Nice Winner

After nearly two years of hard work the first of the Droopys Kewell X Pablos Jewel litter raised a white flag on Friday night in Lifford. He is an Aug 05 but for various reasons was making his debut in a Novice Open 350. He was in with a few choicely bred types but there was only one winner after the lift of the lids.

http://www.bng.ie/greyhounds.aspx?id=CRACK%20COMMANDO

He ran well and will be a nice sprinter up to 450 yards. He is available for sale for a very reasonable price as he will win his fair share with his great early pace.

Blue Amarillo (Belle)

I delivered Belle myself on Saturday morning down to Portlaw and into the safe hands of the Dunphy brothers. She could have went down with a transporter on Tuesday night but Michael told me they do a round of testing on Saturday mornings so I felt it was for the best if she had her progesterone tested ASAP as she missed when last mated.

After many hours of looking at a very long list of potential sires I eventually plumped for Boherduff Light. I felt Belle needed a speed sire and this ruled out the obvious choice of Hondo Black who is proven with both Top Honcho bitches and more importantly with Belle's damline. I also felt it was important that the sire was Irish bred, as Belle is a result of an outcross, and any potential success would come from crossing back into Irish early pace lines.

http://www.greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=671408&damid=1217814

Boherduff is starting to get a few nice pups and they are all displaying great early which is what I'm after. That influence I feel is coming from He Knows and Tapwatcher in his pedigree who were renowned for early pace. I seen the dog when I was down and he looked an absolute picture.

A word about the Dunphys. They are renowned throughout Ireland and the U.K. for the exploits of their pups and also their stud dogs, its not hard to see why after seeing their establishment. Yesterday was the first time I had dealt with them personally and I cant speak highly enough of them. Absolute gentlemen.

Help Required

The workload is becoming ever increasing at the kennels. We have a young litter nearly ready to move out to the rearing paddocks and another two bitches who have been mated. On top of this both Blue Amarillo and Bower Venus are due in season any day and I definitely will be mating them both on this cycle. Colette is a great help during the summer holidays, she is a Primary School teacher, but when September comes I will be left on my own with potentially over 40 pups to look after.

We have decided now is the time to take on a kennel hand. So I'm looking for a young enthusiastic person who is willing to learn but above all is reliable. They don't have to know anything about greyhounds but must be able to listen and take instruction. Early rises and late nights will definitely be included as well as weekends so don't all rush at once!

Puppy Update

The litter of Go Wild Teddy's are thriving. They have taken to solid food like a duck to water and are less demanding of their mum Motto. I have been clipping their nails regularly to ease the scratching on mum and thankfully she is very patient with them although I have heard her teaching them manners on a couple of occasions.

It wont be long now till they are completely weaned and will leave mum behind as they move from the whelping block out into the puppy runs. Touch wood we have a smooth few weeks between now and then.

Colette has provisionally named them the following:
Darragh, Kevin, Jack, Kerri, Emma, Holly and Enya but they could change as each pup develops its own little character

Teddy's at 4 weeks old

Our litter of Go Wild Teddy x Mottos Friend reached 4 weeks of age today. I have started them on some feeding of their own to supplement their mothers milk. I was very pleasantly surprised how quickly they took to the mince and bread, they devoured all that was on offer, but their mother has a ferocious appetite so hopefully she had passed that on, its a trait I really like in pups.

They have started to play fight and by some of the noises coming from their kennel you would think world war III had started. Motto joins in at times as well to teach some manners. In another couple of weeks they will be almost weaned and taking their first steps outside to the big bad world. Hopefully the weather picks up so that I can get them into the yard

Global Warming?

The weather in Drumscraw has been very poor of late. It was the wettest June in a very long time and July is shaping up no better. I have large areas of concrete to lay for turn out runs and also puppy pens. This should have been done weeks ago but the rain has left me with no choice but to constantly postpone it. I had hoped to get a start made on the paddock drainage as well but the ground is sodden wet and wouldn't carry any machinery at all. It will take a dry spell of at least a week before it could even be considered.

The turn out runs would make life a lot easier for all concerned as at the minute all the dogs have to be walked 3 times a day. Ideally I would like to turn them out 3 times a day and walk them once with a gallop/trial fitted in as necessary.

