I really don’t know what to say about Adageo Bob’s win in last night’s Mitch Millward Essex Vase semi finals.
The plain results show that he won a fantastic semi final in 34.78 beating Bubbly Gold by a length and a half.
The time was only 11 spots outside his joint track record which is some performance for a dog who was four in July.
There are so many different angles to Tuesday’s final. The first is that it will hopefully be third time lucky for our most prolific open race winner ever in his retirement race.
In 2013 final, he was beaten half a length by his kennelmate Reel Trickyone.
Last year Bob was the short priced ante post favourite who won his heat in 34.76 but had to be withdrawn from the semi finals when we encountered a motorway shut down due to fog.
It took us four and a half hours for a 90 minute journey and we missed kennelling by seven minutes. He then equalled the track record on final night.
This year, I had my doubts that he would even be entered. I looked at him a few weeks ago and realised he was suddenly getting old.
But he trialled back well and looked good in a couple of races at Towcester so we devised a plan to not give him any six-bend races until the Essex Vase first round.
Then last Tuesday night we had terrible storms, the trees around here were bent over double, and it affected a lot of the dogs in the kennel. He was very quiet on Wednesday and on Thursday I almost withdrew him from the first round.
He recovered enough to take a chance and even though he won his heat in 35.51 (-30), I did question whether he was anywhere near his best.
So to see him run like he did last night surprised even me. He was absolutely back and I felt vindicated that we had done the right thing.
Unfortunately, I think he got a bit carried away and he is absolutely shattered this morning. But with six days between semis and final all is not lost.
It would be wonderful to see Bob retire with a win and a real fairy story, but it is certainly not the ‘be all and end all’.
In the first instance, I will be thinking about the man whose name has been so thoughtfully and generously given to the race by Corals – Mitch Millward.
Mitch was a wonderful human being and I don’t think that the occasion of it being Bob’s last race should overshadow that.
Secondly, I don’t think Bob has anything to prove. He won an outstanding semi final, on merit, against three other heat winners, and whatever happens will be remembered as one of the greatest dogs ever to race at Romford.
Besides, I think he has a lot to do to win it. He is taking on an exceptional greyhound in Fivestar Clipper in the final. They are all very good greyhounds but Clipper ‘is Bob-esque’ in his ability having won his last seven at the track.
The dog also has a brilliant trainer in Derek Knight. You can guarantee that Derek will have his dog in 100% condition for the final.
They are drawn five and six with Bob wearing the stripes. I don’t think the draw makes a lot of difference, though I might have preferred our dog in five as he might prevent Clipper cutting the corner.
The problem is, they have identical running styles and their semi final winning times were only three spots apart.
If either leads, and they will lead by more than a length at the first bend, I think they will win it. Though there has to be a reasonable chance that they will ruin each other’s chances and open the race up for the rest.
Whatever happens – happens. We are going to enjoy the night.
Draw for Tuesday’s final: 1 Loughteen Pedro, 2 Bubbly Gold, 3 Deanridge Pennys, 4 Farneys Cookie, 5 Fivestar Clipper, 6 Adageo Bob
