Newinn Taylor confirmed his standing as one of the great greyhounds of recent times with an incredible display of pace, class and pure determination to win the 2020 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night.
Simon Taylor’s brilliant son of Droopys Buick and Newinn Expert, who was born and reared in New Inn, Co Tipperary, held the gallant effort of Meenagh Miracle by a half-length in 29.61. Less than a year after winning his debut in sensational fashion at Shelbourne Park, Newinn Taylor has racked up sixteen wins from eighteen career starts. He has won every competition he has ever entered and became the first Produce Stakes (hosted in Clonmel Greyhound Stadium) winner to go on and capture an Irish Derby title.
He has been expertly trained and prepared by Graham Holland, who has joined some of the greatest handlers in the history of the sport on three Derby wins.
There was no crowd and no Derby roar but somehow there was a real sense of occasion about the night. The race itself was an incredible spectacle and offered up so many talking points including the deflating news that Pestana picked up an injury at the opening turn after finding bad traffic problems. Thankfully, initial reports suggested he will be operated on and should be back on his feet in the future. For owners Des Grace and Tipperary based trainer Owen McKenna it was a gut-wrenching blow. Their pride and joy, who had captured the imagination of greyhound audiences had won every round on his way to the final.
But the evening belonged to Newinn Taylor, owner Simon Taylor and Graham Holland and the ever-unpredictable nature of greyhound racing.
Heading towards the finish line a shock seemed on the cards but clearly Newinn Taylor was meant to win this Derby. He drifted off the final turn leaving plenty of room up the inside for Meenagh Miracle to go through but she had already made her move. Like a goalkeeper wrong-footed, she had taken her first step to the right and was hell bend on making her move on the outside of Newinn Taylor. If she had been a further length behind, it may have been a different story but that is very much a ‘what if’ scenario. However, it was the destiny of Newinn Taylor to win the 2020 Boylesports Irish Derby and he wouldn’t be denied. Ballymac Cooper was just two length behind in third, while Kilara Icon was just a neck adrift in fourth.
It was certainly a memorable Derby final and, ultimately, the best greyhound emerged triumphant. He may have been the last dog to leave the boxes but his brilliant early dash and desire to win carried him to the front before the corner and the rest, as they say, is history.
