CHAPTER SEVEN – THE HAWK
It was Valentines Day 2005, and two years after a self imposed exile, that the name ‘Savva’ next appeared on a racecard.
A 21 month old youngster called Westmead Hawk was contesting his first race for his breeder, a 460 metre puppy open at Henlow.
STEVE NASH PIC+++Dunstable 27.6.05+++WESTMEAD HAWK and Nick Savva
A winner of seven of his 14 races for Barry Bakewell at Hall Green, the 35 kilo black overcame a slow break and first bend bumping to win in 28.06.
Whilst it was a decent performance, no one present could possibly have appreciated its significance – including the dog’s trainer.
The solidly built youngster then headed for Monmore for the heats of arguably the highest rated puppy event in the Calendar, the Monmore Puppy Derby. He ran third in the final but his performances had made Nick’s pulse quicken.
He said: “It was a very high class competition but seeing the way Hawk pulled away going to the pick-up, it was the first time I realized that he could be something special.”
A month later, he returned to Monmore to win the Stud Book Trophy, a race in which brother Westmead Eagle had started favourite.
It was then back to Monmore for the three-run Summer Classic.
Although he didn’t get clear runs, the strong finishing black went through the event unbeaten and set a new 630 metre track record in the final.
It was now May 2005 and to the surprise of many, Nick decided to put the country’s most exciting novice stayer in the English Derby.
Almost unnoticed in the betting, he won his first two heats in 28.91 and 28.71before coming up against the highly rated Droopys Marco in the third round.
Marco took the lead but the ever improving Hawk almost reeled him in with a devastating finish to be beaten half a length in 28.60.
The re-match came in the quarter finals with Hawk half a point shorter in the betting than in their previous meeting. This time he made no mistake, catching the Irish dog on the run-in for a one length win in a brilliant 28.57. Game on!
The punters made the Hawk the 5-4f to win his semi. But it would be a trouble strewn race. At one stage, mere qualification looked big odds against, but Hawk rallied strongly to get to within a length and a quarter of the 28.77 winner Mineola Farloe.
By now, the brave black with the most amazing track craft that many seasoned punters had ever witnessed, was established as the biggest crowd pleaser in racing.
So into the final and sheer weight of money saw the Dunstable born two year old made the 5-4f. The draw saw Hawk allocated the black jacket.
Few doubted that he was the fastest in the field, but would he get the chance to clear a field littered with early pace?
It was a messy run-up with plenty of crowding but the favourite reached the bend in third place.
The pace was being set by 33-1 outside Blonde Mac but as Hawk entered the back straight some four lengths in arrears, the result was beginning to look inevitable.
By the third bend, the Savva runner was slip streaming, at the fourth he switched up a gear and pulled away with apparently effortless ease.
The winning distance was a length and three quarters; the winning time was 28.56.
Nick said at the time: “If someone had told me even four months before that Hawk would win the Derby I would never have believed them.
“Hawk was entered because he looked like the sort of dog who could keep qualifying. I had no expectations of him winning it. Bob backed him each way at 66-1.
“Fortunately, he also started to come right in himself during the competition, you could see it in his coat.
“I only really started to believe he could win it after he ran so well against Droopys Marco. He is certainly the best tracker that I can recall.
“I don’t like to plan too far ahead because things can go wrong.
“If everything went to plan though, I could see no reason not to put him over the longer distance again at some stage in his career. In my opinion, he will make an exceptional stayer.”
Away from the reporters and cameras though, this wasn’t simply a second Derby win for Nick.
It was the culmination of so much more. It was the fulfillment of a dream that began more than 30 years earlier when the first litter was born at Westmead.
It was the long overdue win that Nick had so wanted to deliver to his oldest friend and most patient owner Bob Morton.
It was also the happy end to a fairytale that had gone so horribly wrong at Oval Road when the stewards almost ended Nick’s desire to train greyhounds. And the whole thing had been achieved just seven after his training licence was returned.
Nick says: “I had never intended to train again. I gave the licence up as a matter of principle but also had a chronically bad back that seemed unlikely to ever improve.
