Just over five years ago likeable Nottingham trainer Barry Denby decided to mate his open race winning bitch Geneva Socks to his own stud dog Droopys Alfie. A move which many breeding purists would have claimed to be a sentimental decision likely to result in huge cost , time and effort to produce what would likely be not very much. Sometimes though it’s best to leave the decisions on what’s best for a dog to the people who know them best , in the case of Geneva Socks and Droopys Alfie , nobody knew them better than Barry Denby. In August 2014 Socks whelped a litter of three dogs and four bitches , amongst them was to be a white and black dog who would be known on the track as Alfies Prince. Alfie began his career at Perry Barr in A4 company with a more than respectable running on third place. The running on at this stage should have been noted , it was to become the trademark of a career spanning 130 races , resulting in 34 victories and 46 runner up places. Alfies is a dog who simply never knows when he’s beaten. His strong late finishes , coming from positions which look near on impossible to win from , a trademark which have delighted racing fans around the country. What makes Alfies so special is he has done this against dogs of the highest calibre , the dogs which he catches on the run in are not mediocre mid graders , on his day Alfies has given some of the best dogs in training a start and a beating. Alfie was already well known amongst the greyhound racing community of the midlands , initially at Perry Barr but more so at Nottingham where he was beginning to put his early experiences to good use and showcase his talents around a track and trip which fitted perfectly with his running style. In February 2017 he was to gain his first open race success , coming from way behind to get up close home in a Nottingham maiden. During that year he was to add a further five open races to his impressive cv. Four of which came at home track Nottingham however in November he was to show he wasn’t just a one track dog by winning in the semi final of the Servoca Nursing and Care British Bred Derby at Towcester. An appearance in the final a week later saw him finishing fourth , beaten just a length in a race which was won by King Elvis and with non other that King Turbo in third just a neck in front of Alfie. Alfie was highlighting here that he wasn’t just a crowd pleaser , he was a crowd pleaser who could do it against the best. Plenty more success was to follow in the initial months of 2018 , a regular A1 and open race winner around Nottingham’s Colwick Park. It was however the Star Sports Bookmakers Greyhound Derby of 2018 at Towcester that saw people around the country really waking up this wondeful British Bred greyhounds talents. Strong running second place finishes in each of the first three rounds of the Derby , behind Bockos Alfie , Saleen Ash and Innocent Times saw Alfie qualify for the Quarter Final. Here he finished in fifth place in a race won by eventual Derby Champion and one of the sports all time greats Dorotas Wildcat. Also in the race were Innocent Times , Dorotas Vic , Bubbly Bluebird and King Elvis. Beaten just 3 lengths , Alfie was showing that Barry Denby’s dream of mating two of his best greyhounds was proving a sentimental decision that was paying off in fine style. On the horizon was the Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park , a track and trip which at face value would play massively to Alfie’s strengths. Though Alfie qualified for the second round , it was via a very un-Alfie like fourth place finish. The dog simply didn’t take to life on Irish soil. The strong late finishes which had become his hallmark simply weren’t there. This wasn’t the Alfie that Barry and his legion of UK fans had come to know and love. Two more down the field finishes around Shelbourne Park and Alfie was to head back to were he belongs. This was no disrespect to his trainer whilst over in Ireland , Liam O’Rourke , but Alfie was and is a one man dog , he’s Barry Denby’s dog and he was now heading back home. Alfie won a couple of A1 races back at Nottingham shortly after arriving home , however in the early months of 2019 his form tailed off , sure , there were still a great number of second place finishes but those who know the dog would tell you , the sparkle simply wasn’t there. Was Alfie done ? Was he now set for the retirement that he deserves with Barry ? From the 8th June to 26th July Alfies went on a run of six consectutive victories , a statement that said this now five year old veteran wasn’t done , it was a statement that said Alfies back , he was loving it and so were his legion of adoring fans. This wasn’t a veteran having one last swansong in mid grade , this was a dog showing some of the best form of his career in A1 , invitation and open class level , amongst this run of six victories was a devastating win on Star Sports , LPS and ARC English Greyhound Derby Final night at Nottingham in the British Bred event. Not many greyhounds have shown this level of consistent form at veteran stage , this isn’t just any greyhound though , this is Alfies Prince , a prince among men.
ALFIES PRINCE (t1) wins the British Bred Trophy from Pond Adonis (t4).
Nottingham 29th June 2019
Photo: © Steve Nash
From little acorns grow – Alfie and his litter mates
