Ice On Fire became the second fastest winner ever of the Puppy Classic at Nottingham with a flawless front running display in Monday night’s £7,500 decider writes Floyd Amphlett.
Click on the result below to see how he did it.
It was an eighth win in 11 UK races for Dave Spraggon owned, Jimmy Fenwick trained black. But just how good a run was it?
You might start by taking a look at the Puppy Classic Roll of Honour that includes such names as: Newinn Yolo, Bubbly Bluebird, Eye Onthe Storm, Droopys Shearer and Top Savings and learn that only Ballymac Eske (29.33) was a quicker winner.
The Puppy Classic 29.39 winning time equalled Trickys Dumbo’s Select Stakes victory – Ice missed his cupboards that night with a 5.07 sectional. The winner’s split was 4.94. As for the Star Sports/ARC/LPS Greyhound Derby final, Priceless Blake clocked both clocked personal bests for the sectional (4.90) and winning time (29.32) in the final.
So yes – Monday night’s form holds up to inspection.
ICE ON FIRE (T3) shows devastating early pace to lead up in the Puppy Classic Final from Waikiki Lad (T4) with runner up Headford Ranger (T2) also visible. Photo: © Steve Nash
For trainer Jimmy Fenwick though, there is little that Ice On Fire does that surprises him anymore.
He said: “The story really goes back to his dam Bigmans Grainne (Head Bound-Cornamaddy Daisy) who Dave Spraggon trained in A1 at Newcastle. She picked up a gracilis injury just before Dave retired and he asked me if I would train her for him. She was only in the kennel for four days and came into season.
“She went back to Ireland and had her first litter by Droopys Jet (it included Romford open winners Gynalan Lad and Swabys Luciejane). I didn’t get any of that litter but Dave promised to send me his two from the next litter, by Crash, Ice On Fire and a litter sister.
“As soon as Ice On Fire was off the transporter, I phoned Dave and said, ‘when did you last see this dog?’ He said that it was when the pup was about nine months old. I replied, ‘You should see him now, he is absolutely magnificent’.
“We was unraced, but he had been schooled in Ireland and done 21.44 for the 400 yards at Dundalk, so we knew he could run.
“In his first trial at Newcastle, he lost two or three lengths at the bend and I thought it was probably a 17.80 run. It turned out to be 17.18 which is unheard of for such an inexperienced pup. I was a bit concerned that because he had so much early pace, he might not stay 480 metres. But he did 28.90 in his first found bender and then 28.53 in his first race, which was a puppy open. He has now won eight times and is getting better and better.
“I have been lucky enough to have some very fast dogs over the years but I have never had one on the gallop quite like him. That pace that you see from the boxes, is the same on the gallop. Instant acceleration.
“I have spoken to Dave who is keen to take him to Romford for the Puppy Cup. We watched some of the Newcastle runners take well to the track last week and we’ll be looking for a solo trial to see if he runs it too.
“Beyond that, we just hope luck goes our way and maybe Derby next year. It is just so exciting to have a dog of this calibre in the kennel, we are all buzzing.”
ICE ON FIRE’s owner Dave Spraggon and wife Pat receive the Puppy Classic trophy from Steve Charlesworth (right), as Jimmy Fenwick (left) his wife Melanie, and bookmaker Mark Hill complete the presentation line up. Photo: © Steve Nash
