Roll Of Honour

Our first dog, Soviet Steel reached the finals of the Produces Stakes and the International Grand Prix in 1997 as well as winning the Corrib Orange Open 550 final in 1998 breaking the track record in the process. 

In 1999, after buying Pinhead, we entered her in the Red Mills Champion Unraced Stake at Kilkenny, where she clocked 28.98 and 29.00 in her first 2 races winning by an aggregate margin of 20 lengths in the process.  She was unfortunately then laid off with an injury but bounced back to compete in the Irish Oaks.  She was improving with every round before she was tragically injured at the first bend, she tore her Gracilis very badly, this would be the last race of her career.

In the following year another young bitch ‘Vintage Ivy’ won a big 750 stake at Shelbourne in a time of 42.31.

In 2001, We bought ‘Tyrur Bello’ after he won his first race in Kilkenny clocking 29.01.  To give him valuable experience we entered him in the Leger as a pup where he reached the final and finished 3rd.  Tyrur Penny was our first home-bred winner, cruising to victory in Galway on the 30 November.

2002 was a memorable year.  In March, Tyrur Johnny (Spiral Nikita – Pinhead) burst onto the scene winning his second race at Shelbourne in a fast 28.58! 

Tyrur Bello then proved his worth with a series of successful campaigns.  He went for the English Derby where he was trained by Pa Fitzgerald and Patsy Byrne.  Luck eluded him however, as he was turned upside down at the first bend in the opening round.  We then sent him to Paul Hennessy to aim for victory at the Leger in Limerick.  We had a double shot in the quarter finals as Tyrur Johnny won shortly after Bello had clocked 29.84.  We didn’t reach the final with either dog however, but ‘Bello’ won the consolation final in a time of 30.10. 

Next for ‘Bello’ was the Connacht Derby where he set a mark in the first round clocking 30.12-a new track record.   We then entered him in the Irish Derby, our first attempt for the elusive prize, where he was 80/1 at the outset; in the first round the famous ‘Late Late Show’ was to meet his match as Bello overturned huge odds of 6/1 to hold the Champion dog by a short head.  He reached the final on merit and finished 4th behind the record breaking Bypass Byway.  Later that year, Tyrur Champ out of Pinhead’s second litter reached the final of the National Puppy stake but finished 4th. 

 In 2003, Tyrur Pearl (Staplers Jo – Pinhead) showed incredible pace in the produce stakes winning her quarter final in 28.71 on a very slow track (Knockeevan Major – National puppy winner clocked 29.14 in race previous).  Luck was not on her side in the semi final as she was taken out on the run up to the first bend; she was unlucky not to qualify and just failed by a ½ length! 

As the year went on Pinhead’s 3rd litter by Larkhill Jo were hitting the tracks.  Tyrur Marita reached the finals of the Newbridge Oaks as well as the prestigious Champion Bitch stake at Thurles.  Tyrur Jenny, Tyrur Dee and Tyrur Lark all notched up victories in different tracks.  We had high hopes for this litter going into the New Year.

In 2004, Tyrur Marita started the year off with a sensational 28.51 in the first round of the VC Bet open 525 at Galway breaking the previous record by 19 spots.  She reached the final but unfortunately was crowded at the first bend and failed to run home a winner. 

She was then aimed at the Tyrur Champion Bitch Stake, where again she broke the 550yds Track Record clocking 29.82 taking 29 spots off the old record, she was hotly fancied to go on and win the stake, meanwhile Tyrur Jenny (A litter sister to Marita) was improving with every run and they both reached the final.  However, it wasn’t to be as they clashed at the 3rd bend to destroy their chances. Paul Hennessy trained the first three home. 

Air Force Honcho, a dog we bought in early in 2004, won the Champion Restaurant Open 670 at Dundalk worth €15k to the winner.  He also reached the final of the Corn Cuchullain but finished 3rd.  He later went on to break 2 track records, in Dundalk he broke the 910yds Track Record and also the 1010yds Track Record at Harolds Cross. 

In September, we bought the hugely impressive Royal Emperor from Ollie Bray and renamed him Tyrur Ted, little did we know just how much joy this dog would bring.  He was knocked out of the Derby but he was bought with 2005 in mind.  He clocked a sensational 29.69 on a bitter cold night in November.  He was entered in the Laurels where he was improving with every round before being badly baulked at the first bend in his quarter final. 

Towards the end of the year also, we bought two pups Tyrur Daryl and Galdare Rooster, both of which made immediate impacts.  They were both entered in the National Puppy Stakes, but after clocking 28.47 and 28.53 respectively but Rooster got injured and Daryl crashed out in the 3rd round after being baulked at the 3rd bend.  We looked forward to 2005!!

