Two stars depart – fingers crossed for the other . .
Coolavanny Shado – one of the quickest, though not always the luckiest hound of his era – has been retired after finishing lame in a trial at Central Park last weekend.
Trainer Patrick Janssens said: “He came off with a sore gracilis. It wasn’t particularly career ending, but by the time it is healed he will be four years old and won’t be getting any quicker.”
The 34 kilo black reached five Category One finals of which he won one, the 2023 Winter Derby – ironically, at his biggest price (5/2jf). He was twice beaten in East Anglian Derby Finals (1/2f, 1/4f), in the Steel City Cup (8/13f) and was withdrawn lame from the 2023 Laurels decider.
While his trapping was his Achiles Heel, Shado’s ability was never in doubt. A 28.28 (-10) winner at Tralee in his only Irish race, he is the 480m track record holder at Perry Barr (27.77) and former holder of the Oxford 450 clock at 26.49. He has a 27.23 for 462 metres at Yarmouth, and a 29.30 for 500m at Nottingham. His sprint form includes a 15.47 at Towcester and a 16.00 at Hove.
Bred by Shane O’Gorman he is a son of Droopys Sydney and Yahoo Perlena. The dam also threw Blue Riband winner and Monmore Puppy Derby runner-up Bockos Belly.
Shado will be standing at stud in Cambridgeshire with Richard Devenish (07760 480975)
Golden Jacket winner Bellmore Sally with Jimmy and Melanie Fenwick. Photo: © Steve Nash
On the same night, Bellmore Sally’s departed the racing stage with defeat in the TV Trophyn heats following a fabulous career for owner Neil McGregor and trainer Jimmy Fenwick.
A triple Cat One winner – two Golden Jackets and a TV Trophy – Sally won 19 of her 47 races (40%). She actually contested seven major finals over four, six, eight and ten bends.
So was there one that mattered above all others?
Jimmy said: “I would have to say the TV Trophy. It was a race that my father always wanted to win and thankfully he lived to see it. It also meant a lot to Mel too. She could remember growing up and watching the TV Trophy with her grandparents.
“Sally gave us such a lot of fun and fulfilled so many dreams for so many people. It was an unbelieveable experience.
“She will be taking it easy in the coming months. She is a yearly bitch, due in season around about July. We have a Tommy Shelby straw and she will be inseminated.”
The feelings when Coppice Gracie went lame with the British Breeders Final at her mercy on Monday were less easy to accept.
Operation went well
Jimmy said: “It felt like a punch in the belly to be honest.”
Nevertheless the Fenwicks and owner Tony Brealey regrouped. Gracie was operated on by Newcastle vet Gillian Brown and Jimmy is hopeful of the prognosis.
He said: “Thankfully the ligament that runs through the gracilis was not detached from the knee which was a huge relief and the operation went well. Gracie will be restrained in her exercise for the first week but gradually we will start working her and slowly build up her rehab. With any luck, she could be back on the track between 16-20 weeks.
“Gillian is a fabulous greyhound vet. She operated on Blackhouse Harry for a gracilis injury and he is back on the card at Newcastle tonight after clocking fabulous trials. So it is fingers crossed, but we are hopeful.
“Monday was a horrible experience but the people from Nottingham couldn’t have been nicer and more supportive. Dave Baldwin and Rachel Corden were both in touch to find out how Gracie was getting on which was greatly appreciated.”
Opens
Tonight: Hove ♦ Newcastle ♦ Suffolk Downs ♦ Swindon
Friday: Romford
Saturday: Central Park ♦ Doncaster ♦ Oxford ♦ Yarmouth
