At 15 months old, Westmead Hawk ran his first qualifying trial at Hall Green. He overcame some crowding to win his trial in 30.24. He clocked 29.50 (-50) in his next run, then a 29.32. He was placed straight into A1 and got beat. In fact, it was four races before he finally got his nose in front, in A2. After 15 races, his fastest run was 28.69 and he clocked 27.82 on his first solo at Henlow. Less than a year later – and with a Derby win already on his CV, Hawk returned to Hall Green to land the Produce Stakes in a calculated 28.14.
So just how much can we expect greyhounds to improve from their early performances?
It is almost an impossible question to answer accurately for a variety of reason. One of the most fundamental relates to their starting point. Traditionally, and very generally speaking, Irish breeders have wanted to get ‘a mark on the card’, preferably somewhere in excess of 31.00 before they take the pup away for schooling. When they return, very much wiser and fitter, from spins on the schooling track or even unofficial trials at the same vanue, they can easily find a dozen lengths with no questions asked.
But that is not always the case. There is no such thing as a gamble on a ‘Ballymac’ making its Tralee debut, nomatter what was on the racecard. Most ‘Droopys’ hounds arrive in Britain well schooled but without a line in their Irish card. Whereas Ian Greaves’ bred ‘Swift’ hounds tend to be quite sparingly schooled and continue to improve in their early races.
To a certain extent, the well known breeders can sell their hounds on the basis of their reputation, whereas the lesser known breeders cannot. The Irish breeder cannot be expected to get fair value for his dog by claiming ‘I have nothing done with him.’ Because when that pups fulfills his potential, no UK owner is looking to send on a second cheque for his undersold Cat One winner.
With no commercial breeding in Britain, the opposite is true. Most pups are not for sale outside the kennel, so there is no incentive to intensively school them.
However, given the minimal gap between grading and bottom grade winning time, no British pup doing the equivalent of ‘31.00’ would ever be allowed onto the racing strength.
Besides, to qualify they have to run a solo and three qualifying trials, within a limited timescale. So there is less scope for improvement on debut compared to their Irish counterparts.
Of course it helps greatly if they have ability to spare.
In the latter part of his breeding career, Nick Savva sent his pups for qualifying with a bare minimum of schooling, hence the long improvement graph for The Hawk.
Savva’s next Derby winner, Westmead Lord clocked 28.78 and 29.00 in his first two Henlow trials. He made his debut in A5 and won in a calculated 28.08.
Time for a few more examples. . .
The 2022 British bred English Derby winner Romeo Magicio was schooled in Ireland and clocked 16.89 in his first solo at Clonmel. Four months later and three pounds heavier, he won in 28.18 at Limerick. Sister Fabulous Azurra beat Magico by six lengths in 28.92 in their first four-bender at Clonmel. It would be fair to say that Dave Firmager would have immediately known that he had bred a blue flying machine.
Similarly, when Pestana clocked a calculated ‘first mark’ of 29.75 at Clonmel, connections knew they had something special. Though it was four races and six months before he clocked 28.31 at Shelbourne.
Of course, some hounds are more forward than others. Regular readers will recall us flagging up an 18 month old pup called Signet Ace after he clocked a calculated 28.08 in his first ever qualifying trial at Swindon. (Bizarrely, despite several attempts later in his career, his best time was 28.06).
While the Ian Greaves bred Domino Storm started out in A3 at Yarmouth, litter brother Swift Hoffman clocked 28.24 in his first Perry Barr four-bender for Pat Rosney.
Returning to the subject of Greyhounds of the Year, Rab McNair has revealed that the KSS Syndicate is following the Savva example in terms of minimal schooling. Rab recalls that King Elvis ‘had a bit’ before his first two ‘officials’, a 13.77 sprint and 24.82 four-bender at Romford. Less than trhee weeks later, he could win in 23.84 for the standard.
