Three weeks on Sunday, as the great and good don their finery for the annual awards in London, spare a thought for Bradford based Robert Holt who might just be wondering ‘where did it all go wrong?’
Because of all the hard luck stories that might have been told in 2019, there would be few to match that of Trickys Dumbo.
In fact Dumbo’s story began with disappointment as Robert recalls how he came to acquire the August ’17 whelp.
He said: “I’d paid fair money for a young pup who was to be named Tricky Bojangles. He was a full brother to Roxholme Jim, so from good stock, and I’d hoped for good things from him.
“Although he was to win four races for me, the best he’d managed was an A2 at Sheffield. To be honest I’d hoped for a fair bit better from the dog and had become a little disillusioned.
“One day my father took a call from Dominic Magnone who runs the Greyhound And Pet World business in Ireland. Dominic has been a family friend for a long time and begged my dad to get me to buy this young dog from him called Quivers Dumbo.
“He’d made his debut in a Cork unraced competition in March, running out an easy winner of his heat by six lengths. Though Dumbo was well fancied for the final, he was beaten into second by Kentish Prince who has since franked that form by reaching the semi final of the Kent Derby at Central Park.
“Being quite honest I was reluctant to buy the dog at first but Dominic was adamant that I should and wanted him to come to a kennel where he knew he’d be fully appreciated and given that extra bit of one-to-one.
“After a bit of bartering on the price which I was happy with – though it did include a fair amount of my dad’s beef as makeweight- the deal was done.”
The renamed Trickys Dumbo hit the Sheffield sand in full stride clocking 16.19 in his first sprint trial, followed by three promising 500 metre trials (best 28.81).
Robert said: “I knew then that we had a fair dog on our hands. The Derby was approaching at Nottingham and there was a puppy competition starting on semi final night, I trialled him there in preparation where he recorded 29.90 (+30) first look.
“I’m not much of a betting man but I had a fair each way bet on him for the competition and despite winning his heat well, his time was beaten by a young dog called Ice On Fire. Dumbo was sent off at 8/1 for the final.
“I thought the price being offered was ridiculous for a dog of his calibre and despite being on already ante post I topped up. He won well in the final with Ice On Fire down the field.
“I knew the calibre of Jimmy’s dog so I couldn’t have been more pleased with our lad.”
Dumbo made it three from three in a puppy open before contesting his final race as a puppy – the £7,500 RPGTV Select Stakes.
It was – inevitably – a star studded field and although the race was marred by non-runners and a fall for the favourite, Dumbo produced a faultless front running (4.94 sect) performance.
Sadly, that was the last that UK racegoers would see of Trickys Dumbo in 2019.
Robert said: “We’re a sporting kennel, the dog was in top class form and I’d kind of promised Dominic that I’d let the dog take his chance in the Irish Derby. To be honest it was all a bit too much too soon for him and though we qualified for the second round, that was as far as we were to go.
“I had him checked out after that and there was a small issue or two, nothing serious but a couple of little muscle tears to work on.
“The Eclipse was coming up at Nottingham in October. Dumbo was just coming right and with it being a track he obviously runs well we felt we had to go for it.
“His first trial wasn’t too great, 18.07 (+10) but I knew he needed the blow out, next trial 2992 (+30) was acceptable but again I knew there was plenty in the locker.
“I needed to see improvement in the next trial and that came when he recorded 29.55 (+60). But I just wasn’t happy with him. In my opinion, he seemed to be forcing his way around the second bend, as if it was an effort for him. But I know when this dog is fully fit he takes the bends effortlessly.
“The next morning, although not particularly lame in any one spot, Dumbo was very stiff and sore. I pretty much decided there and then that I’d leave him over the winter months, treat him regularly, massage, jacuzzi and get him ready for what is an early Derby at Nottingham this year.
“He just looks as if he’s coming back to himself, his fitness is improving, he’s been walked every day by myself or Linda (assistant) and has now had a few gallops.
“We’ll likely trial him back initially at Sheffield and then give him a couple of one offs there on a Tuesday night if all goes to plan.
“After that it will be straight to Nottingham with what will hopefully be a fully fit, sound and fresh Dumbo for a tilt at the Derby.
“I did receive a call from Jonathan Kay about potentially running him in the Juvenile. But I think we rushed him a little trying to go for the Eclipse last year. It would be foolish to make the same mistake twice”.