Entering 2005, we had 3 top class greyhounds in our ownership; Tyrur Daryl, Tyrur Ted, and Galdare Rooster.  We couldn’t but dream of success!  Ted started it off in style winning the Chronicle Bookmakers Open 525 in hugely impressive fashion. 

He was entered in the Tote Gold Cup along with Galdare Rooster.  Rooster won his first round heat in 28.70 before finishing injured in the second round.  Ted kept the flag flying though as he went on to win the final by 7 length in a time of 28.25-the 2nd fastest time ever in Shelbourne Park. 

Ted then went for the Easter Cup where he was sensational winning in 28.32 and then 28.22 before coming from last to first in the semi final clocking an unbelievable 28.44!  In the final, the infamous track fiasco took place.  After entering the traps for a second time, Ted came out last, got held up at the bend.  At the second bend he was over 10 lengths down, he showed unbelievable pace to narrow the gap to just 1.5 lengths on the line. 

Tyrur Daryl suffered an injury in Cork in February and was ruled out for a couple of months, he returned with a winning 28.72 at Shelbourne.  He was then aimed at the Tipperary Cup where he ran brilliantly in the opening round before he broke his stifle in the 2nd round.  His career was effectively over. Tyrur Paddy also suffered a career ending injury in Kilkenny in a comeback race.

Tyrur Ted was the 10/1 Ante post favourite for the Derby in July and after winning the Champion Stakes semi final in sensational time his price was cut to 7/1.  In the Final he was taken out at the bend after there was a lot of crowding and was left a distance last.  A week later, he trialled 28.30 at Shelbourne.  He was ready for an attack on the Derby.

He clocked 29.65, 29.94 and 29.70 in the first three rounds and was just reaching his peak in the quarter final when his luck had deserted him.  He was almost turned over at the bend and finished 5th.  The Derby dream was over.

At the end of the year, Ted was entered in the Laurels, where he went unbeaten to claim his first classic, clocking a brilliant 28.33 in the final.  In October, another young dog; Galdare Romeo won the €10k Tote Retention 525 at Limerick clocking 28.56!

In the year of 2006, our breeding only really took off as Pinhead’s daughters started to produce flying machines.  First up was (Brett Lee / Tyrur Dee) litter.  The first dog out of this litter was Tyrur Lee, after winning his first race in 28.85 in Waterford, won 5 races in a row in Cork including the Kieran Dineen Memorial.  Comeonthecats was next as he won the Puppy Dashers 400 at Dundalk.  Tyrur Brett won 5 in a row in February and March.  Basil Basil won his first race in Shelbourne in a brilliant 28.81 in April. 

The next litter was by (Honcho Classic / Tyrur Fiona).  Tyrur Major and Tyrur Margaret were the stars here.  Major won his first race in Shelbourne in 28.89!  He then won the Macroom Motors Stakes in Cork Clocking 28.41 in the final.  Margaret won in Galway clocking 28.82 and so was aimed at the bitch stake where she clocked 30.08 and 30.20 in the first 2 rounds.  Her lack of experience came against her however and she bowed out on points.  She went to Lifford after that to the Northwest Oaks where she won the first night and was knocked out the next night but won the consolation final in 29.26!

While a raid on the Derby Lane was scrapped earlier in the year, Tyrur Ted was nearing his 4th birthday but was itching for a return to the track so with the Ladbrokes 600 in mind we prepared him especially for it.  He showed no signs of his age as he went unbeaten through his second Classic winning the final in 32.48.  It was some achievement by this great dog!  He was retired for a second time.  Towards the end of the year, Ted was reaching 4 and a half years old, he was staying with Paul Hennessy for a brief period and was jumping out of his skin, so as Paul was racing in Cork the week before the Laurels started, he brought the legend for a trial, he showed all the good signs, flying from traps and recording 28.32.  We entered Tyrur Lee, Tyrur Brett and Tyrur Ted in the Irish Laurels.  They all reached the semi finals.  Lee winning in 28.20, Brett clocking 28.55 and Ted recording winning times of 28.30 and 28.36 along the way!  Ted and Lee reached the final as Ted picked up an injury in the semi final so he was a non runner in the final.  Lee was in hard luck as he was badly baulked at the first bend and finished 4th.  On the same night at Cork, a new superstar was unleashed ‘Tyrur Lomu’ clocking 28.23 in only his third race.

Six weeks later tragedy struck then we brought him to Shelbourne for a trial.  He broke his hock badly and this was to decude the end of his racing career.

Shortly after that, Tyrur Rocky (Tyrur Debate / Rockys Swift) won the Tinys Bud Open 550 with a brilliant 29.82 run in the final. 

