FIVE REASONS FOR A BRAE FUTURE – 2017 OPEN RACE SIRE TABLE

For breeding students, the sight of Kinloch Brae finishing home alone on the 2017 sire’s table could have been predicted before he landed the 2016 title.

Indeed, given the number of bitches he has served, he might even be described as the ante post favourite for 2016-2018. years when he arrived in Ireland from the USA in 2008.

However the relevance of his dominance has a number of far-reaching effects for the entire industry.

1) Quality in depth

First and foremost Kinoch Brae produces some very fast greyhounds and for all distances.

Sprinters aren’t really his forte but he has still given us the likes of Jumeirah Maximus, Rahyvira River and Black Sea.

Move into middle distance and you have Derby winners like Razldazl George and Astute Missile, or ‘should have been’ winners like Ballymac Vic and Razldalz Jayfkay.  To them you could add stars such as Newinn Shadow, Sidarian Blaze, Crokers Champ and Curious Boy.

Step up to six bends and he is even stronger: Russelena Reggie, Karlow Turbo, Keplar Nine, Mexican Peso, and Mays Highlandreel.

2) Versatility

Beyond the broad stamina band that Brae achieves as a sire is a versatility that is inherited by individual offspring.

It is best encapsulated by the marathon stars such as Meadow, who has recorded 16.46 for a Yarmouth sprint but won over 874m. Or Slippy Maska – 23.42 for Crayford’s 380m and was still going a lap and a half later.

Across a smaller spread there are string of versatile progeny, for example Castell Henry (277-575m), Dinzeo (480-720m), My Mate Max (277-575m), Office Flirt (470-714m) and many many more.

The average winning distance of Kinloch Brae offspring is 535m, somewhere nicely poised between the standard but edging towards the short-six-bend trips. He had four in the 540 Bussey Memorial at Crayford and won the Gold Collar with Mays Highlandreel.

3) Honesty

It is a good sign of honest progeny when the majority of the litter make it to the track. In 2014, Kinloch Brae sired 21 British litters producing 148 pups. Of the 148 born, 114 went on to race (78%). Although that leaves 34 who didn’t, they would include any pups lost through sickness or injury, right up to racing age.

Those 21 litters included

• Five pups out of Ardrine Lunar, including four open winners 277-874m (Whatugonnado, Bada Bing, Meadow etc)
• Six pups out of Tyrur Alice, all raced, and four won opens from 277-575m (Castell Henry, Bang On Giles etc)
• Nine pups out of Amber Bound, six won races and five won opens 261-483m (Burnfoot Dolly, Burnfoot Bronco etc)
• Seven pups out of Freedom Emma, six made the track and four won opens 480-655m (Honest John etc)
• Ten pups out of Miss McGrath, all of which went on to race with four winning minor opens – 400-575m.

4) Durability (probably)

This is the hardest to back up with facts as you would need to sample thousands of runners with which to compare.

Kinloch Brae certainly appears to produce durable runners as recently witnessed by by the retirement of Hove grader Janes Blaze after 202 races. There are a number of open race progeny who have also reached three figures including Aero Gaga, My Mate Max, Ilewin Allot, Monleek Town, and Star Cash Simon. There is certainly no evidence that Brae pups are unsound physically.

But don’t underestimate mental durability, as demonstrated by Ballymac Vic, whose appetite for the game never diminished after three seasons of racing.

5) Colour

Yes – seriously. In fact, the American imports in general, have brought back colours that had gone missing from British and Irish racing.

While the Australians swamped us with blacks, blues and black/whites, the American dogs have thrown a spanner into the colour gene pool with a return of brindles, with many variations thereof. (The diversity is even greater with son Ballymac Vic also throwing fawns).

If you don’t think this matters – spend ten minutes with someone running a re-homing kennel.

Looking forward, Brae has done more than become champions sire, like another American import three decades ago, he is set to establish a dynasty.

Only one dog can challenge him for the 2018 sire’s title – his own son Ballymac Vic. His daughters include broods Beaming Olive, Razldazl Marilyn, and of course Swift Erin.