“I don’t need any more dogs, I can’t fit in any more. So don’t make it sound like an advert.”
When you have achieved as much in greyhound racing as David Pruhs, you have nothing to prove. He isn’t chasing a pound. His reputation was established years ago and he was never one to waste words even when the likes of Jaspers Boy, Mount Royal Fox, Moyle Knight, Scolari Sound and Laughing Gravy were landing the big prizes and demanding headlines.
Experience at the highest level. Racing Post Select Stakes winner JASPERS BOY with trainer Dave Pruhs Nottingham 27.7.98
These days, David schools a few greyhounds, because he retains an interest. When he speaks, it is because he feels he has advice to impart and genuinely wants to help his fellow greyhound folk.
Still licensed as a professional trainer, David rents the Parsons Drove schooling track built by the late Henry Chalkley and he has a queue of top trainers and breeders hoping he will take their dogs.
He says: “We have 25 double kennels. I could take 50, but I would never want that many. I can get 12 at a time in the van and it keeps me ticking over.”
Although he mainly schools pups, he does sometime get asked to take racing dogs who have been showing less than full concentration on the track.
He refers to one who he recently spotted racing on RPGTV but clearly ‘not having it’.
He says: “Ideally, I would rather have the whole litter than being asked to take the one who is playing up. But I understand that isn’t always possible. Even then, I will try to help out if I can.
“Ideally, I would always say to owners, ‘if the pup is doing something wrong, don’t let it become a habit. Get him away from that environment as soon as possible’. For example, for some reason, we’ve seen a bit of a spate of dogs turning in the traps at Monmore. No idea why.”
Given the track is of similar size to Crayford, and David’s decades spent trying to keep dogs sound (at Peterborough!), he is ultra conscious of safety.
He said: “Once the pups are going full speed, I try to move them on. I am very reluctant to give an experienced dog a full four-bend trial here first look. I have done it, but very cautiously, particularly if they are used to a bigger track.
“We school the pups around two bends and then four. We also take a lot of time in the track preparation. Terry (Chalkley) waters the track at night, as much as five times a week and the surface is better than most GBGB tracks in my opinion. When I walk on it, I want to see a footprint between a quarter and a half inch deep. Then I’m happy.”
David applied for a GBGB grant for the track a year ago but was turned down. He is unconvinced whether he will re-apply.
He said: “It isn’t really about the money, it is about the principle. I can make it pay here. We charge £8 per day which I think is enough. But the tracks can apply and there doesn’t seem to be an issue; even though they have lucrative contracts with the betting shops. Some of them seem to need a new tractor every three or four years, when they should last 25.
“I was told that I wasn’t eligible because I didn’t open up the track to everyone. But I really don’t need that level of hassle. Someone arranges to turn up and you have a breakdown and people start to get irritated. I can deal with most maintenance issues, including changing pulleys, but I am not geared up for schooling seven days a week. At my stage of life I just don’t need it.”
Just the FOUR Droopys Sydney offspring from the six featured events!
GLENVALE BILL/SLICK SABO: A first Puppy Classic for the Wildcat over the course on which he won an Eclipse and a Select Stakes. If you are looking for a Puppy Classic link in the dam’s family, you don’t have to look far. Bill’s grand dam Droopys Rhiona is a litter sister to Droopys Reason (finalist, Arc), Powerfast Puma (finalist Boxing Day Marathon) and Droopys Ed Moses who finished fifth behind Ballymac Eske in the 2012 Puppy Classic decider. When Rhiona was mated to Greenwell Hawk, she produced Droopys Expert, the runner-up (4-6f) in the 2017 decider won by Wildfire Lord.
QUEEN JONI: A second BB Produce for her sire who had the 2021 winner Pocket Lola. Dam Queen Jessiej won the 2020 final in 27.95. The previous year, the first three over the line in the Produce Final were Joni’s three ‘uncles’, King Sheeran, King Cash and King Dylan. Overall, most of Jessiej’s litter were sprinters, notably Kings Drake and Bruno. Jessiej went on to finish 2020 English Oaks runner-up, eight years after her dam had finished in a similar position behind Droopys Hope.
WATCH THE LIMO: The odds on Sydney siring the EA Derby winner wouldn’t have been very high after the semi finals were Limo was one of four paternal half brothers including odds-on favourite Coolavanny Shado. In a previous cross to Sydney, Limini threw Jackslittlething and Swords Maestro. Woodhill Spark’s most prolific daughter is Toms Delight: dam of Unlock Unlock, Coolavanny Bani, Coolavanny Chick, Coolavanny Kyser, Cable Bay, Jaytee Taylor etc. The kennel’s recent Leger winner Droopys Clue is from a different branch of the Woodhill Spark dam line.
CRAFTY SHIVOO: Two years ago, four of Sydney’s daughters contested the Empress Stakes final which included the forecast, Coolavanny’s Aunty and Bani. A first litter for Sanjose whose career is just 2 wins in 15, though 28.58 Clonmel suggests she certainly had ability. Her dam won a few minor opens for Dean Childs but was a litter sister of Oaks winner Droopys Danneel, who you might be able to spot in Glenvale Bill’s pedigree above . . . .
ROMEO CRUSADE: The Feb ’22 British bred pup struck gold in just his third race with brother Romeo Cypher two places further back. A third (and possibly fastest) brother Romeo Crossfire qualified in 24.04 but went out in the first round. There were seven pups in the litter in total. David Mullins trained their dam who was a regular A1 winner with a best of 23.96. There has been little from the dam line previously, though it has hardly been used. Romeo In Milan was fast but injury prone. Agenda was a sister to a multi Cat One finalist, Romeo Reason.
DROOPYS FLYTLINE: From a quality litter that includes Droopys Mandolin with a race record of 6:7 including a 28.13 at Shelbourne. Their dam was fabulous, breaking the Newbridge (on debut) and Waterford 525 yard track records. Her comrades included Irish Cesarewitch winner Amazing Alice and William Hill Classic winner Droopys Country. Coast was a sister to Scurry winner Droopys Quincy and a half sister to Northern Puppy Derby winner Teejays Bluehawk.
