Patrick Janssens has confirmed the retirement of dual Cat One winner Bockos Jon Jo after what proved a mixed day for the kennel at Towcester on Sunday.
The Bev Lockhead trained black was in second place when he went amiss at the second bend in a semi final of the GAIN Greyhound Nutrition Sovereign Stakes.
Patrick said: “It was a bad one, a double break and years ago it could have ended very badly. But with modern techniques, he will be fine. He was off the to vets at 6am this morning and I am not expecting any complications. Unfortunately these things happen occasionally in racing. The track was in perfect condition.”
The son of Droopys Jet and Moanteen Beauty won 14 of his 31 races including the Golden Sprint and Towcester Sprint. He was also beaten a length in the East Anglian Derby Final.
Patrick said: “Jon Jo will probably return to his breeder in Ireland. I will remember his as being just about perfect in every way. He was a good kenneler, a good traveler and had an unbelievable will to win. He was just a brilliant dog.”
There was some minor consolation when kennelmate Crossfield Dusty made it eight wins in eleven races in the first semi. The Scurry winning puppy has drawn the stripes in a final with five middle seeds.
Patrick said: “Isn’t he incredible, given his age? I am quite happy with the draw. In those situations you either want two or six and we’ve got the six. It is a really high class final but I think Dusty had a decent chance.”
The kennel’s Derby winner Thorn Falcon was also successful on the day clocking 29.36 in a supporting open. However, plans for a tilt at the Olympic have now been shelved.
Patrick said: “I’ve just been discussing it with Keith (Allsop – part owner). We will give him a couple of races and a bit of a lay-off but the Blue Riband is now in January so we will be going for that instead. He will then stay at Towcester then to defend his Derby title.”
