StarSports/TRC Greyhound Derby Final Preview - Sole Mio

Sole Mio

This June 2023 son of Coolvanny Hoffa and Palermo is the youngest runner in the Derby final and he's by far the least exposed in the line-up.

He began his career by landing a heat of the Juvenile Unraced Classic at Tralee in fine style on Valentine’s Day this year, before a trouble-filled run saw him exit that competition in the second round.

The following month, he went to Limerick for the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial and made it all the way to final. Despite failing to win a round, the consistent blue kept on qualifying and while he was soundly beaten by Faypoint Ranger in the €80,000 decider, he outran his odds of 8/1 to fill the runner-up spot.

A 15.92 sprint trial at Towcester gave no clues as to what was to come in the Derby and he made a mockery his price (6/1) in the first round, when making all from well-fancied UK contender March On Freddie.

The bookies took notice of that performance and he was sent off 6/4 favourite for the second round, when he improved to run out a facile winner by nearly seven lengths in 28.91. Things got even better for Sole Mio when he made all in the third round, just coming out on top in a thriller with Dynamic Force in a flying 28.64 (-10).

He was beaten to the punch by Cheap Sandwiches in the quarter-finals but showed plenty of heart to keep on well for third and was only beaten two and a quarter lengths by that rival in the end.

He was back to his best in the semi-finals as he broke well and raced clear in the red jacket with another big front-running performance. De Lahdedah loomed large off the last bend but Sole Mio only gave way to the defending champion in the dying strides and he lost absolutely nothing in defeat, with three and a half lengths back to Bombay Pat in third.

 He was an 80/1 chance at the start of the Classic and, no matter what happens in the final, he has done his connections proud with his performances to get this far.

Verdict: 

Currently a best price of 8/1, he’s bidding to give Peter Cronin his first Derby winner and is certainly in with a shout. Two 3.95 sectionals show he can go to the bend with the best of them, and the way he went right from trap one last Saturday suggests the blue jacket will be more suitable in the decider. A repeat of his calculated 28.54 in the third round would give him a big shout and while he needs to lead, he could well do so from a nice draw.