I hope to confirm a date for a first handslip for Brinkleys Poet next week following his planned return from long term injury. Poet arrived in the kennel last week, along with Antigua’s Flash, Falcon, Vows and Sands from owner Nic Jeals. All had been with Matt Dartnall and were in exceptional condition.
Poet chipped a bone in his wrist last August and has been nursed through to this stage by Matt. The wrist looks in good shape and we had him checked over by physio Ron Mills.
It would be great to think that Poet could race again though I can’t help being very cautious. These type of wrist injuries have a very poor success rate at returning, as we found out only too well with Bruisers Bullet. We gave him way longer than was necessary but he came off sore in his return to the track and was immediately retired.
I haven’t decided where to take him yet though Monmore would be one of my favourite options, given he ran the track so well in the Puppy Derby.
Of the others, Flash and Vows have one open win each.Falcon reached the All England Cup Final last year but will be four in August. Antigua Romeo is a promising youngster and was unlucky not to win his first open last time out. Antigua Sands hasn’t raced in England yet but she has an excellent Irish card under her old name of Ballymac Beach.
Nic and Amanda have a number of fast dogs still in Ireland, including the bitch I recommended that they buy, and I am delighted to have owners of that calibre in the kennel.
Antigua Fire, formerly Towcester Story, who arrived in the kennel from Brendan Matthews on February 27th, trialled well at Sheffield on Thursday clocking 29.28 (-10) for the 500 metres. Desperado Dan clocked 29.10 at the same session which reinforces the form.
Firstly, the distance is even less suited to Antigua Fire and secondly, I think he is a dog who is even less suited to the distance than Patrick’s dog, and secondly, I think he could be the type of dog to benefit from more runs over the distance.
Fire and No Can Boogie will both be running in the Queen Mother Cup and I will be interested to see the draw. Our run of having our dogs drawn together is bordering on bizarre. Competition after compeition, I am on the point of becoming paranoid about it.
If all goes to plan, Antigua Fire will represent me, along with Brigadier Bullet, in the Trainers Championship and then the pair will both be going to Hove.
Before then, I am planning for the Brigadier to go to Monmore for the Lol Jones Memorial Meeting, with Aayamza Breeze – hopefully the marathon will fill. Then Brigadier may be off to Yarmouth for their new Cat One event.
