Crafty Shivoo will be attempting to achieve a memorable double next month when she attempts to emulate the great Queen Of The Suir by adding the English Oaks to the Irish equivalent. (‘The Queen’ actually won one Irish Oaks – 1932 and two English -1932/33).
An 8-11 favourite, and one of three MWD owned runners in the decider of the Bet365 Empress Stakes, ‘Diamond’ had to rely on every ounce of tenacity to land a race that was dogged by crowding.
Mark said: “I had only arrived at the track with about three minutes to spare and after the first few years I was beginning to think I should be heading straight home again.
“It was hard to see it all live, but I watched the race again afterwards and think she must have been knocked into at least four times.
“We always knew that she had the ability to do it from the front, and clock a flashy time, but to show that much tenacity was incredible. She didn’t even want to give up the lead after the line.”
The daughter of Droopys Sydney will have one last outing as a pup, a trial at Perry Barr on Saturday.
The PGR sponsored event gets underway on October 7 when she is likely to be joined by Newinn Touch and Rapido Lady.
The trio will be seeking a third win in ‘the bitch’s classic’ for Imperial Kennels who were successful with Cashen Maureen and Domino Storm.
Mark said: “I was always desperate to win one at Wimbledon but it just didn’t happen for us. We came close several times and even had a finalist at Swindon, Chubbys Caviar, who was owned by Mike Davis.
“We had to wait until it was at Belle Vue before we had our first success with Cashen Maureen in 2014. It is funny what you remember about these events. My memory of her was that when she arrived in the kennel we were told that she probably needed a rest.
“I checked her over and she was in great nick so when the owner phoned to see how she had settled in, I told him she was booked for a trial the next day. It all went from there.
“As for Shivoo, Martin Seal the Perry Barr Racing Manager had sent me a text after we had run there on Saturday, thanking us for supporting the track and wishing us luck for Towcester. Which I thought was a lovely. So after Diamond had won on Sunday, I sent him a text back asking for a trial.
“I think she will love Perry Barr. My only concern is that she hasn’t been in season or been suppressed, so nature could take its course at any stage between now and then.”
On the subject of ‘estrus’, one of the kennel’s other stars is due to return in a couple of weeks.
New Destiny broke down immediately after the Juvenile Classic Final at Towcester where she ran fourth (11-10f) to Droopys Clue.
The form has held up pretty well. . .
Mark said: “The first thing I should say is that I am so chuffed for Seamus (winning the St Leger), one of the outstanding trainers of the modern era and a really good guy.
“That Juvenile Classic looked a high class competition and Destiny beat him a couple of times (29.08/29.00).
“To be honest, I wasn’t sure how well he would stay the 710, but I couldn’t have been further wrong. That is a fabulous track record. Now I can’t wait to see what Destiny does.
“I am convinced she will stay and we will try her over six bends once she has had a few races back over four.
“There is a race at Oxford at the end of the year (Bet365 Challenge Cup), but we are also thinking about the Night Of Stars at Shelbourne with her and Crafty Shivoo, if she still isn’t in season.”
In addition to the Oaks, the MWD team have ambitions of relieving PGR of more cash in Romford’s forthcoming Champion Stakes – also worth £20K to the winner.
Mark said: “It is fabulous for the top end of the industry that these events exist with this prize money and that will always filter down to the other competitions.
“We are keeping our options open with Whyayeman who didn’t stay as well as I had hoped last week. We will know more on Friday. We will also have Minnie Bullet and Fabulous Sonique lined up for that.
“Sonique has shown plenty of ability so far; it is a shame that she missed her break on Sunday.”
The kennel will continue to go ‘PGR all-in’ with a raid on the £20K Kent Derby at Central Park.
Mark said: “It will be a tough competition, particularly with Fromposttopillar likely to be in it but I am hoping that Newinn Syd can put up a decent performance.
“He produced a cracking run on Sunday (29.31) on a track that I thought was slower than the official allowance (-30).
“He is a dog with real talent but has been quite slow to mature. Hopefully he has turned the corner now. We will also probably enter Ballymac John who will be switched back to four bends after showing that he doesn’t really stay as well as I had expected.”
Two more to look out for:
The first is the unraced Ballymac Diana (Jaytee Jet-Jaytee Sienna, Dec 21) who clocked a calculated 15.98 on her first solo trial at Towcester on Sunday.
Further down the line is Newinn Deejay (Droopys Sydney-Newinn Cuckoo, Apr 22) who qualified in 29.14 at Clonmel but was beaten in his first two races. His education will continue with Graham Holland before her transfers to Suffolk.
The MWD Partnership took their first venture into race sponsorship last week by backing the Derby Purse and Sprint at Yarmouth.
Mark said: “It was an enjoyable night and hopefully something we can do more of in the future.
“We aim to make a positive input into the industry and I have already spoken to Mike (Davis) about possibly sponsoring a version of the Trainers Championship table – but for young trainers. Maybe under 35.
“I do think that the industry could do more with the open race points system. I know some people will say ‘that’s because he has the most points’ but that wouldn’t be fair. I have always thought it.
“Even more so with the points for the open racers. If we had a table whereby there was added prize money for those finishing in the top ten, it would encourage owners to enter dogs in more competitions, particularly the high prize money events, which tend to have the most points.
(Shouldn’t the whole points system be reviewed? At present, there are identical points for £10K and £20K final wins – Ed)
“The bookies might not see the benefit short term, but if the competitions were more competitive by the end of the year because there was bonus prize money at stake, they would surely have a better product to bet on.”
CRAFTY SHIVOO, bet365 Empress Stakes winner, with the MWD Partnership (L-R): Mike Davis, trainer Mark Wallis and Michelle Connolly.Photo: © Steve Nash
