I have always used a ‘grading system’ for stud dogs. The is roughly one ’10 pointer’ per decade. At any time there are probably no more than three ‘9 pointers’ at stud writes Floyd Amphlett.
There is one 9-pointer less, following the death last week of 15 year old Head Bound.
The half brother of Brett Lee was purchased for a small fortune on his schooling trials in Australia by Irishman Michael Dunphy (not the Michael Dunphy of ‘Droopys’ fame).
It is claimed that the black did 16.22 in an unofficial trial at Clonmel where he injured a gracilis. Certainly his three race career was uninspiring.
Head Bound went to stud in 2004 and sired just four litters. There were no more pups born until the first pups hit the track in 2006.
Those four litters included Ardera Charm, winner of the Leinster Puppy Stakes, and Bar The Devil, who reached the finals of the Irish Derby, Irish St Leger, Champion Stakes and was runner-up in the Dundalk International.
Devil’s brother Holyromanemperor, won the ‘Derby plate’ event, the Diamond Stakes.
With Brett Lee the world’s most sought after sire, and his pups flying, Head Bound was suddenly in huge demand.
In 2006, he sired 97 litters, before fertility problems developed and barely 100 litters were sired in the following two years.
He peaked as a stud dog in 2010 and 2011 and served reasonable numbers of broods in his latter years.
Head Bound never finished top UK sire, though he has consistently finished in the top five, and always behind dogs who have had many more opportunities.
Head Bound offspring were noted for their honesty and he leaves behind a string of outstanding greyhounds.
Here are twelve of his best: Sawpit Sensation, Exocet, Silverview Perky, Rockburst Pearl, Thurlesbeg Joker, Paradise Madison, Bar Blackstone, Thurlesbeg Joker, Milldean Tally, Cambushmore, Ferdia Bound, Swords Prince.
