Roxholme Olaf has been retired to stud and joined former kennel mates Roxholme Nidge and Hiya Butt at Richard Devenish’s kennel at Glatton in Cambridgeshire.
The three year black won six of his seven races prior to injury, the first two being a 21.28 run for Dundalk’s 400 yards when still a puppy, followed by a 28.42 in first race at Shelbourne and was second in a 28.28 (c) next time out.
He went unbeaten through the Henlow Maiden Derby in 27.69, 27.30 and 27.02 (TR 26.98) but went lame when clocking 28.49 (-20) in the first round of the Birmingham Cup at Perry Barr, for which he was a short price favourite to win out.
One year on, and despite every effort being made to bring him back to fitness, the Roxholme Team waved the white flag today.
Mark Keightley said, “Without any doubt Olaf had established himself as one of if not the fastest 480 dog in the UK , but after hosing up off an uncharacteristic slow away in last years Birmingham Cup he picked up stopper bone damage and despite every effort being made by Hayley and Craig we have decided to surrender
“We are all done now as everyone is now aware of , but he would have been a great dog for Craig to take with him. But we have held conversations with Richard and Dilly’s and they are delighted to take him on to join the team at stud.”
Olaf is a son of Ballymac Eske out of the proven brood Badminton Baby (Taylors Sky-Rossa Baby). His litter comrades include the brilliant Roxholme Kristof.
