Some pups burst onto the scene, others slowly ignite. Kooga Klammer (T4 2-1) belongs to the second group as he demonstrated with an impressive victory at Romford on Friday. . . .
It was the quickest of Kooga Klammer’s (Roxholme Bully-Millbrook Gaga, Dec 14) four attempts over course and distance (results below) and followed a defeat by kennelmate Dark Recruit in the semi finals.
It was the latest breakthrough for a pup who had lost nine of his first eleven races after qualifying into A5 at Peterborough, but won four or his last.
Trainer Dave Pruhs said: “Paul Allen brought Klammer and his sister unraced. I schooled them and I think he took about a second to come out of the boxes in his first trial. But he always showed potential, he just needed a look around somewhere first. A good example was his first trial at Yarmouth where he never left the hare rail and did 28.55 (462m) but then recorded 27.89 three days later.
“The next plan is Wimbledon for the Puppy Derby. He has stayed 480m to win at Nottingham in 28.85 (480m) but he has come on a bit since then as he showed with a 25.91 run at Peterborough which was probably the last time 26.00 was broken there.
“As for Dark Recruit, he is an October whelp so will have to take on older dogs. But he is a rugged type and that wouldn’t concern me too much. He is now eligible to run for Peterborough in the Track Championship.”
From right, Coral Head of Stadia David Macdonald presents the Romford Puppy Cup to Paul Allen and John Gilson, owners of Kooga Klammer. David Pruhs’ kennelhand Jordan Jones holds the winner whilst Catherine Gilson and Alison Allen (left) hold the owners’ trophy. Photo: Steve Nash
