ELVIS LIVES ON
Thursday, January 21st
Rader Racing have the two top qualifiers for the final of the He’s My Man Classic at Palm Beach on Saturday with Lee Elvis easily topping the points list.
A son of former Irish tracker Maryville Rumble and Bull Session, Lee Elvis rushed to the early lead from his outside eight box slot and he went on to beat Atascocita Zea by a neck in 29.62 for the 545 yard Royal Course. The winner’s kennel companion Yahoo Omar finished third and was the second highest qualifier.
The other semi saw Suncoast Kennel’s Atascocita Edith using her big finishing kick to pip Bacs Xtreme by a neck in 29.77.
DODGEM TOP SIRE
Thursday, January 21st
Dodgem Be Design has emerged as a runaway winner of the Sire’s Championship in the annual list published by the NGA.
The son of Gable Dodge and Cruzin By Design had a total of 1,668 winners and was followed through by Kiowa Sweet Trey (Oswald Copplepot/ TM’s Sweet Dream) with 1,175 winners and Lonesome Cry (Gable Dodge/ Jabberin Jackie) with 1,125 winners.
A few former Irish dogs figured pretty prominently in the lists. Maryville Rumble (Smooth Rumble/ Budwiser Mary) was 9th on the 227 winner mark with Pacific Mile 17th on 160 winners. Premier Fantasy (Premier County/ Nifty Niamh), with 68 winners, was 28th and then at 32 came Deerfield Site (Toms The Best/ Malbay Swift) with 61 winners. The other Irish dog in the list at 44th was Larking About (Larkhill Jo/ Rockys Whisper)
The top dam was Pin Oak Vicki, a daughter of Visa Trip and Pin Oak Abby) with 80 winners and her nearest rivals were Atascocita Pinto (Flying Bookie/ Atascocita Satin) with 69 winners and Icu Devils Due (Mocan Speed/ Angel’s Swingin)on the 59 mark.
AN AMERICAN CRACKERBOX
Sunday, January 10th
Flupascrackerbox was crowned as the National Win Champion in America after scoring his 47th victory of the year at Southland on New Year’s Eve.
The David Flora owned son of Dave The Dog and PA’s Shawneelass raced 64 times at Southland during the year where he won the Razorback Classic and ran up the All-Distance Championship.
His nearest pursuer was Djays Octane, a son of Flying Penske and One More Secret with 42 victories, 34 coming at Southland and the remaining eight at Derby Lane.
Third placer and top bitch was Silver Peach (Dodgem By Design/ Desert Coral) with 41 wins. Next in the list came BF Flying Stan (Flying Stanley/ Pechz) with 40 wins and then Cry Kubota (Gable Zydeco) on the 39 win mark.
D’ARCY’S QUICK START
Sunday, January 10th
Golden’s Mick D’Arcy made the perfect start to 2010 when taking the first stakes race of the year at Derby Lane. It was the perfect way to celebrate the St Pete track’s 85th birthday on January 2nd.
D’Arcy’s winner was Sovereign Lord, a member of the first litter whelped from the 2006 Derby Lane Million champion Greys Calibrator, from her mating to Trendy Lee.
Sovereign Lord was quickest from traps and was always in control as he raced to a three and a half length victory over Aerial Battle in 30.54. Sovereign Lord is just two years old this month and was the oldest finalist in the 85th St Petersburg Inaugural.
RADER’S FIFTH ON THE TROT
Sunday, January 10th
Rader Racing Kennel created a first for the Palm Beach Kennel Club when winning the Dick Andrews Futurity for the fifth year on the trot, the first time any kennel had ever achieved such a feat in a feature at the track.
The winner was Yahoo Rader, a son of Dodgem By Design and Top Cat Olympia. He was in front from traprise and drew away on the run-in for a five length victory in 29.95 for the 545 yards. KB’s Clear Rock took second, also representing Rader Racing and they also had the fourth finisher WTD Joseph.
AUSTRALIA’S RICHEST RACE
Monday, December 14th
The richest greyhound race in the Southern Hemisphere was unveiled in Australia this morning. The prestigious Golden Easter Egg will have an unprecedented winner’s prize of $250,000 in 2010 following the signing of Macro Meats as the event’s major sponsor for the next five years.
The 2010 Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg will be the highlight of a three-week carnival at Wentworth Park that will culminate with the final on Saturday, April 3rd. More than $350,000 in prizemoney will be won during the Golden Easter Egg series.
The carnival will feature themed race nights, special functions and entertainment as well as the best greyhound Australia has to offer.