“But I also felt as though there was some unfinished business. I wanted to make a point after having my reputation savaged in the NGRC inquiries and also by the media.
“I have always believed in there being natural justice. If I ever did anything wrong, I would get punished in another way.
“In greyhound racing, I have seen many people do bad things, such as not keep their word or double-cross other people, and invariably fate has a repayment for them.
“Make no mistake, I had some help from up above.”
Among all the highs and lows, the trophies and accolades, July 2 2005 would rate as a very special day indeed for Nick Savva.
Suddenly the world all wanted a piece of ‘The Hawk’. Nick and Bob Morton was happy to oblige – but as is so typical of greyhound racing, it wouldn’t be that simple.
After a turbulent flight to Ireland, Hawk became so distressed that he was withdrawn from his next engagement, the Dundalk International. The dog lost a considerable amount of weight and his scratching from the Select Stakes was a formality.
Hawk returned to racing in early August with a 28.61 first look at Shelbourne Park’s 525 yard course.
Hawk reached the 2005 Irish Derby Final with a card showing three wins (29.98, 30.02, 29.66) and two seconds.
The 9-4 chance, who had been seeded wide throughout the event, trapped moderately, but found himself smashed sideways in first bend trouble. He Said So skipped clear and went on to win in 29.66.
Hawk finished fifth, the worst result in his 38 race career and only the third time in his career that he had finished out of the trio positions.
Nick said: “The final was dominated by the antics of Droopys Maldini who ran from trap two and went straight on at the bend ruining the race for everyone including himself.
“It was a pity, because I was convinced that Hawk was absolutely spot on for the final.
“We had had a few problems in him settling at Dolores Ruth’s kennel. He had become a bit hyper, both at the kennel and traveling.
“In one heat he had failed to go past Droopys Marco in his usual style and some people were suggesting he waited. That was rubbish, he was just too excitable and not able to produce his best form.
“In fact I even considered giving him a trial between rounds just to settle him down a bit. By the final he had settled, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
The double Derby finalist was welcomed home like a lost son when he returned to Hall Green for the Produce Stakes later in the month.
He reached the final with one defeat (bdly bmpd run-up) and a best line of 28.24 for the 480 metres. The 4-11f duly dispatched the final by almost seven lengths in 28.44 (-30).
Hall Green reported the biggest crowd for two years had turned up to see the former local hero.
Hawk duly collected the ’05 Greyhound of the Year title and went into 2006 as the ante post favourite to retain his Derby title.
First up though was the Scottish equivalent and things didn’t go exactly to plan.
Hawk looked a bit ring rusty when beaten in both qualifiers of the Shawfield event. But things were starting to come right by the final and he duly ran Fear Me to half a length in the £25K decider.
Nick said: “It was part of Hawk’s nature that he needed a few runs to get to know a track. By the final, he was just getting used to Shawfield.”
And so to Wimbledon! A year earlier Nick had forecast that Hawk would be even better as a three year old and that prophecy did not take long to be fulfilled.
Badly bumped at the traps in his opening heat, he provided a glimpse of former glories by rallying to win in 28.53.
In the second round he overcame bad early crowding to come from behind and Fear Me by more than three lengths. The unbeaten run continued with more wins in 28.53 and 28.58 before what many people believe was the race of his career.
The favourite in a top class semi final, The Hawk appeared to be in danger of elimination after trouble around the first two bends.
From a seemingly hopeless position, ‘the dog with sat nav’ began to weave his way through the field.
The race is still remembered fondly by connections for the incredible commentary of SKY’s Errol Blythe who got more and more animated as the people’s favourite hound managed to force his way into a qualifying position around the last two bends.
And then, to the astonishment of all watching, and an increasingly agitated race commentator, Hawk loomed up to the apparently invincible Mineola Farloe “Oh my God he is going to win it” screamed Errol. He was right. Hawk prevailed by half a length in 28.62.
Nick says: “In my life, I never saw a better performance from a greyhound, not just among my own dogs, but ever.
