Wishes was at no.1, Ball was at 27.
The 8-1 odds suggested the £25K winner’s prize would go to a highly rated second season son of Sand Man – but they got the wrong one!
The punters reckoned the previous year’s beaten favourite Game Ball would make amends and the Jerry Fisher trained dog reinforced that view with a hugely impressive win in the qualifying round clocking 29.83 (.50 slow) for the 500 metres.
Equally eye-catching, on normal going, was the Seamus Graham trained Dipmac who beat compatriot Morans Beef in 29.34.A year earlier Whisper Wishes was knocked out of the Derby by Amazing Man (having beaten Game Ball in the first round!). In the 1984 qualifiers, he was again beaten by Derek Knight’s Hove runner but safely survived to the next stage.
Drawn in an easy heat for that following outing, Charlie Coyle’s black won in 29.56 but was outshone by Dipmac’s 29.30. The split round went well for the Irish as Lauragh Six (29.4 5) and Count Five finished in front of Game Ball who only just scraped through. Powersville Jet was impressive in 29.36.
Matt O’Donnell’s dog went even quicker at the 48 stage when clocking 29.24 as Game Ball crashed out in fourth place.
Dipmac (29.55) remained unbeaten while Whisper Wishes headed a three runner photo finish with Count Five and Morans Beef. Future Irish Derby winner Tubbercurry Lad (20-1) finished fourth.
Into the quarters and return ferry tickets were purchased for Dipmac, Brilliant Hope, Michigan Man, Count Five, Powersville Jet and Gracious. British bred pair Glatton Grange and Westmead Milos also exited.
Fastest of the night and new Derby favourite following a 2.98 sectional, and 29.32 winning time, was Whisper Wishes.
Other winners were Nippy Law (29.41), Glenbrien Champ and Proud Dodger (both 29.49).
So to the semis with six British and six Irish trained runners.
The first went to Ger McKenna’s Morans Beef in 29.52.
Whisper Wishes was again flawless in the other qualifier and was just one spot slower.
Four of the Derby finalists were trained by Irishmen, though the 7-4 favourite Whisper Wishes was handled by Surrey based Charlie Coyle.
Ger McKenna’s future Irish Greyhound of the Year Morans Beef was next in the betting at 9-4.
Future Irish Derby fourth Spartacus was a 9-2 chance while Eddie Costello’s chances of winning his first English Derby with Proud Dodger were rated at 7-1.
British bred duo House Of Hope (12) and The Jolly Norman (20) completed the sextet.
A crowd of 25,000 assembled for the historic meeting and Whisper Wishes never put a foot wrong.
The black jacketed runner trapped clear and some 29.43 seconds later had held off his only serious competitor Beef by three quarters of a length.
It was a remarkable exhibition of consistency for a dog who had flattered to deceive earlier in his career.
In his puppy year, the 30 kilo black had won the Select Stakes and the Scurry consolation final for Gill Holt.
But a record of six wins in 15 races combined with a catalogue of injuries and cramping had seen connections lose faith and sell him on to John Duffy the previous December.
Five years later, Whisper Wishes and Game Ball were renewing their rivalry in the sire’s table. Wishes was at no.1, Ball was at 27.
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