Westmead Lord Derby Champion

"Lord" convincingly won the Blue Square English Derby for 2007 at Wimbledon on Saturday night past. All the papers have been written and read since but congratulations to all involved, particularly Nick Savva and his exceptional brood Mega Delight. The dog is young enough to have a fair chance of emulating his half brother by defending his crown next year.

The focus will move onto Shelbourne and the Paddy Power Irish Derby with the various trial stakes commencing around the country. Liffords 12 dog qualifier heats took place on Sunday with Farloe Black catching the eye. He was unlucky to be knocked out of the English equivalent and since he came under Fraser Blacks care he has regained his old form. He may go well at a fancy price.

Regretfully for sale

The Honcho Classic x Droopys Surprise dog has been placed for sale on the classifieds on greyhound data.

http://www.greyhound-data.com/litter.htm

He is owned by myself and two other lads who I am mates with. They have the travel bug and have decided to go to Australia for a year to see a bit of the world. This left us with no choice to sell the pup as they want the cash and wouldn't be able to see the dog running. He cost 2000 euro at 6 months and then another few quid to rear him since. I think he is very reasonable priced at £1400 as he is 13 months and will be ready for schooling in another couple of months time.

Highs and Lows

I have been schooling my Premier Fantasy dog and bitch for the last few weeks and they have done everything right to date. They have the makings of good dogs if they keep going in the same direction. The dog in particular did a very pleasing run on Tuesday past. I was on a high ever since with ideas that he could be the "real deal". The bubble was burst this morning when we where out through the fields. He took off on a hunt and after a while I managed to find him, I went to put the lead back on and was covered in blood. He had a very nasty cut on his neck, it was either caused by a barb wire fence or a bite from the dog he was hunting with. Either way a trip to the vets was required and he will be laid up for a while to come. Thankfully there doesn't appear to be any muscle damage and it should heel well but patience will be required.

Lifford Flying?

It certainly looked that way on Sunday night when the sprint clock was broken in the semi-final of the Hugh Duffy Open Sprint. For good measure both the winner, Royal Delight, and the second, White Woody dipped inside the old track record set by Droppys Robinho back in February. 18.39 is some clock and it could stand for a while to come as I cant see a combination of the track being so fast and real open class sprinters running for a long time.

http://www.bng.ie/view_results.aspx?track=LFD&date=01-Jul-2007&racenumber=8

I reckon the track was running a minimum of 20 spots quick for the sprint and 30 fast for the 525. Its about time the IGB set out guidelines to allow the racing managers to rate the going as they see it at each meeting.

English Derby Final

I have not been following the Derby as closely since the quarter final stage and the elimination of Robinho and Paddy. To me it lost some of its lustre with no stand out dogs left, in saying that the winner will be a worthy winner and will deserve whatever praise comes its way. Coming back to my damlines analysis its nice to see the top lines still heavily represented with Forest Scholes, Ullid Conor, Dilemmas Flight and Westmead Lord flying the flag. The other two are very well bred as well. Caulry Fast Trap being out of superbrood Queen Survivor who descends from Gunboat Ann and further back the 62/63 Irish Coursing Oaks winner Regent Princess whilst Loyal Honcho comes of the "Handbag" line which produced the 74 Irish Oaks winner Fur Collar amongst other great dogs.

Below is the trap draw for Saturday night.

1 Forest Scholes,
2 Ullid Conor,
3 Dilemmas Flight (w),
4 Caulry Fast Trap (w),
5 Loyal Honcho (w),
6 Westmead Lord (w)

I fancy Loyal Honcho to trap out and lead them all the way but as always a lot will depend on the first corner scrimmaging. Hopefully they all come home safe and sound.

Miss Firecracker

Much has already been written about this years oaks winner since her great victory on Friday night. Her win is a great boost for all the smaller breeders in the country and by all accounts it couldn't have happened to a nicer fellow. It takes great guts to use your own dog but I suppose the benefit is you know exactly what your getting. Congratulations all round, and fair play to John Moyles who highlighted what great value she was at 20/1 before the semi-finals. A Top Honcho brood to boot. Alexandrova lost nothing in defeat and her run would have been more than adequate to win most Oaks but she ran into a bitch at the top of her form and has to settle for a gallant second.

Settling in

Ben has setled in very well and is starting to find his place in the pecking order. He is a little headstrong but I would put that down to his age rather than temperament. I couldnt be happier with him.