Sixteen month old King Turbo clocked 17.24 and 29.74 in his first two trials at Central Park. Eight weeks later, he recorded 28.96.
But the more recent Kings and Queen barely have any schooling at all.
King Memphis‘ entire education was one handslip at the Bicester Schooling track and one at Towcester. In his second time in the boxes, and after some very average trapping, the December son of Droopys Sydney/Queen Beyonce clocked 16.09 for the Towcester sprint, a time that would win most D2s. On Friday, he had his second 450 trial at Central Park and clocked a calculated 27.26.
By way of comparison, fastest open race time of the year is held by Havana Allablaze with a calculated 26.91 (She also has a calculated 28.92 for 480).
That run alone would suggest King Memphis has the potential to be as good as any hound to have ever emerged from the kennel.
British bred litters able to commence qualifying this month: Droopys Sydney/Ballydoyle Jewel, Droopys Sydney/Fabulous Skylar, Ice On Fire/Fairholme Posh, Ice On Fire/Mayslucky Beggar, Longwoodmountain/Not A Vegan, Pestana/Sweet Afton, Riverside Oscar/Slippery Louise
Although most Eden The Kid offspring have decent stamina, Coonough Crow‘ s dam line is loaded with the attribute. Her great grand dam Forest Ghost won the Red Mills 750 at Shelbourne. Forest Bell’s best offspring was the dual Kent St.Leger finalist Beechgrove Bell, who has since thrown Cesarewitch runner-up, Beach Babe. There is pace too though with Crow’s 19 monthy old half sister New Destiny (by Grangeview Ten) clocking 28.04 at Monmore on Saturday.
Hawkfield Ozark‘s comrades include Hawkfield Mia, who reached the Winter Derby and Golden Sprint Finals and Hawkfield Ava who was the fastest sprinter at Newbridge last year. Their dam beat Clona Blaze and ran Newinn Lester to a neck at Shelbourne where she had 28.08 (525) winning form. Moynevilla Babe also threw the Cox Cup winner and Newbridge 550 record breaker Redwood Mick.
Ballinabola Ed is from a litter that includes Ballinabola Evie who clocked 28.68 (-20) at Ennniscorthy. When China Doll was covered by Kinloch Brae, she produced Derby winner Astute Missile and the useful Karlow Turbo.
Betsys Bullet is from a decent litter of minor open racers and a half sister to Olympic runner-up, Seomra Razzle and Golden Jacket finalist Sweet Leaf. Vicraz threw Oaks runner-up Touchdown Erin. Ballymac Razl, dam of open race Ballymacs’ Taz, Inspeed, Bolger, Syd, Ramsey. . .and more. Plus: Malachi, Smallmead, Banabane, Anopheles, Bockos Melody, Pentajali etc etc
Mick Hurst didn’t have a lot of injury luck with Stormy News‘ dam Bonito Fox. Stormy Pearl was a decent enough type 28.50/60 at Cork and Tralee with 10 races wins. Perles Bay’s best litter, by Cashen Legend included Maum Legend (RU Eclipse/All England Cup). His litter sister Malls Pet finished runner-up in the Queen Mother Cup and then produced a series of fabulous hounds for John Sharp, notably Sharpys Pluto (RU Three Steps To Victory).
The Holland kennel and the ‘Clonbrien’ prefix. Clonbrien Treaty is from his dam’s first litter. She only raced three times, for a 29.08 win at Limerick. But when Mongys Rach was covered by Confident Rankin, she produced Clonbrien Prince winner of the Open 600 at Shelbourne in 32.17, he also had 29.20 for the 550 yards). In Britian he landed his semi final of the 2019 English Derby (from T3) at Nottingham but drew trap six in the final. Litter brother Clonbrien Swift broke the Clonmel 550 track record. When Trout Or Salmon was covered by Razldazl Jayfkay, she produced the amazing Clonbrien Hero (Winner Irish Leger/Laurels/Produce Stakes) and later sire of Derby finalist Savana Beau.