STEEL DOG KIOWA IN BIG US FINAL
Wednesday, November 11th
They said it couldn’t be done but that dog of steel Kiowa Myth has proved that not alone can an America tracker arrive in Ireland and compete at the highest level in Ireland within a few weeks but that he can then return to the States and perform as if he had never left.
Back in September and early October, Kiowa Myth was setting the headlines here in the Paddypower.com Irish Derby and the Cashmans Bookmakers Irish Laurels but he then flew back to Wheeling Downs and within a few weeks finds himself in Saturday’s final of the $100,000 Wheeling Invitational.
He goes through as third highest qualifier on 35 points behind Gable Sour Cream and Craigie Dallas, both of whom have 40 points.
In last Saturday’s semi-final Kiowa Myth won his heat by a length and a half from Ballys Davis in 30.02. The other heats saw San Tan Diego hold off the strongly fancied Gable Sour Cream by a length in 29.82, while Craigie Dallas was an easy winner from Kiowa Magnate in 30.00.
Bryan Dalton, who has just returned from his holiday in Kerry, said: “We are delighted with him, he is an amazing dog. I wanted to give him a rest but Pauline (O’Donnell) said what rest, he is back in America now and here we race them. He has drawn trap one and he could have a real chance”.
PAULINE’S DOUBLE
Monday, October 5th
Pauline O’Donnell enjoyed a tremendous transatlantic double on Saturday night. Pauline is the joint owner with husband Barney and Bryan Dalton of Kiowa Myth which was the star of the show in the quarter finals of the Cashman Bookmakers Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park.
But across at Derby Lane in St Petersburg, Pauline and Barney landed another great victory as their All America Team Captain Hallo Gold Acre won the $50,000 Fall Sprint Stakes. It was the dog’s fourth career stakes success.
Pauline and Barney weren’t present at either track. They were racing at Mardi Gras but enjoyed Hallo Gold Acre’s victory via simulcast.
Last year Hallo Gold Acre won 41 out of 48 races which ranked him second in the nation. He was the star tracker at Mardi Gras.
AMAZING RUNS AT NOWRA
Tuesday, May 19th
Our Aussie friend Peter Davis has been in touch regarding what he terms something “really special” that occurred at the Nowra circuit recently. Read on:
Track records come and go but something really special happened at Nowra on May 11. Brett Lee’s amazing 28.88 seconds effort in an Adelaide Cup is, arguably, the most ‘untouchable’ in the land.
That remarkable effort found not one but two close relations at Nowra.
In race two, Dubbo 313m record holder Hesa Felon produced a quite stunning display of high speed to break – no, shatter - the 365m record held by Darcy Nimbus at 20.57.
The Darren Sultana-trained son of Hallucinate shanghaied from box one, was five lengths ahead on his nearest rival after 100m and tore away to score by 11 1/4 lengths in 20.24.
Countless top line sprinters have cut their teeth at Nowra over 465m and for Hesa Felon to slice .33s – or five lengths – from the March 2006 record is simply amazing.
Just over an hour later, Smart Betsy maintained her unbeaten middle distance record when she lowered the 630m mark held by Golden Easter Egg winner Edie Beauchamp. The locally-trained black bitch, like Hesa Felon, shot to the lead at box-rise and that was the end of the section.
On the wire, she had 14 lengths to spare of runner-up Big Boy Mariah. While the margin was impressive, it meant little by comparison to the time posted. Her 36.15 offering shaved .22 from Edie Beauchamp’s mark and re-enforced her standing as the most promising ‘stayer in-the-making’ in the land.
Both Darcy Nimbus and Edie Beauchamp posted their records just seven days apart in March 2006. The 365m mark had been approached in recent times but 20.24s is in another world.
Both record breakers need to take the next step - to win at 520m (Hesa Felon) and 720m for Smart Betsy but that looks a mere formality.
QUITE A MANTRA LEGACY
Tuesday, May 19th
In isolation, Mantra Jewel’s win at Wentworth Park, while a career best effort, was unremarkable. What it did provide, however, was a hat-trick of wins over 72 hours on three different tracks, over a variety of distances for outstanding matron Al Fresco.
On Thursday evening, National Distance Champion Mantra Lad secured this country’s richest staying race – the Group 1 Sandown Cup – in dominating fashion for Graham Jose and owner-breeders Martin and Fiona Hallinan.
At Geelong on Friday, his younger half sister Mantra Style (Malfoy/ Alfresco) swept home with a strong burst to score over 600m for John Galea.
