It seems somehow fitting that when greyhound history was to be made, it would be one of the most famous and enduring names in Irish breeding, who would make it.
Before Saturday night, no greyhound had ever completed the Irish Oaks and Derby double. Given that bitches only land the most most prestigious unconfined stake, on average, once every 15 years, the odds were always stacked against it.
The amazing Susie Sapphire not only put her name in the record books but added another chapter to an amazing story of the family behind her success, the Comerfords of Kildare.
Susie was bred by Peter Comerford, who himself is from a cross that includes Danny and Aidan, and it was the latter who was able to reflect on a connection with greyhounds that precedes the electric lure.
Aidan said: “My grandfather always kept greyhounds for hunting but the big association with the track came through my father Dan. He used to supply the bread for the GRA’s breeding kennel at Naas. Paddy McEvoy was there originally but I remember Jim Barry (later to train at Ramsgate) when he ran the place.
“There must have been 12 or 14 staff and from my memory, it was probably the greatest greyhound set-up I ever saw. Even the bread was specially made, with extra bran, and had to be toasted before it could be fed. They had stud dogs there too where the local owners would take their bitches to be mated.”
Never prolific breeders – maybe a couple of litters per year between the three brothers – they have been associated with some of the great names in Irish racing and breeding. They bought the great Itsachampion following his track career and saw him become a huge success throwing English and Irish Derby winners Lacca Champion and Bold Work.
They owned the great stud dog Yellow Band (Oran Jack, Moneypoint Coal, Wise Band) and his hugely successful son, Moral Support.
The closest the Comerfords had come to Derby success when Cast No Stones – a confirmed wide runner and fastest semi final winner – draw the red in the 1985 Derby Final and finished third.
The family have never been shy about ploughing some of their baking earnings into the greyhound industry through sponsorship – such as the prestigious Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake – or buying hounds able to compete at the highest level. But there is something suitably romantic or poetic that when they hit the big time, it was with a pup they had bred themselves.
It was Aidan’s son Fintan who set his heart on buying a pup out of Mustang Mega, an outstanding open race bitch who failed by only two lengths to become the seventh female winner of the Irish Derby when following home Climate Control.
Fintan settled on the unraced Bluetoon Megan (Spiral Nikita-Mustang Mega) who was from the dam line made famous by Scottish Derby winner Knockeevan Star, but was also a half sister to the incredible Mega Delight.
Megan was a very decent brood. Her Brett Lee litter included Miss Lee (€10K Peters Puppy Cup)
Jetstream Lynx with the young litter by Droopys Buick – pic Jeannie Comerford
Her fastest daughter though was probably Mozeltoff (later Tyrur Mozeltoff) who was beaten a short head by Droopys Twirl in the 2011 Irish Oaks Final. Also in the litter were Ladbrokes Puppy Derby finalist Scramble and 28.76 Shelbourne winner Allen Harbour.
Harbour was retained by the family and her first litter were born in September 2013. They were by the Comerford’s own stud dog, the young and unexposed Zero Ten. The litter would include Steel City Cup winner Pinpoint Den and the useful sprinter Black Alder.
A repeat mating included Allen Lynx, who was sold to Mick Freshwater and had her name changed to Jetstream Lynx. Trained by Carol Grasso, Lynx was a decent quality open racer who reached the finals of a Summer Stayers Classic at Monmore (37.89) and a Yorkshire Leger.
Aidan said: “There was an agreement that she would come back here after her racing career and Susie Sapphire was from her first litter. She looked a bit special from the very start. She didn’t even need to be schooled, she was a complete natural. There was another bitch in the litter called Allen Butterfly who Owen (McKenna) thought was at least as fast in the early stages but she broke a leg at Shelbourne.
“There is a July 20 litter by Droopys Buick who have just started and look very good. In fact one of the dogs looks exceptionally good.”
On Sunday night the remarkable Pocket Lola took her career record to 16 wins from 27 races – an almost 60% strike rate with victory in the 75th Breeders Forum Produce Stakes.
Much of the Pocket Lola background was told when litter brother Surprising landed the English Puppy Derby at Towcester last autumn.
Bred by Seamus Cahill, the litter of twelve were reared in Ireland by Liam O’Donovan in Ireland. One dog was injured in rearing, the remainder have all reached the track of which five are currently A1 at Hove.
They are by the Derby winning sire Droopys Sydney (Deerjet Sydney) out of Barnabane.
Dam Banabane won 17 opens, most notably the 2016 Brighton Belle where she had a PB of 29.69 (515).
The 26 kilo black is from probably the best dam line Ireland currently.
Her littermates include the 2016 Juvenile winner Ballymac Ramsey, Ballymac Deirdre (RU Northern Oaks) and Anopheles (Won Juvenile Derby HX, RU Produce Stakes).
Razl’s other litter include: (by Definite Opinion – 2 litters) Ballymac Bolger (sire of Ballymac Ariel), Smallmead (St.Leger), Ballymac Inspeed (RU Shelbourne Gold Cup), (By Godsend) Blakes Flyer (RU Bresmed Northern Sprint) (by Droopys Sydney – 2 litters) Ballymac Syd (28.07 Limerick), Ballymac Tas (RU English Derby/Select), Kingsbrook Glyn (Stayers Classic), Bockos Melody (RU English Puppy Derby), Ballymac Cashout (28.01 Limerick).
Liz Mort (Greyhound Stud Book) presents the Produce Stakes trophy to breeder and trainer Seamus Cahill – pic Josh Sealey
