Christmas has come and gone and we are already looking forward to 2020. It has been a hectic few days with new pups to qualify; we’ve had 28 at trials over the last two days, plus plenty of galloping.
The Editor has asked me to pick half a dozen dogs to mention for next year and I have decided to split them into pairs.
The first two are litter brothers Newinn Session and Doolin Duke and both are unraced and are July ’18 whelps by Laughil Duke out of Coolavanny Pearl (who had previously thrown Clona Blaze, Calzaghe Sonic, Newinn Hero and others)
Session is owned by Simon Taylor, Doolin Duke is owned by Austin Whelan. Session has clocked 29.48 (-20) at Clonmel and beat Slippy Cian in 18.57 (+10) in a Shelbourne sprint trial. Doolin Duke, who was called Newinn Duke, has a 29.45 (-20) trial at Clonmel and an 18.50 (+10) trial at Shelbourne. The plan is for them both to go for the unraced stake at Clonmel.
The second pair are both young experienced pups with huge potential. Newinn Taylor (Droopys Buick-Newinn Expert, May 18) is unbeaten in all six races to date, including the big Shelbourne puppy competition (formerly the Comerford Cakes) and has 28.04, 28.07 and 28.12 wins on his card.
In my opinion, he has everything and is a proper Derby dog. He has devastating early pace and I am confident that as he matures he will get the 550.
Rathcoole Fox (Top Honcho-Ballydoyle Honey, Jan 18) is owned by the Howson-Holder-McMunn-Sherratt Syndicate and has already won the Munster Puppy (Juvenile) Cup. He was very unlucky from a bad draw when knocked out of the Shelbourne puppy competition but has 28.12 on his card there and like a lot of Top Honcho’s I think he will improve with age.
Because of the change of dates with the English Derby, at this stage, both Taylor and Fox will probably go for the Con and Ann Kirby instead of coming to England.
Which leaves the two older dogs starting with Lenson Bocko (Droopys Jet-Melodys Diamond, Aug 17) owned by the Lockhead-Ponder-Whelan Syndicate. I don’t think he really needs an introduction. I have literally just started galloping him today though there are no plans to race him any time soon. The plan at the moment is that his first race will probably be in an English Derby Trialstake.
The other older dog who I should mention is Wolfe (Tyrur Big Mike-Jalingo, Nov 16) who is owned by Marian Maloney. He will also be coming back to Nottingham, if nothing else because I think we have a point to prove.
As I have said many times, he was always been a bit immature. Provided they have avoided injury, many dogs do not peak until they are between three and four years old. By that stage, they’ve learned how to deal with most things racing can throw at them and they have normally calmed down a bit. It may be that we still haven’t seen the best of Wolfe.
