Sheffield Racing Manager Andrew Mascarenhas has applied to GBGB to stage a Category One Puppy competition in November worth £15,000 to the winner, £1,000 to the other finalists writes Floyd Amphlett.
He said: “I’ve looked in the Calendar and don’t think there are any clashes in the time window that we are looking at, October/November. I am just waiting to hear back from GBGB and we can hopefully get the event published in the Calender.
“In the meantime, I can confirm that the Queen Mother Cup will be returning after a break of a couple of years. Details will be in the new Calendar but basically, it will be to the original format, 18 runners over 660 metres, and worth £3,000 to the winner.
“The heats will be on Saturday March 19 and the final on Mothering Sunday, March 27.”
Droopys Greta & Phil Sanderson
Droopys Greta will be retired after her 200th race at Sheffield on Saturday.
Owned by Brian Stocks and Charlotte Townson and trained by Phil Sanderson, Greta made her debut in December 2017. She rose through the grades to win A3 and S2.
Greta actually won races 198 and 199 and has been disgracefully upgraded for her swansong.
A slightly embarrassed grader said: “I couldn’t leave her in the same grade for a third time, but let’s just say, it isn’t the toughest A6 we have ever staged.”
A special post race presentation has been lined up by the stadium to celebrate Greta’s fabulous landmark retirement.
From a particularly robust litter, Greta’s sister Droopys Cristina ran her 163rd and final race on Boxing Day. Another brother Young Master ran 120 races before breaking down last May at Romford.
If the name of Greta’s mum, Droopys Blossom, rings any bells to open race followers, it might be due to some of her other offspring including Droopys open racers: Acrobat (Derby finalist), Trapeze (Gymcrack) and Dazzler, plus Wildfire Lord (Puppy Classic) and Bower Luke (All England Cup).
