Fitness Work

Bullet, Boss and Di are being put through their paces at the minute in preparation for a spring racing campaign which will start in around four weeks time, depending on what suitable races are available. Ideally I would like an unraced 350 for Boss and an unraced 525 for Di, the only obstacle could be if they are age restricted as both will be just turned two at around the date I would like them to run.

I took Belle, Blue Amarillo, with us to the gallop on Sunday as she really likes to get out for a trip. I used her as the lead dog up the gallop for the others to follow, I don't use a drag lure as a rule, and she really stretched her legs to show them all a clean pair of heels, much like her big brother did the night before in one of the hottest races of the year in Shelbourne Park.

http://www.greyhound-data.com/play.htm?video=/video/IE/SPK/2008/SPK-2008-02-23-HT10.flv&name=E 60,000 Shelbourne Tote Gold Cup Round 2

Sand Paddock

After a very wet Winter we decided to lay a sand paddock for the small puppies. It will be used as a stepping stone from the whelping kennel to the the rearing paddocks. So far it has proven to be a success with the Boherduff Light litter making the most of the space.

Puppies Hunting

After an exceptional wet December and January
we have been blessed with some good dry weather over the last fortnight. We have been able to get all the puppies out hunting for the first time in 5 weeks, it was the first time that the Boherduffs have got out over the farm and the pictures show how much they enjoyed it. They took to it very well and soon where hunting the hedges for prey. It was fruitless on this occasion but long runs the fox!

An exciting addition!

Before I discuss the new brood who has joined us I ask you to click on the lick to her pedigree below and consider the possibilities!



http://www.greyhound-data.com/db.php?i=1434411&time=1203552745



Di has settled into her new surroundings with the minimum of fuss and is a real professional. I have a very difficult decision to make regarding her immediate future. Her breeding potential is unquestionable but neither is her racing ability. Its a nice problem to have so I think I will keep her in training until such times as nature takes its course and then she will be mated. Myself and Seamus have been considering sires to get the best possible match and are probably edging towards Hondo Black.



http://www.greyhound-data.com/dbtestmating.php?&sireid=529018&damid=1434411



This will try and exploit two very proven nicks. The crossing of Hondo Black over Top Honcho blood and the crossing of the sire over the Farloe Dingle line which is very proven, check out the Hondo Black x Farloe Dingle litter.



To say that Di's siblings and half brothers have been making the headlines is an understatement. Their names roll of the tongue like a who's who of the top open racers currently on the UK scene.



Farloe Niall

Farloe Hurricane

Farloe Reason

Farloe Mirror

Ninja Jamie



The above will figure heavily in the latter stages of the UK classics this year barring disaster.



However, potentially the most exciting has yet to come. A couple of weekends ago I witnessed a puppy trialling before racing on a Sunday night in Lifford. What the Oct 06 pup by Premier Fantasy x Farloe Oyster recorded was nothing short of sensational. He scorched around and stopped the clock in an astonishing 28.60. I have never seen a pup with so much raw pace. Unsurprising he has been sold for a huge sum and has joined the kennel strength of the maestro, Charlie Lister. I wouldn't expect to see him running for a good while as Charlie is renowned for giving his dogs a good spell to settle. His name? Final Zafonic.



I have uploaded a video of Di schooling at Hurley's track.

A Kennel Visitor

We had a visit to Drumscraw from our friend Dave Yanez towards the end of Janurary. Belle, AKA Blue Amarillo, was owned by Dave in partnership with Neil Duggan for her racing career before she came to the breeding paddocks here on a pup deal. The lads have selected Socks to represent them from the Oct 07 litter by Boherduff Light that included two dogs and three bitches, he is pictured below with Dave. To be honest it was a hard decision to make for them as both dogs are fine specimens, although very different types of pup.

Over the course of Dave's week visit we managed to cram in two nights racing in Lifford, one night at the Brandywell in Derry, a days trialing at Hurley's plus a days trialing at Lifford. I nearly forgot the trip to the muscleman to get the dogs in training checked over!

Encouraging Debut

Drumscraw Bullet made a satisfactory introduction to racing in Lifford a few weeks ago. She paced up with the leader to the bend from trap 3 where the dog on her outside cut the bend and took her racing room. She regained her momentum and galloped home very strongly to be beaten a diminishing 3 lengths in 19.13. She opened favourite at 5/4, do the bookies know something I don't?, and was returned 7/4. The winner was bet in a fashion that would have you believe it couldn't be beaten and was returned 1/2.

Bullet will come on for the experience, she is still a puppyish Oct 06 whelp, and with a bit more work over the next few weeks should go close next time out.

Below is a link to the race video.

http://www.greyhound-data.com/play.htm?video=/video/IE/LFD/2008/LFD-2008-02-03-HT01.flv&name=THE LIFFORD S8/S9 350