The LPS National Sprint Final takes place at Nottingham stadium this evening. Seven days ago I walked off the Colwick Park track with ‘Punch’ and couldn’t have been prouder of him.
All of us at Salacres kennels have had our lives lit up by Punch since the moment he arrived with us from the Portumna breeders John and Mary at three months old. He was a real character of a greyhound who as time went by, was obviously also exceptionally talented. Throughout 2019 he has given us all memories that nobody will ever be able to take away, the highlight obviously being his win at Shelbourne Park on Irish Derby Final night.
Many people say that you can’t beat the Irish on their own doorstep. ‘Punch’ did and we couldn’t have been prouder of him. Narrowly beaten by his regular sparring partner Troy Bella on English Derby final night, he gained revenge in a near identical head to head tussle on Select Stakes night. He so nearly pulled off a near impossible double on Irish soil when finishing runner up at the Night Of Stars. ‘Punch’ had improved coming into the National Sprint, putting up a career best effort in the first round he then backed that up with another sensational run in the semi final. The frightening thing was, he had finally got the hang of trapping.
Nothing can ever be taken for granted, especially in sprinting, but tonight he would have lined up with every chance of ending his year with the title that we feel he deserved so much. This was all taken away from him in such a short space of time by a dreaded, fast acting illness known as canine haemorrhagic pneumonia (CHP).
Not an awful lot is known about the disease although Professor Richard Payne at Nottingham university and Simon Gower veterinary director at the GBGB are amongst others putting plenty of research into expanding the sports knowledge of it. Last week the sport lost a superstar, at Salacres kennels we also lost a much loved pet, he was one of the family, we can’t be thankful enough for the memories that he has left us with.
‘Jack’ arrived in England in the latter half of 2018 having won his sole race on Irish soil, an S4 sprint over 325 yards at Tralee in a time of 17.63. He has since gone on to become a regular top grade and open race winning sprinter for trainer Paul ‘Potty’ Philpott around his home track of Central Park. ‘Jack’s’ first round win here at Nottingham in the National Sprint was his fifth open race success, he has another 10 top graded sprint victories to his name for good measure. Finished runner up in last weeks semi final behind Troy Bella, connections will be hoping ‘Jack’ can pull of a famous upset this evening.
Another greyhound who arrived here in the UK after a sole but winning start on Irish soil. ‘Knight’ was simply awesome on his career debut when scorching around Dundalk in 2129, a simply phenomenal run for a pup on debut. He was soon on his way to the Essex kennel of Martyn Wiley. ‘Knight’ spent the early months of his UK career running in A1 and open race company at Romford, going 8 races without success before finally getting his head in front in A3 company. ‘Knight’ won his heat of the Alan Speechley Fengate Collar at Peterborough before finishing last in the final. He has since won his first round heat of the National Sprint before finishing runner up behind Lambeth Way in his semi final. It could just be that he is starting to find his feet at just the right time.
Lambeth Way was a winner of his first two career starts when winning heat and semi final of an unraced stake at Limerick, before finishing last in the final itself. Even at this stage it was plain to see that Lambeth Way was all about frightening early pace, a career in sprinting was obviousy going to be this dogs destiny. Though beaten on his sprint debut around Kilkenny, ‘Rocky’ as he is known in the kennel then put up two awesome performances for a youngster when winning over Shelbournes 350 yard trip. He was soon on his way to the Ernie Gaskin kennel, here he quickly rattled off an impressive seven timer, winning opens at Hove, Romford and Monmore, being sent off odds on on all but one occasion. Despite it looking as if the shorter sprint trips would be where this greyhound would be at his most impressive, his sporting connections sent him to Shelbourne for a tilt at the Night Of Stars. A missed break put an end to his chance at an early stage but it was now all systems go for the National Sprint. After leading early in his first round heat, he was picked up on the run in by Geelo Brezza. No mistakes were made in the semi final though, an early lead and he didn’t look like being beaten at any stage. This dog is getting stronger with each passing week and connections will be hoping for a ping break and to hopefully put enough daylight between himself and his stronger running rivals.
A true sprinting superstar who has been expertly handled throughout his career by Dave Mullins. Amazingly ‘Bella’ was winless in four races before heading to the UK , though those races were all over 525 yards at Tralee, a trip obviously on the far side for this top class speedster. ‘Bella’ has 35 open race victories to his name and is the Central Park track record holder for the 265m trip having recorded 1599 in March this year.
He battled superbly well to come back and head Salacres Punch in an epic English Derby Final night duel here at Nottingham in the summer and comes into tonight’s National Sprint final on the back of impressive heat victory and another solid effort when finishing runner up to Salacres Punch in his semi final. Nobody would begrudge this stunningly good looking fawn and white dog success in tonight’s final, a sprinting superstar of the highest order.
‘Brezza’ was bought unraced but off the back of two impressive sprint trials around Shelbourne and Thurles respectively by trainer Carl Perry, Nic Brereton and the Geelo Racing Team. He has always been a phenomenally fast greyhound though at times has been let down by his trapping. ‘Brezza’ started his career off in top grade D1 company at home track Sheffield in March. Beaten on debut he soon made amends winning second time of asking in 16.05. ‘Brezza’ has since added open race success to his CV around Monmore, Romford, Sheffield and Nottingham and also emerged victorious in his first round heat of the National Sprint when landing one of the gambles of the year so far, collaring long time leader Lambeth Way on the run in. Supporters of the ‘Brezza’ gamble had been dumbfounded by the early 9/2 chalked up after he had recorded a missed break 17.53 (+10) in a trial over course and distance just the previous week, a simply sensational effort. The blue finished runner up behind Salacres Punch in last weeks semi final. Supporters will be hoping for a ping break and to clear ‘Bella’ as early as possible, Carl Perry and the Geelo team are sure to have him in perfect condition for tonight’s final.
In loving memory of ‘Punchy’ 5th April 2017 – 17th December 2019
