Favourite Elderberry Sky extended his winning sequence to seven when going unbeaten through the BGBF British Bred Derby at Sheffield on Tuesday – and this is how he did it.
Sky was bred, reared and trained by Pat Cowdrill who also trained mum Butts Mott (Archaton Pine-Ardera Spice) to win the Lady Godiva Stakes, Brighton Belle and Angel Of The North during a brilliant career.
Sky is from Mott’s second litter, being the only dog, with two litter sisters by American import Superior Product. The first litter, by Ballymac Vic, were prolific at Monmore with over 250 races between them. But they never really lived up to their potential.
Pat said: “They were bandits really. There were not fighters, but they were prone to not winning as often as they should. Only one of them is still racing; the rest have been re-homed.
“The second litter is only three but they are all really genuine. The two bitches both made top heat at Monmore, though Elderberry Hope picked up a gracilis and has been retired. I plan to breed with both bitches.”
Among the most recent arrivals at Pat’s 10 acre Shifnal set-up is a litter of four by Vulturi out of Elderberry Softy. The sire and dam are both ‘Ballymacs’ by birth and Pat is particularly excited about the latest arrival at the kennel, another from the Dowling production line of open racers, but now renamed, Elderberry Itoje.
She said: “He is a litter brother to Ballymac Cashout (fastest in the Shelbourne 600 first round) and did 15.28 and 15.21 in his first two sprints. He has picked up an injury, but he looks a very exciting young dog.”
