Top Dollar
On Saturday afternoon, Untold Dollar achieved a rare feat for trainer Carol Weatherall by landing the PGR Puppy Derby Final at Monmore. And this is how he did it.
So what was so special about the run?
Well the clue is in Dollar’s age.
In the 22 finals ranging from 2002 until 2023, 10 of the winners have been April whelps, five winners were born in May. There were two Junes, and four Julys: Droopys Hewitt (2002), Newinn Jacko (2000), Deelish Frankie (2022) and Bradys Bullet (2023). Untold Dollar was the first August puppy to win the event. He was, unsurprisingly, the youngest in the final too.
(If you had noticed that that only adds up to 21, the 2003 winner Knock Split was a March pup and the final was run in February).
By any standards, a 19 month old, with just seven races in his career, landing one of one of the most prestigious juvenile events in the calendar, is exceptional.
UNTOLD DOLLAR (t2) leads at the first bend in the PGR Puppy Derby Final from Droopys Eunice (t1 rails) and Omuircheartaigh (t5) Photo: © Steve Nash
UNTOLD DOLLAR (t2) wins the PGR Puppy Derby Final from Barntick Bear (t3) and Clona Curly (t6). Photo: © Steve Nash
UNTOLD DOLLAR (t2) wins the Premier Greyhound Racing Puppy Derby Final from Barntick Bear (t3). Also pictured L-R: Omuircheartaigh (t5), Clona Curly (t6 3rd), Getup Me Champ (t4) and Droopys Eunice (t1). Photo: © Steve Nash
UNTOLD DOLLAR. PGR Puppy Derby winner Photo: © Steve Nash
BAYWATCH BULLET runs her rivals ragged in the £1500 Jim Woods Memorial Trophy Final. Photo: © Steve Nash
DROOPYS DOUGHNUT wins Ladbrokes 480 Div Monmore 30th March 2024
Photo: © Steve Nash
SAVANA JAZZ wins 900m open on the Puppy Derby Final supporting card. Photo: © Steve Nash
GARY THE ARB wins Div 1 of he Ladbrokes 480 Puppy. Photo: © Steve Nash
LINKS MAVERICK shows his class in Div 1 of the Ladbrokes 480, leading early to win in 27.96 Photo: © Steve Nash
VIXONS FILOFAX leads Droopys Jessy (t5) in Ladbrokes 480 Puppy Div 2, going on to clock an impressive 28.04. Photo: © Steve Nash
Queen of Kent
“There is so little between them all, probably a couple of lengths between the likes of Memphis, Capaldi, Joni, maybe Shakira, I don’t know how many of them. They can all beat each other on any given night.”
On Saturday night, Queen Joni went from trap four in the ARC Kent Plate Final. . .
It was a third Category One win for the a bitch who only passed her second birthday in December though Rab McNair reckons his assessment of the comparative abilities of the Kings and Queens was vindicated.
He said: “Brendan (Keogh) asked me before the race which one I fancied and I said that if Joni broke in front she would win it. I said ‘Memphis will close on her to the third bend but he will never catch her. He never did, even to the pick-up.
“It was all about the draw. I have no doubt that if you reversed the traps between those two, Memphis would have won. That is how close they are.
“To be honest, these litters keep surprising me. Before the competition I had decided that if she came off okay, Joni and Capaldi would probably go to Perry Barr next for the Laurels. But in view of how much more stamina she is showing, Joni will now go to Hove for the Brighton Belle. We intend to enter at least six for it and I think the long run to the bend is tailor made for Joni. Capaldi will still go to Perry Barr.”
Follow the Clue
Droopys Clue has solidified as the 13/8f with the sponsors to land the Bet365 Hunt Cup after clocking the fastest time in Friday’s first round.
The Seamus Cahill trained runner gave second favourite Havana Top Note a start and a beating in heat four. On a bad night for the KSS Syndicate, the prolific Queen Pink was eliminated at short odds in heat two won impressively by Ballymac Diana. King Ezra added to the misery when failing to catch Savana Top Cat in heat six.
The night’s other locally trained winner was Kevin Hutton’s Droopys Creative who finished powerfully in heat five. Heat one, the slowest of the six heats went to Central Park raider Tuno Bella while heat three winner Golden Palace will be fancied to qualify for the final if repeating his front running display in Friday’s semi finals.
