“People can say what they like about ARC (and Entain) – like them or hate them, it means nothing to me. But I’ll tell you one thing, when you are running for £20K to the winner, even expensive greyhounds are affordable. Whether I had dogs who were good enough or not, I would try to support these PGR competitions. If we don’t, we can’t expect to keep them.”

So said winning trainer Patrick Janssens after watching Slick Sakina (T6) go unbeaten through her second consecutive Premier Greyhound Racing competition, the Eclipse.

With £41,600 banked from her last seven unbeaten races, Patrick is fully expecting the daughter of Droopys Sydney to be in the running for the 2022 Greyhound of the Year title. In fact three or the kennel’s five Cat One successes in 2022 have been down to the ladies.

Patrick said: “I honestly don’t think there is much between Sakina and (Empress Stakes winner) Fabulous Azurra though Sakina has that bit more early. I thought she ran a bit flat in the semi finals; I don’t think going a fortnight without a race suited her.

“Unfortunately, Keith (Allsop) couldn’t make the final with the competition being put back a week. He had to go to Texas with his daughter but he was following the race from the airport and was thrilled.”

Real greyhound folk will be delighted to see a man who has put so much into greyhound racing finally getting some overdue rewards.

Having bought Thorn Falcon for (an unconfirmed) £15K, the dog won £185K in prize money. Keith continued to plough back into the sport and has another exciting youngster coming through.

Slick Saratoga is a July 21 younger full brother to Deerjet Sydney who is unraced in Ireland but qualified at Cork in 28.77.

Patrick said: “He has only just come over and is still settling in but won his first 500m trial at Towcester in 30.12 on Sunday. He looks very good.”

 

A decision is still to be made about the Oaks winner’s next race, though Patrick hasn’t ruled out a possible attempt on the PGR All England Cup.

He said: “I am due to speak to Keith first. It was always part of the plan to go, but the extra week at Nottingham means she won’t be able to trial. But I am taking Coolavanny Shado and Global Prima. Realistically, I think Newcastle would suit Sakina better than Nottingham. In my view she is more of a 480 than a 500m type and Newcastle is quite similar to Perry Barr.

“One of Sakina’s strengths, as she showed at Nottingham, was her ability to gallop the bends. In my view some dogs can gallop the Nottingham bends and others can’t. That is not a criticism of the track, it is more down to a dog’s individual abilities.”

 

On Sunday, Romeo Command takes part in the second round of the RPGTV English Puppy Derby at Towcester and it is clear that Patrick wouldn’t swap for any other dog in the competition.

The fastest hound over 550 yards at Cork this year (29.41) he was eliminated from Shelbourne’s RPGTV Juvenile Derby at the semi final stage.

Patrick said: “I’m not a tremendous fan of the 525 yard trip at Shelbourne. A lot of the races are won by early paced dogs drawn on the inside. That isn’t a problem of course, but in my view, a lot are won by dogs better suited to a Romford 400 on a Friday night than Towcester over 500 metres.

“In my opinion, Romeo Command is very very good.  He has a slightly tricky draw on Sunday, with five likely to sharply cut across to rails, but I like the three box, and whatever the result, it is all about qualifying.”

 

Following discussions between Patrick and the owners, their English Derby winner ‘Big Bill’ (alternatively known as Thorn Falcon) was retired straight to the sofa, rather than embark on a less certain career at stud.

There was a slightly different option for Jacama Pamela.

Not heard of her?

She was the regally bred daughter of Ballymac Inspeed and Golden Jacket winner Skilful Sandie. But Pamela has her own particular claim to fame.

Patrick said: “She is the slowest greyhound I ever put a lead on. I couldn’t believe it when she graded at Towcester, I suggested they get their timing equipment checked. I said to Andy Lisemore, ‘when she races, make sure you look out of the window, because she won’t be able to see her on the TV'”

It was one-off event, because at the age of 17 months old, Jamela Pamela was retired.

Patrick said: “We had a lady in the village who had Affleck Bolt’s dam as a pet. She eventually died and they were looking for another. I had just the one in mind. She seems to be settling in quite well . . . ”

Pamela and Poppy