Bockos Doomie and King Lennon clocked the two fastest times in the Coral Olympic first round on Saturday – and there were three and a half lengths between them.
Patrick Janssens’ big white and black powerhouse has acquired the status of Manchester City or Anthony Joshua – they make far bigger headlines when they are beaten than when they win. You attain that reputation by not getting beat.
Saturday night’s 29.80 (-30) run extended his Hove record to 6:6. His Monmore record is 3:3. It is the same at Henlow, which includes a Cat 1 final. At Central Park it is 2:3, the sole half length defeat also coming in a Cat One final. It is only at Nottingham where it falls apart, 0:4.
Understandably, Patrick is hopeful that he can end the year with a ‘Hove 9:9’
He said: “I think he has a good draw in the final. It looks to be the toughest of the three, but loves trap one and I am very hopeful.”
Ominously for the opposition, the highly experienced Janssens believes we are still to see the best of the Henlow Puppy Derby winner.
“When he first arrived we ran him in the maiden competition which he won unbeaten. He was too young, really to run in the Derby, but he took his chance and got to the third round. He went unbeaten at Henlow, then did something similar in the puppy competition at Hove.
“He went out of the Puppy Classic in the first round – and I accept that Nottingham isn’t his favourite track. He went unbeaten to the final of the Kent Derby, led, and got caught. I didn’t say anything at the time, because you sound like a bad loser, but truthfully the dog was only just getting over the cough.
“He then went to Monmore, and won his next four. In one of them, he didn’t lead until the third bend and went on to win by nine lengths in a calculated 27.89. But all the time he was being laid out for the Olympic.
“I really think Doomie is an absolutely exceptional greyhound and that the best is still to come from him. He has 18 races in total in England, he is still only two years and three months old and nearly 37 kilos. Because of the way I train, like Mark (Wallis) no galloping or private trials, everything is in the formlines to see. Our dogs improve over time.
“Since starting out at Hove, Doomie has progressed from 30.00 to a calculated 29.50 last night. I accept that he is draw dependent but his trapping has improved. He needs about three strides before the acceleration kicks in. In his early races, he was coming out behind them. He is now breaking level. I am convinced that next year he will be trapping in front.”