“The track craft and determination he showed against top top opposition was just incredible. It still makes me smile whenever I see a replay.”
On June 3 2006, Westmead Hawk was made a 4-7f to join Mick The Miller, Patricia’s Hope and Rapid Ranger as the only three Derby winners to successfully defend their title.
What’s more, he was joined in the final by half brother Westmead Joe.
If the semi was dramatic, the final would be clinical.
When the traps opened it was Mineola Farloe who was the first to show, just in front of Amarillo Slim. Westmead Hawk had got off to a great start for him, clocking his best ever sectional of 5.02, which allowed him to turn the first bend in third.
Down the far side Mineola Farloe was on the bunny but the Hawk was ‘only’ five lengths down and he began to pick up approaching the penultimate turn.
As they straightened up for home Westmead Hawk was in overdrive and hit the front in the last thirty metres to score by three quarters of a length in 28.44, the best time of the competition, the fastest final time since Some Picture won in 1997 and a personal best at Wimbledon for the Hawk.
Could Hawk become the first greyhound to win the English Derby three times? Connections allowed themselves to dream for a couple of weeks until the curse of racing struck again.
The plan had been for Hawk to take on am ambassadorial role with a series of invitation races around the country. The first was to be at his second home Hall Green.
But disaster struck in a preparatory trial and the mighty Hawk smashed a hock.
The hock was plated and opinion was divided as to whether he would race again. In the meantime, he was dispatched to the Droopys kennel in Ireland to commence stud duties. A second Greyhound of the Year title was a formality.
Nick says: “It is a bit annoying because the injury should never have happened. The BGRB wanted him to run in a series of £5,000 invitation races and Hall Green was the first.
“I should have put my foot down. I hadn’t intended to run the dog over less than 500 metres again, and only on the bigger tracks; Sheffield 500, Hove 515 and so on.
“Then he would have gone six bends properly and run in the top events like the St Leger. He was born to be a stayer, not a Derby dog.
“I remember George Curtis saying that if Hawk ran in staying races he just wouldn’t be beaten. I totally agreed.”
The end. WESTMEAD HAWK walks off the track with Gary Slater after his second to Talkspot in a Blue Square Derby Trial Stakes STEVE NASH PIC Wimbledon 26.5.07
It would be 10 months before the tentative return to racing began with solo trials. The results were inconclusive. Yes, he was slower than before, but there was no reaction from the injury and it was always going to take time for him to return to racing form.
The comeback actually lasted four races. Nick wanted to give the dog every chance to prove he could do himself justice and decision day was May 26 2007 – two years and one day after he had announced his arrival with that Monmore track record.
The race was a Derby trialstake, and although Hawk ran to overcome trouble and finish second, Nick and Bob Morton had seen enough. The Hawk was retired after a career of 58 races: 1st-33, 2nd-15, 3rd-6, 4th-2, 5th-2.
Nick says: “We had done everything we could. The operation cost £5,000 and appeared to be a success. But when the time came, he had lost at least five yards of pace and we had to succumb to nature.”
Westmead Hawk’s Derby win was the culmination of over 40 years and several near misses for the kennel’s most loyal owner and supporter Bob Morton.
The pair first met in 1972 when Nick had Westmead County in training and Bob owned the Tom Johnston trained Merry Gossip.
Nick says: “I actually recognised Bob from the flaps but had never spoken to him. To begin with, I didn’t know what he did for a living; we just talked dogs.
“Some time later I was having some hassle with the tax man and Bob offered to help me out using his expertise as an accountant.”
It was inevitable that the two friends would get involved in greyhounds together and the first was a fawn May ’74 bitch pup by Westmead County out of Pallas Melody – Westmead Melody.
A game little stayer, she won the Mercury Trophy at Romford, the Top Dog Stakes at Watford and ran-up to Stormy Spirit in the 1977 St Leger.
(The beaten favourite in the Watford final, and three places behind her in the Leger was City Salesman, the pride and joy of one White City kennel lad who has since turned his hand to writing.)
