Dual distance star Droopys Clue landed the ultimate prize last night when named as the GBGB Greyhound of the Year for 2023.
The powerful white and black son of Out Of Range ASB and Droopys Natalia made an instant impression by winning his first four races at Hove but was beaten in the fifth, the final of the Seasons Scaffolding Puppy Cup.
He bounced back to win the Juvenile Classic at Towcester by the minimum margin before switching to six bends in the Ladbrokes Summer Stayers Classic. The final was one of the great races of the year when he just failed by a neck to catch Fromposttopillar.
That form held good in the PGR St.Leger at Perry Barr where he was majestically unbeaten, landing the final at 4/9f and setting a new 710m track record. It was then back to four bends and consecutive track records for the Central Park 491m distance en route to the Kent Derby Final. A 15/8 chance in the final, he missed his break and finished fourth. Clue ended the year with a flawless (1-3f) win in the Ballyregan/Curtis Memorial at Hove.
The Seamus Cahill trained Clue finished the year with 17 wins from 26 races.
For at least the last three months of the year, the Greyhound of the Year title was generally considered to be a match between Clue and Tom Heilbron’s Links Maverick.
Maverick came into the year on a four-timer and extended that by another five including the Northern Puppy Derby before finally facing defeat in the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby Final. He bounced back to win his next 11 on the bounce including the Pall Mall at Oxford, where he set a new track record and the Gold Cup at Monmore. Unfortunately Maverick’s year petered out after picking up an injury at Sunderland. In total he won 20 of his 24 races.
The top sprinter title previously held by kennelmate Gougane Jet, was passed onto Quarteira. His only major win came in the Scurry at Perry Barr though he also reached a couple of other major finals.
Bellmore Sally came into 2023 as a veteran and was accordingly raced sparingly with just 13 outings. They included a successful defence of the PGR Golden Jacket at Crayford followed by a win in the TV Trophy at the same track. An attempt to win a unique treble was just foiled when the 4/9f was beaten a neck in the final of the Kent St.Leger.
The 2022 Hurdler of the Year Lenson Doolin continued his amazing career by landing the Champion Hurdle in an astonishing 23.10 for the Crayford 380m hurdle course. In total he won 19 (second 5 times) in his 27 races. His total career stands at 79 races of which he has won 40.
Romeo Command might have been the first Category 1 winner of the year having been unbeaten in the English Puppy Derby until the delayed final was finally abandoned in early January. By the time he went to traps for the final of the British Breeders Stake at Nottingham, he was on an eight race winning sequence which duly became nine.
The brindle’s first defeat was a narrow second in the Juvenile before he began his English Derby quest. Unbeaten until the semi final stage, he was turned over in both the semi and final by two Graham Holland trained runners, finishing second to Swords Rex and then finishing as Derby runner-up to Gaytime Nemo.
Command was third in the Select Stakes and went on to finish runner-up in the Kent Derby. The year ended on New Year’s eve with a track record breaking run of 28.64 for the English Derby course at Towcester.
British Breeders
The bookies have Signet Goofy as the 9/4 ante post favourite to win a slightly weaker than normal BGBF British Breeders.
With a number of top home bred hounds engaged elsewhere or laid up, the bookies are offering 9/1 bar the only Category One winner in the event with the next four in the betting all being ‘Acomb’ hounds.
Queen Mother Cup
Tom Heilbron will go doubled handed into next Sunday’s Queen Mother Cup Final at Sheffield as he attempts to defend the title that he won last year with Darbys Delight.
Freedom Ellie led home kennelmate Innfield Charm by a comfortable five plus lengths to record 39.51. Quickest on the day was John Lambe’s Hurry Up Jordan who just edged a tremendous buckle with Dubai Kid in 39.36. While Savana Heross had his own type of battle with Fridays Eske before prevailing in 39.70.
