The Performance of the Year, like the weekly contributions, is always going to be a massively subjective decision. At its simplest, it might be a dominant display in a major event. But it shouldn’t just be about big race winner surely? Track records have their place too, but not in isolation. Consistency has to be another major factor. But sometimes – you might just want to go for the WOW performance!
Fully accepting that no reader is likely to agree with any more than a few of the 20 selections, here goes:
Central Park – We start off with an easy one. Although the Kent track staged two Cat One, and a couple of Cat Two deciders, the big one was the Kent Derby and it went to the impressive Arkady. Beaten in the opening round, his semi final and final performances were outstanding. It was a great return to favour for a dog who had been inexplicably beaten in a Sunderland puppy final.
Crayford – Now this is the first of the big conundrums. There was a truly special performances from Bellmore Sally to win the PGR Golden Jacket. She went unbeaten through the competition, with an aggregate winning distance in three races of over 13 lengths and clocked the fastest time of the year in the final. But. . . it has to go to Savana Volcano in the Cesarewitch. Dismissed as retired by her owner just weeks earlier, she was four and a half when starting as the 5-4f in the final which she won by five lengths.
Doncaster – The absence of any Cat One events at ‘Stainy’ was as frustrating for the promoter as it was for trainers who love the big fair gallop. One Cat Two event, and a popular win and forecast for Laurence Tuffin in the British Bred Leger, courtesy of Romeo Riot. There are a string of locals with claims of various types: Wraysbury Babe (now at Newcastle), Singalong Dovee, Lightfoot Doak, Go Commando . . . the list goes on. But we are edging to a dog who has been such a regular in this feature for the past three years, Kilara Bugle. He finished the year with 11 wins and 12 seconds from 39 races, all A1/A2. His 29.73 recorded in June was five lengths off the fastest time of the year; though he was five years and two months old at the time. His most recent A2 run in early December was his 133rd outing.
Harlow – The British Bred Sprint was Harlow’s only competition in 2022, won by Sonic Emjay. But the selection is going to be the fastest hound over the four bend course for the year, Huntsman, though it was a close call. He clocked 25.94 just 20 minutes after his greatest challenger Jura Go Max clocked 25.94. Max also had a 25.95 run while Dave Lee’s runner also had the year’s fourth fastest run, 25.98. Between them the pair clocked the five fastest times of the year and one victory apiece over each other. Huntsman was also in the top ten fastest sprinters.
Henlow – Les Of Rhyl arrived at Henlow with a fairly average Irish card and won A5 first time out. He finished the year on seven wins from 14 races including the 1st, 3rd, 5th and jt7th, fastest times of the year, the quickest being a 27.22 run. That run, completing a four timer, made Pete Henman’s blue just about ungradeable. A special mention too for this great top heat rivals Savana Raven and Tymekagaroodown who both finished the year on 14 victories.
Hove – An absolute abundance of riches at Hove which featured five Cat One Finals. They included a brilliant TV Trophy victory and phenomenal 740 performance from Space Jet, but nobody can surely dispute the astonishing Olympic win by Fromposttopillar? It was the talk of social media for days. Liz McNair’s white and black destroyed a top class field and instantly installed himself as the ’23 Derby favourite with a stunning 29.78 run in the final. Technically, it wasn’t the fastest 515 performance of the year, that belonged to the six length runner-up Deelish Frankie (29.74) though there was a 30 spot going differential in favour of the selection.
Kinsley – There were no comps this year and various contenders for acknowledgement including Balltadhg Peg (14 wins), Kirabilly Kath (fastest sprint-15.91) and Quo Vadis (fastest 462-27.48). But the nod goes to Sylvia Oakes’ fabulous veteran Glenvale Gav. Still ungradeable over his preferred six bends, where he clocked the fastest run of the year in an open, he had nevertheless also picked up seven A1/A2 contests.
Monmore – There were four Cat Ones decided in Wolverhampton over the year, but none have made the cut. Nor has the Ladbrokes.com 264m (Cat 2) winner Gougane Jet who is unbeaten in nine outings over the two bend trip. The selection is Romeo Command who was just 22 months old when clocking 27.82 for the 480 metres, the only dog to break 28.00 this year. Nothing has gone quicker since Rising Brandy clocked an identical time four years ago.
Newcastle – In best Bullseye tradition, here is a list of those who could have won. The quickest winners over the three main distances: Brookside Richie (16.68-290m), Blackhouse Harry (28.13-480m), Afton Pixie (38.81-640m). Followed by Northern Puppy Derby winner Freedom Alibi and Northern Flat winner Jaguar Macie. Which only leaves the PGR All England Cup winner Mickys Barrett. Jason Gray’s white and black made all three Cat One finals, finishing runner-up in the Northern Flat. He has eight wins and two seconds from 11 races at Brough.
Nottingham – There were four Cat One deciders at Nottingham during the year but only one was won by an unraced pup, Distant Podge. Barrie Draper’s black picked up the
Jenningsbet Puppy Classic in August, going unbeaten throughout. Later in the year, he won the fastest semi final of the Eclipse but was beaten in the final. He still only has 11 races on his card. Commiserations to Select winner Brookside Richie, Eclipse winner Slick Sakina, British Breeders Stakes winner Signet Otis, but most of all to National Sprint winner Gougane Jet, the best two-bender in training with a race record of 16:19.
