In the 2018 Star Sports Derby Final they were separated by a length and a half. In the MSCM Eclipse, the margin was just a length, but on each occasion, it was Dorotas Wildcat who came out in front in a repeat of his tremendous duel with Droopys Verve.

To put Monday night into perspective

The Nottingham victory was number 23 from 34 races for the big black. It was a six-timer and the Cat’s ninth win in his last ten races. His last defeat, was by a short head to Whoops Jack in the 2018 Derby semi finals.

Wildcat actually made his racing debut at Nottingham, a year and 11 months ago. He has six wins, a second and a third over the Eclipse course. That second was of course in the 2017 Eclipse when he was short headed by 29.62 winner Bubbly Bluebird.

Monday night’s winning time was identical to his semi final victory, though not the fastest of the year. That accolade goes to Droopys Expert (29.28).

The Eclipse victory is added to a CV that includes the 2017 Derby Plate, the 2017 Select Stakes and Star Sports Shoot Out and the 2018 Star Sports Greyhound Derby.

DOROTAS WILDCAT (t3) leads up Droopys Verve (t4) and partly hidden Swift Taxman (t1) in the MSCM Eclipse Final.
Nottingham 26th November 2018
Photo: © Steve Nash

A PERSONAL ECLIPSE REVIEW BY MARK PIERREPONT

Football supporters the world over should be thankful that they have lived through an era where they have been graced by the presence of Lionel Messi.  Greyhound racing lovers should be equally as thankful to have lived through the era of Dorotas Wildcat.  He is without any shadow of a doubt the fastest, classiest greyhound to have graced our tracks for many years.  He is also without doubt , one of the very best there has ever been.

Earlier this year , ‘The Cat’ as he is affectionately known to owner / trainer Kevin Hutton and co owner David Usher , ran a simply sublime race to win the Star Sports English Greyhound Derby at Towcester.  In that race he ran from trap 3 , breaking faster than usual , he led early and held off the game but alas in vain challenge of Droopys Verve who had run from trap 4 by 1 1/2 lengths.  Last night in the MSCM Limited Eclipse Final , the trap positions were the same and the outcome was almost identical as Wildcat beat off Verve by a length.

I have heard Verve described as ‘the young pretender’.  None of it , there is absolutely nothing ‘pretend’ about Verve , himself a superstar of the sport who is a pleasure to watch racing on our tracks.  Trainer Angela Harrison , assistant Jimmy Wright and his owners the Conlon family in may wake this morning slightly disappointed, I hope not , their superstar played a major role in producing one of the greatest Eclipse finals in years.  At a year younger than Wildcat, it will take a mighty performance from any greyhound in 2019 to lower his colours.

This time though the honours fall to Wildcat and rightfully so.  After coming off the final turn he looked as if he might give best to the fast finishing Verve , ‘The Cat’ would have non of it , showcasing not only his class but his determination and guts that simply said ‘thou shalt not pass’. Let’s not forget , amongst all of the accolades , the input of Dorotas Wildcat’s breeder , Jim Gurney.  Breeding greyhounds in the present climate is far from a route to riches.  It is a pursuit of love for the breed and a desire to see their greyhounds become the best , in Jim’s case, in producing Wildcat , he has bred a greyhound of a lifetime.

Mark Pierrepont wins the Human Handicap Charity race on Eclipse night, followed home by Jason Barrasford. Photo: © Steve Nash