On Thursday night, Patrick Janssens saw ante post favourite Coolavanny Shado eliminated at 1-5f in the heats of the ARC Northern Flat. Not a great omen for a big weekend. . .
Thankfully on Friday night, this happened . . . .
DROOPYS GOOD Golden Sprint winner Romford 17th March 2023 Photo: © Steve Nash
When Droopys Good went to the Romford traps he had 22 races on his UK card, and 34 in Ireland spread over 23 months.
He duly produced a trademark ‘Droopys Good’ performance.
But how good is Good?
In all honesty, the 34 kilo black isn’t the fastest dog that either Paul Carpenter or Bev Lochead have ever owned. He wasn’t even the kennel’s leading hope in the final. Three of Friday’s supporting opens were quicker.
But anybody seeing those statements as an attempt to undermine his achievement is missing the point.
It is this: Droopys Good went to traps on 21 occasions at Romford and he won 12 of them. Yet his fastest winning time in all those races was 23.73 on going rated +10. It was the only run that got him into the ‘top 10 times’ last year.
The evidence proves that Droopys Good was far from the fastest dog to have gone racing from Janssens’ Hockwold range.
BUT – could find a more committed and reliable performer?
Patrick said: “He was a bit fortunate to be the only railer in the final but you just knew that he would come away fast and he would take all the beating once in front. Exactly what you need for Romford.
“Good doesn’t have tons of pace, but with his consistant trapping and that short run to the bend, he is tough to beat at Romford. It was the same at Shelbourne with the short run to the bend for the 525.
“I spoke to Paul Carpenter after the final after the race and suggested that they retire him. He will soon be four years old, but he will bow out with a better than 50% strike rate and Romford’s only Category One race of the year to his name.
“There is nothing left to go for. He also won on the Night Of Stars and another small stake at Romford and doesn’t owe the connections a penny.
“So he might not have been the fastest we have had, but he is a lovely greyhound; I wish I had a kennel full of them.”
Then on Monday night . . .
In contrast, Romeo Command, is perhaps the ‘least Romford dog’ you could imagine, but like Droopys Good, is a born winner – to a tune of 9:9.
The similarly sized brindle had been the dominant force throughout the BGBF British Bred Stakes. His 29.12 first round win was the second fastest time ever recorded over course and distance, though he was some way short of that in the final.
Despite the run, was there any disappointment in the 29.86 winning time, which wasn’t even the quickest on the night?
“Not at all” said Patrick, “I’ve never been interested in times. I don’t trust them. I never have. Think about it this way. The runner-up in the first round did 29.62, does that stand up?
(In his last two wins at Sheffield, Signet Otis clocked 29.93 and 30.05)
“Listen, the clock can be useful when you can closely compare dogs you know on the same day. Not on different days with different going allowances. For example, I trialled Command and Fabulous Azurra in the same trial session at Towcester; she did 29.54, he did 29.34. That was when the times are useful. But I would rather go by what I see than what the clock says.
“I don’t need times to tell me how good this dog is. He is the best I’ve had and I expect him to get better. These British breds continue to improve and I am certainly expecting that of him. He is two years and two months old but is still quite immature.
“His next race will probably be the Juvenile. After that he will have a couple of weeks off and then we will start preparing for the Derby.”
Towcester vet Polly Smith
Patrick might have been one of the most outspoken critics of the starting traps at Oxford, where he has refused to enter runners, but he is also the first to embrace the new ‘up and over’ boxes.
He said: “I will be there like a shot. I like the track but I wasn’t accepting those traps. I can’t wait to run some dogs there; I love that distance, like Yarmouth or Walthamstow. It suits a particular type of dog and I have several that look well suited to it.”
The Norfolk based handler has continued to support Towcester but “can’t wait” until their traps are also replaced. Overall, he is a big fan of the facility in general, and he has special praise for one person in particular.
“The vet, Polly (Smith)” said Patrick. “She is one of the best that I have come across. She is so good at her job and so dedicated. She detected a heart problem with some of the Skilful Sandie pups. I didn’t have a clue about it. She is so professional in everything she does. This industry is lucky to have her.”
