Towcester regulars will get their chance to see how the brilliantly exciting youngster Bradys Bullet performs on the Derby course when he trials at the track on Sunday.
For anyone who hasn’t seen last Saturday’s footage of the PGR Puppy Derby Final, there is no doubt that the fastest dog on the night won the race on merit. Though you would have got much bigger than 5-1 ‘in running’ even midway along the backstraight . . .
It was a senational run from the youngest and least experienced in the line-up contesting just the seventh race of his career.
Originally named Spellbound Magic, the son of Good News and Early Rise was barely 16 months old when he won his Clonmel debut by 19 lengths in 28.73. He joined Belinda Green and clocked 29.35 in qualifying at Hove. He was beaten in his first two races bef0re looking sensational at Monmore.
Brady reached the PGR Puppy Derby Final final unbeaten, clocking the fastest 480 of the year, 27.87 in the first round, before being involved in a bizarre semi final.
The black in black trapped well enough but stumbled in his second stride and trailed the field going to the first bend.
Churchfield Syd is well clear the split, his 4.26 being half a length quicker than anything else on the night. Eventual winner Bradys Bullet (T4) is trailing the field
He was still in third place when Clona Uriel (T3) was brought to a standstill behind the stricken Churchfield Syd (T6) who broke down. (Syd has injured a monkey muscle and will hopefully return to racing later in the year)
Trainer Belinda Green feels that Brady would probably have qualified anyway and, given how he performed in the final, it would be impossible to argue.
So how does a trainer drop onto a hound of this calibre?
By having shrewd owners, and being married to one of them.
She said: “Gary (Whittington) and Billy (Boyle) are always coming up with dogs they think we should have in the kennel. Between them they spotted Brady at Clonmel, with Gary particularly forcing the issue. It was when Brady did that trial at Hove we realised that this dog could really run.
“He is actually a lovely pup, very chilled with a willing mentality. But we are taking things one step at a time. The Derby is obviously in the pipeline, but he is still very young and we will be patient with him. Dogs of this calibre don’t come along very often.”
* The RPGTV Juvenile takes place at Towcester on Sunday July 2
Puppy Derby winner BRADYS BULLET with owners L-R: Billy Boyle, Belinda Green (also trainer) and her husband/spotter Gary Whittington. (The other joint owner Dave Lawrence was away in Paris celebrating his 65th birthday). Photo: © Steve Nash
BRADYS BULLET. PGR Puppy Derby winner.
Monmore 18th March 2023
Photo: © Steve Nash
