“We’ve only had one like him before, a dog that has gone open racing in his first ever race. That was his grandad, Ballymac Eske.”
After 53 years as a greyhound owner, former farmer and Peterborough stalwart Peter Band knows a decent hound when he sees one. The names roll off the keyboard, Ballymac Ramsay, Ballymac Mossjoe, Ballymac Sheehy to name but three. On Monday night, Distant Prodge added his name to the list by landing the Jenningsbet Puppy Classic Final at Nottingham. This is how he did it.
It was only the fourth race in Podge’s career, for a 100% strike rate, and fully justified Barrie Draper’s decision to keep the 36 kilo monster under wraps. He is closing in on his second birthday next month; but actually started trialing back in March.
Peter said: “He came from Sean Flaherty in Ireland. Sean has become a friend over the years and when he said he thought this lot were an exceptional litter, I bought most of them. They were all doing low 16s or 15s at Sheffield from the start but were coming off with a few niggles. Barrie suggested that we ease off with them and I was in complete agreement.
Podge’s victory came 10 years and two days after Ballymac Eske landed the same event though Peter wouldn’t begin to burden the youngster by comparing the two. In fact, he might even claim that Eske was a ‘dog in a thousand’ because he reckons that is roughly the number of greyhounds he has either owned or bred down the years, the majority having run at Peterborough.
Peter said: “To be completely accurate, Eske wasn’t my dog at all. I bought him as a present for my partner Wendy Prince when I sold up my farm at Whittlesea and moved to Connington”
In addition to the Puppy Classic, Eske also landed the Olympic, the Racing Post Juvenile, The Scottish Derby and Three Steps To Victory. He also broke the Sheffield 660 record and Monmore 480 track records.
Peter said: “He was such an amazing dog. But for changes in the going, some his times would never be beaten. For example is Monmore 27.48 Monmore run was on normal going.”
But looking forward and not back, keep an eye out for the rest of Podge’s litter with sister Distant Emma rated a future Oaks prospect. Her most recent trial was a 28.78 for 500m at Sheffield. In Ireland, the unraced Ballyard Shawny has been showing some sparkling form in qualifying trials.”
As for Podge?
“The plan is now to give Podge a couple of weeks off and then a few one-offs. This is his last month as a pup and his next competition will probably be the Eclipse back at Nottingham.”
Rose Draper hold Distant Podge – Peter Band with the trophy – pic Lacie Moran
