Class, Lover, Bale Out, Robusto, Allablaze – the ‘Havana’ prefix has become an increasingly familiar brand in the last couple of years. All have roots at Dru Richard’s kennel situated between Colreigh and Garvagh in Northern Ireland – writes Floyd Amphlett.

Born in the neighbouring Ayrshire village to Rab McNair, as a youngster Dru would walk dogs for Rab’s father and go flapping at the dozen or so flaps in the area at the time. He was in his mid 20s when he developed a love of breeding.

He said: “It all really started through your dad (Ced Amphlett). I drove down to Suffolk and bought a couple of Sampsons Pal pups off him in about 1978/79. They turned out to be top class. I won a competition with the white and black dog at Girvan when he was only 15 months old. I could barely get out of the place with people trying to buy him.

“But the next day Henry Chalkley drove up from Cambridgeshire to buy him. He asked about the litter brother who was unraced. We managed to get a trial for him on a Sunday and Henry bought him too. I gather they did very well for him on the flaps in England. Your dad also sold me a Glin Bridge bitch who was very good brood who threw open class in every litter. That really got me into it.”

Dru has been in  Ireland for 37 years originally at Ballymena before a spell in Colreine and six years at Havana Kennels. He breeds, buys and rears, and then sells on racing dogs. He produced an average of eleven litters per year, but only those that he keeps himself are given the Havana prefix.

He said: “I only have an acre and a half here, but I have access to as much farm land as I need and I have other people rear for me too. From the time they are born, my pups are never locked away; they have complete freedom.”

 

Pride of place among the broods is Havana Lottie (Taylors Sky-Holdem Senorita) who threw Havana Class and the very useful (but injured early) Meenagh Myles by World Class. She also has Puppy Collar runner-up Havana Allablaze and Links Maverick from her May ’21 litter by Grangeview Ten. Lottie has just been mated to Magical Bale.

Lottie’s 75lb daughter Havana Dottie, from a Head Bound mating, is due to be mated to Signet Ace when she next comes in season.

Comeout To Play (Razldazl Billy-Dear Prudence) has thrown a number of open race winners in different litters, the best known of which is Havana Bale Out. Her daughter Comeout Kiddo is the dam of Havana Playboy (28.89 Central Park). Kiddo has a ten week old litter by Grangeview Ten.

Havana Issie, the dam of Havana Robusto, has a July 21 litter by Ballymac Best and will be mated to Havana Class in the next fortnight.

The latest litter to hit the track are April ’21s by Eden The Kid out of Mean Beauty (Country Legend-Amberly). Still to race, Havana Allago beat brother Havana Top Note in a calculated 29.14 qualifying trial at Central Park on Tuesday, their first four-bend trial. The dam has an eight month old litter by King Sheeran and has been mated to Havana Class.

Dru didn’t breed Havana Lover, she was bought from Michael Gleeson, but he reared her on from three months. She has already won the St.Leger and an RPGTV sponsored puppy event. As for Havana Bale Out . . .

The beaten favourite in finals of the Northern Puppy Derby and Sussex Cup, her breeder is hoping her luck changes.

He said: “In my view, she is a faster bitch than Lover and would always beat her in a two dog trial. I gather she is off with a slight problem at the moment. I just hope she gets the chance to the record right.”

 

The connection with the KSS Syndicate has been highly successful and was due to go a step further when Dru was sent King Elvis’ talented litter sister Queen Whitney for a litter. Sadly she developed cancer of the esophagus and had to be put to sleep.

Thankfully the influence remains with the litters by Whitney’s half brother King Sheeran.

Dru said: “They are the most magnificent pups you can imagine. When you think about what that dog achieved after a broken hock, it was magnificent.”

Of course, the kennel now has its own stud dog following the return of Havana Class, winner of the Laurels, Notebook Sprint, Watling Street Sprint and Sussex Sprint and runner-up in the Birmingham Cup, Northamptonshire Sprint and Silver Salver.

The flying fawn is from frozen semen straws from the long deceased sire World Class, best known previously as the dad of the great Jimmy Lollie. His grand dam Holdem Senorita is a litter sister to Moanteen Beauty, dam of Bockos Jonjo.

Dru said: “I chose World Class deliberately because I was keen to get some good old fashioned Irish pace into the line. World Class is by Come On Ranger out of Queen Survivor, who is by Staplers Jo out of Cool Survivor going back to Gunboat Ann. There is so much American and Austalian blood and we are losing the great strength of Irish breeding which is pure speed.

“Havana Class is in fantastic order. He knew he was home as soon as he got here. They have done a good job on the injury and hopefully he will get some nice pups.”

Litters reaching qualifying age this month (15 months):

Adageo Bob/Silverhill Erica, Ballymac Anton/Mrs Chippy, Ballymac Ronan/Kilara Dasher, Dorotas Wildcat/Galloping Moon, Dorotas Wildcat/Droopys Tulip, Droopys Trapper/Its An Act, Good News/Mosheen, Grangeview Ten/Lady Flamingo, Grumpy Dave/Romantic Diva, Hiya Butt/Brilliant Chance, Ice On Fire/Nametab Coco, Kildallon Bolt/Up The Ante, King Elvis/Sonic Spur, Millhouse Tommy/Millhouse Girl, Pestana/Hello Julie, Taking Flight/Kincora Maximum

2022 British Bred Litters (updates in blue)