Mark Keightley has confirmed that Dorotas Woo Hoo has been retired and will join Dorotas Vic at the Merefield Stud this coming weekend.
The highlight of Woo Hoo’s career came a 28.77 victory in the final of the 2017 RPGTV Scottish Derby when trained by Charlie Lister. He had previously finished runner-up to litter brother Forest Con in the Ladbrokes (Monmore) Puppy Derby.
He recently contested the 2019 Star Sports/ARC/LPS Derby for Hayley Keightley but finished down the field in Saturday’s third round behind litter brother Dorotas Wildcat.
Mark said: “We have had no luck with either dog, which is just one of those things. Charlie did brilliantly with them; they gleamed when they walked in the kennel and we were looking forward to the future with two top class animals. Unfortunately, Vic damaged a stopper bone at roughly the same time Woo Hoo (who had just clocked 27.43 in a 480m trial at Sheffield) damaged a gracilis in the Droopys Nidge At Stud competition at Shawfield.
“Woo Hoo could still run but the gracilis would inhibit him, so what is the point? We actually brought Vic back too. Charlie had arranged stem cell treatment and he did something like a 15.70 for a sprint at Sheffield but broke down next time out. It is so frustrating. Everything about both dogs is quality. They are two gentlemen without a fault, which is always the case with the exceptional greyhounds.”
Part owner Jamie Naylor said: “It is sad news that he is being retired through injury. But boys what a night he gave us in Glasgow that no one can take that away from us.”
Fellow owner Tony Clark said: “A Scottish Derby winner who always gave his best and he gave us an unforgettable night in Glasgow. Many thanks to both his trainers Charlie Lister and Hayley Keightley.”
The brothers are from one of the greatest litters of the last decade. In addition to ‘Wildcat’ and ‘Con’, the Ballymac Vic litter included Irish Oaks winner Forest Natalee, and Monmore Puppy Derby finalist Dorotas Hooligan. Vic’s biggest win came in the Holmes Memorial though he also reached English (3rd) and Scottish Derby (5th) Finals.
The Oaks winning dam Droopys Danneel had previously thrown All England Cup winner Oscar Whisky, Laurels runner-up Oscar Junior and Sussex Cup finalist Dorotas Tiger .