Bob became a regular visitor to the kennel and he would also meet Nick at race meetings.
One night at Wembley, Bob introduced Nick to a stunning blonde air hostess who he was trying to impress. Being the classy guy he was, he had taken her dog racing on their first date!
It started off so well. One of Bob’s runners won the night’s big final. The champagne flowed, but there was a little too much of it still in the system when the blue lights started flashing on the journey home.
The conclusion of the first date resulted in a retrieval mission to the police station the following morning to reclaim the trophy.
But Sue, the future Mrs Morton, was not put off, and she was soon accompanying Bob on visits to the kennels.
Greyhound Derby winner WESTMEAD HAWK with Sue and Bob Morton – pic Steve Nash
The next big breakthrough for Bob as an owner was his purchase of one of the fastest dogs ever to grace the Westmead range, Special Account.
The fawn’s racing career is featured separately, but the highlight, or lowlight, was when he became Bob’s first runner to contest an English Derby Final.
The magnificent fawn started favourite to land the 1982 final but failed in truly heroic circumstances.
“Bob takes defeat in the same spirit as victory” recalls Nick, “with great style”
Bob recalls: “I was absolutely gutted, the dog had to hurdle the Irish dog who fell and made eight lengths on the leader but just failed.
“I had taken £100,000 to £3,000 with Tom Jenkins at the John Power organisation though I am not sure that he would have been able to pay out if we had won.
“As it turned out, I laid off some of the bet and actually won money anyway. He then went off to Scotland and went unbeaten through the Scottish Derby which was a fantastic experience”
Over the years, the Morton family grew to include four sons and they too would arrive at the kennel and follow their father’s dog in major races.
It would be another 19 years before Bob would find his name on owners list of Derby finalists.
Like Special Account, Sonic Flight had been born and reared at Westmead and went to traps as favourite for the final.
Sonic’s chance was over even sooner. Drawn white, he was badly bumped as he left the traps with Castlelyons Dani moving wide from trap two and Rapid Ranger (T4) moving to the rail.
Big black Sonic was knocked back to last place. He rallied brilliantly going past four of the opposition, but couldn’t catch eventual winner Rapid Ranger.
But having hit the bar twice, who would believe that he would soon be on his way to a quite remarkable hat-trick?
The most successful owner/trainer combination in the history of the sport is based on friendship and mutual respect.
While success often brings a divorce between owner and trainer as quickly as failure, Bob and Nick have never had a serious fall-out.
The closest was when Bob changed his mind about purchasing Milton Keynes – something Nick had set his heart on.
But Morton has supported the kennel, not interfered in any decision making and trusted Nick’s judgement completely.
Nick says: “Without Bob’s support, Westmead would never have progressed in the way that it did, we probably wouldn’t have even survived.”
On October 18 2007 Westmead Hawk became the first animal athlete to be honoured at Madame Tussaud’s world famous wax museum in London.
That’s the imposter on the right
He was included in a ‘Best of British’ exhibition alongside the likes of the Queen and David Beckham.
Tussauds staff rated the project one of the most difficult they had ever undertaken.
The fibreglass core was standard but the eurythane skin and coat, painstakingly applied, one hair at a time took 20 artists four months to complete.
The net result though was exceptional for the grand opening attended by the Morton family, Nick and the star himself.
The museum were keen to make the most of the photo opportunity and asked Nick if Hawk would stand nose to nose with his lookalike.
Nick said: “I told them that they would just get one opportunity and it worked out just brilliantly as the photos showed with Hawk with his ears up checking out the model.”
With the fomalities out of the way, Nick took off Hawk’s collar and lead. The people loving black was soon mingling with the guests and being totally spoiled having helped himself to a plate of bacon sandwiches.
The day was a great success bar one unfortunate incident at the end when the superstar guest decided to cock his leg on the beautiful white dress worn by one of the other exhibits. Nick was hugely embarrassed.
To this day he won’t reveal the identity of the desecrated model – but whenever he licks a stamp he invariably apologies.
