Bockos Diamond

Dog · Ireland · Prize money: €125,000 (2024 Irish Derby first prize)

Bockos Diamond, by Ballymac Vic out of Coolavanny Rumble, was trained by Graham Holland at the famous Riverside Kennels in Golden, Co. Tipperary. He produced one of the most dominant Irish Derby campaigns in the race's history in November 2024, setting a new 550-yard Shelbourne Park record of 28.94 in the third round — breaking Pestana's 28.99 from 2020 — before equalling that mark again in the semi-final. Sent off the 3/10 favourite for the final on 23 November 2024, he completed an unbeaten march through the competition, winning the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby in 29.25 and landing the €125,000 first prize.

The victory was Holland's fourth Irish Derby title, and Bockos Diamond was subsequently named Irish Greyhound of the Year for 2024. In 2025 he crossed the Irish Sea for the English Greyhound Derby at Towcester, finishing second in a thrilling final won by Droopys Plunge.

Major wins

• Irish Greyhound Derby — 2024: Won unbeaten in 29.25 at Shelbourne Park

Highlights

• 2024 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby winner — unbeaten through the competition
• Shelbourne Park 550-yard record of 28.94, set in the 2024 Derby and equalled in the semi-final
• Named 2024 Irish Greyhound of the Year
• Runner-up in the 2025 English Greyhound Derby final

Legacy

Bockos Diamond cemented Graham Holland's Riverside Kennels as the dominant force in Irish racing — a dynasty that added further Derby titles with Cheap Sandwiches (2025) and Bockos Gold (2026). His 28.94 remains the official Shelbourne Park 550-yard record, and his unbeaten Derby run is already spoken of as one of the great campaigns at the Dublin venue.

Related tracks

• Shelbourne Park — Dublin · track records
• Towcester Racecourse — Towcester, Northamptonshire · track records

All famous greyhounds

Frequently asked questions