“Keep an eye out for the rest of Podge’s litter with sister Distant Emma rated a future Oaks prospect”
That was nine months ago.
Litter brother Distant Podge had just won the Puppy Classic and Distant Emma was still to win her first race. The Oaks prophecy wasn’t far out – she finished third – but on Tuesday night, the 11-10 favourite was contesting just her second staying race in the final of the Time Greyhound Nutrition Three Steps To Victory.
Winning owner Peter Band admits that at one stage, his confident wavered . . .
He said: “Before the race I was having a bit of banter with one of the owners of Crossfield Cora (Mike Davis). It was all in good fun, and he told me that if their bitch led she definitely wouldn’t be caught. Emma challenged her going into that fifth bend and then checked. I thought, ‘he might be right after all’. Thankfully she ran on really well to win it.
“After the race, he (Mike Davis) came to congratulate us. When I said I hope to meet again in the future, he said ‘I hope not.’ It was a great laugh. There should be more of that fun in the sport.
“At this stage we don’t have any immediate plans for Emma. There is the bitch’s race at Towcester on Derby Final night and then the possibility of a couple of races at Hove. She is just 15 weeks out of season so we are expecting her to get stronger in the coming runs.”
Peter was keen to acknowledge the training feat of Assistant Trainer Rose Draper who has been running the operation while Barrie is on holiday, and also breeder Sean Flaherty.
Peter said: “I spoke to Sean this morning, he was schooling dogs at Tralee at 7am due to the Irish heatwave. Later today he is due to take Emma’s dam Distant Lucy to be inseminated with straws from Droopys Sydney.”
In addition to Emma and Podge, the first Sydney litter includes Ballyard Shawny who landed a heat to the Silver Salver on Sunday, plus ‘Distant’ open winners Prince and Oscar, and Sheffield 28.55 graded winner Distant Brian.
The star though will always be Distant Podge who goes in heat nine of the Derby on Saturday night.
Peter said: “It is a very tough heat and Podge can’t afford to come away like he did last week. He is a much better dog when he leads. But if he traps in front, he must have a reasonable chance of qualifying. We are all excited and looking forward to it.”