Oxford – We tried hard to spread the accolades around, but denying Fromposttopillar a second nomination would be simply unjust. While it is true that his Puppy Collar victory was a confined event, and a four runner final, the fact remains that he has the 450m track record and four of the five fastest times over the standard distance. The final was only the seventh race of Pillar’s career. (Twolengthstoogud is the only other runner to break 27.00). Honourable mentions for the Bet365 Challenge winner Chelms Cub, the Oxfordshire Gold Cup winner Swift Iconic and the Maiden Vase winner Outdoor Ice.
Pelaw Grange – With only one meeting per week and no open comps, the Pelaw selection was always going to be about the fastest 435 of the year. That went, by a surprisingly clear margin, to Inniskeel Josie whose 23.39 was 17 spots better than the next best with an overall record of eight wins in 11 races. Colin Watson’s black also has open wins at Doncaster and Oxford.
Perry Barr – Without doubt the hardest track of the 20 to choose from. There was a fabulous Laurels win for British bred Signet Denver, a Birmingham Cup for Ivanexile, a Scurry for Drumbane Jet, a St.Leger for Havana Lover and an Oaks for Slick Sakina. Then what about the track records for Jet and Coolavanny Shado? On balance, probably, just, all things considered, we’ve gone for Slick Sakina who went unbeaten through the former bitch’s classic and temporarily held the 480 clock.
Romford – As always, an absolute smorgasbord of quality at Romford. There was a sprint track record for Chopchop Rainbow, a fabulous 23.59 for Puppy Cup winner Romeo Hotshot and a brilliant 46.57 over eight bends for ‘Miss Durability’ Blueberry Bullet. The real warrior of a hound, Rail McCoy landed the Cat One Golden Sprint and Cat 2 Coral Standard. It was also the track where Coolavanny Aunty won one of her three Cat Ones (Essex Vase). But the combination of PGR Cat One win and 575m track record just about edges it for the Champion Stakes winner Warzone Tom.
Sheffield – Yet another track where Coolavanny Aunty and Signet Goofy won Cat One events – the The Steps To Victory and Steel City Cup respectively. There was also a sprint record for Coolavanny Galiv and a 480 record for Nolas Beauty. (Brookside Richie had the fastest two runs over the 500 – 28.37/28.39) The selection is also a dual Cat One winner, Fabulous Azurra who defended her British Bred Derby Final with a 28.50 run in the final, having previously won the (Cat 2) British Bred Oaks at Henlow and (Cat 1) Empress Stakes at Towcester.
Sunderland – At last, recognition for the brilliant Coolavanny Aunty following her win in the ARC Grand Prix where she was also quickest over c&d for the year. So that is three Cat One wins, a Cat One runner-up (Ing St.Leger) and the Cat 2 Christmas Stayers at Monmore. So that is 34 races, 19 wins, 7 seconds over 480-660m on seven different tracks. Missing out despite his Sunderland Classic win is kennelmate Move Over Cha.
Suffolk Downs – With only one distance to choose from and no opens, it has to be track record holder Saffrons Dash with a 23.55 run. But a special mention for the track’s most prolific winner, the ever game Olivetree Deano with 12 wins from 24 races. If you had backed him for £10 every time he raced, you would be £148 in front on the year.
Swindon – Nothing even comes close to challenging Signet Denver at Swindon. The winner of the Two Year Old Produce Stakes, in which there were five of the litter in the decider, he was only one spot off his own track record when landing the final on going rated -20. Simples.
Towcester – We can kick off by listing the Cat One winners: Ivy Hall Skyhigh (Blue Riband), Crossfield Dusty (Northamptonshire Sprint), Hellofakerfuffle (Maiden Derby), Antigua Sugar (Juvenile Classic), Fabulous Azurra (Empress Stakes), Chelms Cub (Hunt Cup) and Puppy Oaks (Minne Bullet). But realistically, there can only be one Performance of 2022 at Towcester. It is of course the Star Sports/TRC English Derby winner Romeo Magico. He won four of his six Derby races and his winning time in the final was the joint third fastest of the year (with Signet Denver), behind track record holder Priceless Jet (28.78) and Lautaro (28.84).
Yarmouth –The big race winners were Hopes Paddington (East Anglian Derby) and Blueberry Bullet (George Ing Leger). Two quality greyhounds, but did either of them produce their best performances of the year in these events? Neither winning time was among the ten fastest times of the year over the respective distances. Hopes Paddington, badly restricted by injury, later went within a couple of spots of Fromposttopillar in the opening round of the Olympic. Bullet’s track record equalling run for the Hove marathon was certainly superior to her 40.80 at Yarmouth. So, we’ll go for the fastest 462m run of the year at Yarmouth for Coolavanny Shado. The 27.33 semi final run was clocked on a track probably running .40 slower than it would normally would in last summer. (Shado also had the second fastest clocking too, 27.45. The third quickest run in the year was recorded by Mark Brighton’s top local Gracias Lorzeno with a 27.47 run. He was the nine and three quarter length runner-up in that semi final).
