“I’ve never believed that you can find good greyhounds, they find you.”
It was January 17th 2021 and the KSS Syndicate were not in a great place. In the previous 12 months, there had been no knew Kings or Queens born due a herpes infection that was affecting fertility of the brood bitches. Most of the previous year’s kennel stars were heading to retirement. But Rab McNair took a phone call that ultimately led to the kennel’s first St Leger winner on Thursday night.
When Lover crossed the winning line the first person on the phone to Rab was her breeder Dru Richard.
Rab McNair said: “He was straight on the phone to congratulate us. I had to remind him that we owed him £2,000 but he wasn’t in any way concerned about that. He might be by this morning though! When Dru first sent Lover over, he was looking for £10,000 for her. He was convinced she would be special but neither of us really knew. So I offered him £8,000 plus £2,000 if she won a Cat 1 race. So we owe the man ‘2K'”
In fact, it was Scotsman Richard who had made that call 20 months earlier .
Rab recalls: “He told me that a dog he had bred and sold to Philip Heffernan had won at Thurles in a good time the previous night and thought he would make into a good greyhound. I phoned Brendan (Keogh) who promised to check the dog out. Brendan is a great judge of a greyhound (not that I would ever tell him) and was very impressed, so we bought the dog for £7,000.”
Within three months, Havana Class had won the Category One event, the Laurels at Perry Barr, worth £6,500.
Rab said: “Dru phoned me shortly after and said he had some more decent dogs. We brought them and to be honest they just didn’t work out as well as we’d hoped. But that’s greyhounds, you can’t always predict. So I was a wee bit hesitant when Dru phoned again a few weeks later and told me he thought he had another special one. I was a bit reluctant but we did a deal anyway based on the other last two not working out. Everyone was trying to be fair.
“That bitch turned out to be Havana Bale Out, so when Dru called again and said, ‘I think I’ve got one faster than her’ I was fairly dismissive. I said to him at the time, ‘that’s hardly likely because I think Bale Out could be the fastest bitch in Britain’. But he insisted, so he sent her over and she turned out to be Lover.
“It was a great call from Dru. But it’s not easy knowing how good these pups are going to turn out when they are barely schooled. That’s why I also owe such a lot to Central Park for letting me give them handslips and all the trials I need. Without that slow build up of experience, these fast young greyhounds would be ruined.”
Havana Lover – ‘significantly’ backed at 8-1 ante post – was the KSS Syndicate’s first St.Leger winner having hit the bar with the likes of Shaws Dilemma and Diegos Flight. But after seeing how quickly she was being reeled in by Savana Volcano over the 710 metres, Rab has put back plans to try his bitch over further.
He said: “It’s true that Lover is still very young and may stay on better as she gets older, but that was some run by Big Kevin’s bitch. No matter, we’ll take his money in the Hunt Cup. I would also fancy a crack at the Ballyregan Bob Memorial over 740 at Hove. But there is no pressure and if she was to come into season tomorrow, I’d be delighted.”
Premier Greyhound Racing Chairman Lord David Lipsey (right) presents the Leger trophy to connections of Havana Lover. Rab McNair holds the winner helped by grandsons Lauchlan and Lyle, and are joined by (from left) Wendy Openshaw, Kevin McNair, Ian Openshaw and Simon Senyk of KSS Syndicate. Perry Barr 29th September 2022 Photo: © Steve Nash
On June 25, Ivanexile finished third behind Havana Lover in the puppy final supporting the English Derby Final. Two months later, he (7-4f) finished third with Lover (15-8) fourth in the Juvenile Classic Final at Towcester.
On Thursday, the Matt Dartnall trained runner finally landed the race that his talent deserved with an impressive victory in the Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup.
It was the seventh win (five 2nds) from 14 races for ther Dartnall trained runner.
Matt said: “Perry Barr has always been a lucky track for me and the Birmingham Cup was my first Cat One race that I won with Ballymac Under when I took over from my dad in 2008.
“The dog was originally entered in the sales in Ireland but didn’t make his reserve and was spotted by Paul Carpenter. Paul didn’t want to keep the full share of the dog and we put together the other three guys.
“Dad always fancied the dog to train on. He said, ‘in three months time you’ll have a nice greyhound’ and he has proven to be spot on. I thought he ran well at Towcester and you could see the quality of the fields in both finals that he reached. I remember saying at the time, ‘that Havana Lover could be one of the best stayers in the country next year’.
“Looking forward we have thoughts on the Kent Derby. He took to Central Park well and that will probably be it. He has had a fairly tough campaign so far and we’ll then look at giving him a break.”
IVANEXILE (t6) goes into the first turn alongside Bambis Magic (t4) before going on to win the M Lambe Construction Birmingham Cup Final by two lengths from that rival. Photo: © Steve Nash
DISTANT EMMA wins 480m open Perry Barr 29th September 2022 Photo: © Steve Nash
Winner TRUMPERS LOLA (t2 rails) challenges Belles Good (t6) at the turn Perry Barr 29th September 2022 Photo: © Steve Nash
BILLIS TUDOR wins the final race of the night Perry Barr 29th September 2022 Photo: © Steve Nash
LOGGIES SADIE comes from way off the pace to win going away in the marathon on the Leger/Birmingham Cup undercard. Photo: © Steve Nash
Pat Rosney’s final runner before retiring, Rock On Ronnie, leads early in the Stayers open before eventually finishing down the field. Photo: © Steve Nash
Pat Rosney and partner Julie with silver salver and flowers to mark Pat’s retirement Photo: © Steve Nash
