Saturday night at Shawfield was my greatest experience in greyhound racing.
We’ve been quite lucky over the years with wins in the Laurels, a couple of Select Stakes, Gold Collars and the rest, but this was a proper Derby.
It was quite emotional watching it. My partner Julie paraded Swift Hoffman and because it is quite a distance to the pick-up, I was at the second bend.
I could see the 480 traps in the distance and when he came away so slowly, I thought our chance had gone. As they came past me though I could see Hoffman had his run on the outside and was in full stride. I thought to myself, ‘if he carries on like that he could even make the frame’, but I had no expectation of him winning as they ran away from me into the third bend.
As they came around the last bend, I wasn’t sure who was in front – it is a long way away. But then I saw Julie in the middle of the track jumping up and down and then I could make out the striped jacket. I couldn’t believe it.
As he came over the winning line in front, I just couldn’t believe it. In fact I still can’t.
I wanted to see what happened and I eventually got to see the replay. I don’t know what happened to Fraser’s dog (Save The Don), who seemed to trip. I watched it three or four times and still can’t be sure. I just hope he is okay.
But I genuinely think we could have given him a run anyway as the winning time suggested.
If he runs a solo, Hoffman will rail like a cat. But if there are dogs in his way, he is quite happy to run around the outside of them.
The Shawfield crowd were phenomenal. I have heard is said that Nick Savva and Charlie Lister reckon the reception at Shawfield is better than Wimbledon. Unfortunately, unlike them, I haven’t had the chance to compare, I just know that the Shawfield crowd were phenomenal.
I am so thrilled that everyone has had the chance to see what a good dog Hoffman is.
When we first got him he turned in traps and was beaten 18 lengths. In fact he did it a few times until we got it sorted out.
When he was unraced I remember taking Hoffman and Mileheight Alba to Perry Barr for a sprint trial. Alba clocked 16.17 and Hoffman clocked 16.26 and my only thought was ‘that was a poor run by Alba, he was only a length quicker than the novice’
The following week Hoffman went back and did 16.05 and we realised that we had a proper greyhound.
He did 28.24 in his first ever four bend trial, for 480m at Perry Barr and then he did 28.05 for 480m at Monmore.
Things started to go wrong in the Puppy Classic Final at Nottingham. It was a rough race with his litter brother (Be Up Front) and I think he lost a bit of confidence.
I am not sure when he picked up the very small problem in his shoulder. It was very difficult to find but we got him treated earlier in the year and he hasn’t looked back since.
It was also fantastic to win the puppy final with Vatican Gurkha, but mainly for his owner Robert Ferrari.
Robert is the best owner a kennel could ever have. He has had all sorts of bad luck but takes it on the chin.
Winning at Shawfield was particularly pleasing because Robert is a local lad who went to track as a teenager.
I know his ambition would be to win the Scottish Derby and it would be lovely to think that we could have a crack next year with Gurkha and his other dog Vatican Baloteli.
We had had a terrible 10 days prior to Shawfield. I think we had had about a dozen second places.
The only one that really pleased me was Swift Carter in the Betfred Gymcrack Final.
He had been on his bed since the semi final with a sore muscle so to see him run so well, even though he was beaten, was hugely satisfying.
Kinsley once again put on a fantastic evening for all connections and it is one of my favourite tracks to visit.
We are looking forward to Newcastle now with Newinn Yolo who is in the heats of a competition at Newcastle.
Hopefully he makes the final but if he doesn’t, I’ll enter him in the Derby trialstake that is on the same night.
After that, we’ll be starting to think about Wimbledon.
I always try to concentrate on competitions rather than lots of minor open races and I have no regrets about missing the trainers championship meeting.
A lot of people might not agree, but you have to go with a plan that you believe in.
