Lyreen moving well for Hungary
Maybe we should be taking more notice. It’s happened before.
The last time we dismissed the chances of Hungary was in 1953 when the national football team became the first side outside the UK to defeat England on home soil. The match ended in a staggering 6-3 to the visitors, spearheaded by the magnificent Ferenc Puskás (pictured right). Now, 57 years on, the Hungarians are trying follow up that astonishing raid on British shores and it comes in the form of a dog called Lyreen Mover in the williamhill.com English Greyhound Derby.
As the only European-based competitor in the 217 entries, it was hard to envisage the success he has produced up to now. He has progressed through to Saturday’s semi-finals with a blemish-free record, four wins from four races, which included a half-length victory over Bandicoot Tipoki, which is top-class form.
He lines up in the first semi-final on Saturday and has been given an ideal inside draw from trap one.
If successful in qualifying for the final, he will be the first European based dog to reach the final of the race.
His owner Max Picinelli, who is based in Italy, who saw his hound romp to success in the European Derby last year, believes Mover is the best dog he’s ever owned.
“I am living my dream through him,” Picinelli told the Racing Post.
“He has tremendous early pace and he’s very good during the middle section. It takes a good dog to beat him. He is full of energy and I have been very pleased with his performances at Wimbledon.”
Hungarian-trained greyhounds racing in Britain may be new but their horses have made a mark before. Overdose is a top sprinter – unbeaten in 12 starts and known as the "Budapest Bullet". He was bred in this country and sold at Tattersalls December Yearling Sales in November 2006 for just 2,000gns.
He has yet to run in Britain but his last two victories – over six and five furlongs – have been achieved by the barely believable distance of 10 and eight lengths respectively. Overdose’s career record could have been 13-13 when he ran in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp in 2008.
Overdose passed the post first, almost breaking the course record as he won unchallenged. But one horse remained in the stalls, the race was declared void and Overdose was withdrawn from the re-run. He has been off the track for over a year but still holds entries for two races at Royal Ascot next month.
Only time will tell, if he can match the exploits of 19th Century Hungarian mare Kincsem, who won 54 out of 54 of her races – including the 1878 Goodwood Cup, but now Lyreen Mover gets his chance to fly the flag for the Magyars at Wimbledon.
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