Hiya Butt – one of the best dual distance greyhounds of his era – will be returning to Britain shortly as part of a long term breeding plan.
The Laurels and Peterborough Derby winner, who contested English Derby Finals at Wimbledon and Towcester, was retired from racing in February and has spent recent months in Ireland.
Assistant trainer Mark Keightley said: “He will be in Ireland until around September. They have taken around 30 straws and by then it should be around 50. He will return to England for some more straws for the UK market.
“He is already into double figures in terms of matings including Acomb Ruby, Forest Twilight, Roxholme Hottie and Mrs Roo. His first pups are due in around a fortnight.
“I would like to get somewhere between a dozen and 20 bitches covered in his first year. Any more than that and you risk the quality and how the pups will be reared, which is no good to anyone.”
Bred by Siobhan Duff, Butt is a Sep ’13 son of American import Hondo Black out of Hather For Pat (Yeah Man-Culmore Gift). Pat, who also threw Northern Irish Derby winner Atitboy, is a litter sister of Olympic runner-up Magna Venturer and a half sister (by Hondo Black) to ‘Three Steps’ winner Hather George.