2007 was the year where our dreams were lived.  First we won the Joe Dunne Memorial Puppy stake with another wonder pup Tyrur Gold.  He won the first two rounds clocking 28.38 and 28.50 before coming from last place to win the final in a time of 29.15 on a slow track.  At the end of April Tyrur Pedro (Tyrur Ted / Tyrur Marita) won the Tyrur Open Puppy stake at Longford clocking 28.38 in the final from a nightmare trap 6 draw.  Two weeks later, Tyrur Lee went unbeaten in the Cox Cup at Newbridge clocking 30.15, 29.70 and 29.88 before winning the final in a time of 29.96!

In June, Tyrur Brett and Tyrur Rocky reached the final of the Leger but unfortunately they were both baulked at the first bend and failed to make up the margin.  In the same month Tyrur Kenny began his career in the Oran Majestic stake at Galway where he reached the final clocking a fast 28.76 in the second round, but he had no luck in the final.  Tyrur Bertie came on the scene also and clocked 28.47 in his second race.  In only his 8th race, he finished 2nd in the Champion Stakes behind the brilliant Razldazl Billy.

In August, Comeonthecats (Brett Lee / Tyrur Dee) won the Tipperary Cup at Thurles clocking 28.88 in the Final.  We entered 13 hopefuls for the Irish Derby.  Tyrur Gold being our main hope.  He won 2 rounds but he was pulled out injured from his quarter final with a torn hip.  We had Tyrur Rhino and Tyrur Laurel left.  Both dogs got to the semi final and recorded a semi final double.  When the draw was made for the final, Tyrur Laurel was 7/2 and Tyrur Rhino was 10/1 with the bookmakers.   When the traps opened Rhino flew from traps, he was joined at the bend by Express Ego and followed him down the back straight.  The writing was on the wall at the 3rd bend however as Rhino cut off Express Ego and passed him to take the lead.  Laurel also passed Express Ego at this stage and emerged as the main danger.  But Rhino powered up the home straight to claim our first Irish Derby.  Our dreams had come through.  It was unbelievable. 

In November, Tyrur Kenny put the icing on the cake as he won the John Morris A1 Stake (€10k to the winner) at Galway winning the final in a fat 28.62!  It was an incredible year as we bred the winners of 6 top class competitions.

2008 was another impressive year with an excellent start.  After winning the Irish Derby in 2007, we planned an attack on the Scottish and English Derbies.  We brought Tyrur Laurel and Tyrur Kieran over for trials. After some good trials we entered them in the Blue Riband event.  At the outset, Kieran was a huge 50/1 and Laurel was amongst the favourites.  We had a double in the first two rounds and in the semi final, Kieran smashed the track record clocking 28.69!  Laurel bowed out at this stage after finding trouble at the first bend!  Then in the final, after heavy rainfall the inside of Shawfield track was very heavy.  The wider runners were at an advantage.  The odds were stacked against Kieran the now 5/4 favourite.  He exploded from traps and never looked troubled as he won by 3 lengths in 29.02 on a very slow track.

So the second leg was complete, The English Derby was next.  Kieran and Laurel were again entered together and both again reached the final winning in fast times.  Kieran was sent off favourite in the final but he missed his break as did laurel and Kieran finished runner up. 

While the English and Scottish Derbies were on Tyrur Kenny was completing a brilliant double in Shelbourne Park.  First he won the Tote Gold Cup at huge odds of 33/1 in March in a fast 28.86.  Tyrur Laurel finished runner up as Tyrur Bertie finished 4th.  Next was the Easter Cup, where there were no big prices as Kenny reached the final at ease clocking fast times.  In the final Advantage Johnny set the pace but Kenny swept him away at the 3rd bend and went on to win his second classic in a time of 29.91! 

We had a strong team for the Irish Derby but injuries got the better of our dogs.  Tyrur Luke and Tyrur Laurel reached the quarter final, but first bend crowding destroyed any chances of a second Irish Derby in succession.

In the last quarter of the year, Tyrur Lee after passing his 4th Birthday in June was flying in Galway.  He won the VC Bet Open 525 in a sensational 28.46 before winning 7 in a row at Galway including the first 4 rounds of the Golden Jacket where he clocked 31.23, 31.21, 31.12 and 31.16!  Sadly though, he charged the traps in the final and finished lame.  Tyrur Laurel also reached the final winning his heats impressively.  In November, Danmar Pudsy owned by Danny Potter won the Newbridge Oaks clocking 29.02 in the final.  She came in a reserve but flew from traps and won at huge odds of 12/1!  Pudsy went on to contest the Champion Bitch stake at Thurles, reaching the final but ran in to trouble at the bend finishing 3rd!

2009 has started off brightly and we can only hope that the successes we have enjoyed up to now will continue for years to come!