Good kennelstaff are never off duty. Even when they are off duty. Back in March, Ria Tillett had gone to Ireland to spend a few days with a her boyfriend Jamie McGee. They went racing at Newbridge where the feature event was the final of an unraced bitch stake.

It was won by the favourite Tullymurry Faith (runner-up was Swindon record breaker Coppice Josie). Jamie, and grandad John McGee (who know’s a bit about greyhounds!!) suggest Ria phone her boss Patrick Janssens with the instruction, ‘this bitch has got to be bought’. On Thursday night the renamed Slick Sakina set a new Perry Barr 480m track record with an unbeaten run through the four rounds of the PGR Greyhound Oaks.

This is how she did it.

The daughter of Droopys Sydney had aggregate winning distances of over 15 lengths and the fastest performer in each outings: 28.17, 28.18, 27.97 and 27.85, which was a new track record.

It was a 1st-5th-6th f0r Patrick Janssens who said: “I am most pleased for Keith Allsop. After Thorn Falcon won the Derby, Keith said that he would love to win the Oaks. But things didn’t go to plan early for Sakina. A bit like Fabulouos Azurra, she took a time to settle, and then came into season. Because Keith is a greyhound man, he understood how things work and that you have to be patient and he didn’t try to interfere. But she has been a different bitch since her season and Keith has been rewarded for his patience.”

Sakina’s track record lasted just one race before travelling companion Coolavanny Shado (T2) took another length off it with a 27.77 run for the 480m.

Patrick said: “I stood next to Keith Allsop and as Shado went up the back straight I said ‘that’s the track record gone’. He really is a phenomenal greyhound. As the racing manager at Yarmouth said, if the track had been running 30 or 40 fast during the Derby, he would have broken that track record too.”

 

Patrick admits that the issue of the starting traps at Oxford means that none of his runners will entered at the track until they have been replaced. The slow opening of the boxes has caused widespread criticism with Kevin Boothby admitting that they are substandard and are due to be replaced. Altering the four sets of traps (two at both Oxford and Towcester) to replace the pneumatic start mechansim with springs and changing the front to the curvered style is already underway but may take up to six weeks.

Patrick said: “They are not good enough and Kevin knows it, but I am 100% behind what he is trying to achieve. I absolutely love Towcester and can’t wait for the boxes to be sorted, because their’s weren’t right either. Also, if it wasn’t for Kevin, would the other mob have raised their game? The Oaks Final was worth £20K to the winner which means Slick Sakina was not an expensive bitch. Don’t underestimate what a difference these £20K races have made. They are long overdue from the days when we were running for £6-8,000 but very welcome.

“I would also want to mention Perry Barr. They were incredible in how they treated us right from the racing office in arranging trials to the hospitality on final night. There are some people who can’t wait to criticise and are very slow to praise. Well I can’t speak highly enough of Perry Barr.

“We haven’t decided where Sakina goes next. There is a possibility of Newcastle (All England Cup), because it is so similar to Perry Barr or Nottingham (Eclipse). I would have probably run Shado at Oxford because I think he will love the place, but obviously only when the traps have been done. He might also go to Newcastle or possibly Nottingham.”

 

Looking further ahead, recent intake and 28.13 Shelbourne winner Droopys Pointer is likely to be aimed at the RPGTV English Puppy Derby at Towcester; he clocked 29.70 on his first look at the track. While Romeo Command (29.14) has returned to the kennel following an unsuccessful attempt at the Irish Juvenile Derby.

Patrick said: “He is a phenomenal greyhound and was desperately unlucky in Ireland with trap draws (an ‘inside’ runner he drew T4, T5, T6, T5). We also have a number of good young pups coming through and Deelish Frankie returning from injury. Of the older dogs, (Laurels/East Anglian Derby finalist) Aussie Captain has been retired and has joined Lisa Sampson while he is waiting to be rehomed).”

COOLAVANNY SHADO sets a new 480m track record of 27.77 (just fifteen minutes after Oaks champ Slick Sakina had done the same with 27.85) in the final race on Oaks and Scurry Gold Cup night.Photo: © Steve Nash

SLICK SAKINA, Premier Greyhound Racing Oaks winner poses on the track with the trophies and (L-R): owner Keith Allsop, Jamie McGee, Patrick and Cheryl Janssens, and Ria Tillett Photo: © Steve Nash

SLICK SAKINA Oaks winner Photo: © Steve Nash