Mantra Jewel – unlike her similarly prefixed relations – is more a jump-and-run type and was quickly in front from box six and went on to score by three lengths from Shamus O’Shaw in 30.22. Christine Oldfield has had her share of injury concerns (including a cracked shoulder blade) with Mantra Jewel but she is building an impressive resume.
She now boasts six wins from just 11 starts and, when her racing days are over, will add to the Hallinan’s impressive breeding program. Mantra Jewel is a member of Al Fresco’s fourth and arguably best litter.
Her first was by leading sire Where’s Pedro and failed to produce anything of note … not a ‘city’ winner.
A Whisky Assassin litter followed with Navigator Miss the best performer but still not exactly what was expected of the Lizrene Classic winning ‘mum’.
The jackpot was hit when the Pure Octane litter - which includes Mantra Lad and New Zealand-based record breaker Diamond Zac - got their chance.
Then came the February ’07 Malfoy litter which also includes a little known lass called Agent Gibbs.
The brindle bitch fell at Bathurst on December 3 and suffered a severe, near fatal injury to a hind leg and was retired.
Agent Gibbs had won only once in six starts but was clearly superior to her littermates in private trials.
In recent weeks, Martin Hallinan has fended off good offers for Mantra Style, Mantra Jewel and, amazingly, a fleeting question on Mantra Lad’s saleability.
Next on the Al Fresco bandwagon is a litter of three by Bond and a striking team by Slater are rising 12 months of age and look the real deal
El Galo Loses Topgun Prize
Wednesday, March 18th
Australia’s star tracker El Galo recently suffered a double setback. First he was disqualified as winner of the TOPGUN which was run at the Meadows back in late October.
Following that success he returned a positive saw for a prohibited substance but it took some months for the matter to be finally resolved. However the Stewards of GRV met on February 17th and disqualified @El Galo from first place and amended the placings. In addition they fined trainer Jason Thompson $1,000.
The new winner of the TOPGUN is Regal Thyme, a son of Bombastic Shiraz and Thyme Travel, owned and trained by Graham Long.
Regal Thyme only came into the TOPGUN as a late reserve when Knock Norris was withdrawn.
Less than two weeks after the disqualification, El Galo was a strong favourite to win the MTD Australian Cup final at The Meadows but he had to settle for second money, two and a half lengths behind the Graham Bate trained Velocette.
Velocette immediately moved on to the Group 2 Horsham Cup and he also won that prize. He came from behind to win this $28,000 prize. Velocette unleashed a huge finishing burst to win by a length in a flying 26.78, just ten spots outside the track record set by Crash in 2004.
Velocette gave the legendary Graham Bate his eighth victory in the Horsham Cup.
GALO’S 3rd MAJOR
Thursday, January 22nd
El Galo claimed his third Group 1 victory when winning the Sky Channel Adelaide Cup at Angle Park on January 22nd.
The Jason Thomson trained son of Where’s Pedro and Roxy Reason went off a very short priced favourite to credit his trainer with a second Adelaide Cup on the trot, following the success of Whippy’s Image the previous year.
El Galo got off to a flying start and flew to the bend ahead of Scull Murphy. By the third corner El Galo had opened a three length advantage but then Scull Murphy came roaring back. The advantage closed rapidly but the line arrived with El Gallo a half length in front of Scull Murphy in a scorching 29.45. Quinton Bale took the third money.
El Galo races in the name of Thomson’s partner Seona Hood and she later hinted that the dog might have only a few more runs before being retired to stud.
EL GALO INQUIRY
Thursday, January 12th
John Stephens, the Greyhound Racing Victoria CEO, has announced that the Inquiry into the positive tests taken from Topgun winner El Galo will now take place on Tuesday next, February 17th.
El Galo’s trainer Jason Thompson requested a four-week deferment of the hearing from January 20th and this was granted.
Van Upsets Yahoo
Wednesday, January 27th
Van’s Escalade sprang a real surprise in the final of the $50,000 He’s My Man Classic final at Palm B each on Saturday.
It was a fairy-tale ending to the competition as He’s My Man was owned by Kim and Karolyn Van Winkle who are the owners of Van’s Escalade.
Yahoo Omar was a red hot favourite to win the final but Van’s Escalade got out best and set a strong gallop. Yahoo Omar was involved in early crowding but displayed fine pace to go second and chase home Van’s Escalade in 29.62 for the 545 yard course. In third came Atascocita Wade (Oshkosh Slammer/ Atascocita Love).
There is quite an Irish flavour to Van’s Escalade’s breeding as he is a son of Dodgem By Design and Dalcash Chrisse. The dam is a daughter of Fortress and Dalcash Vixen which means the maternal line is totally Irish. Fortress was a Pat Dalton star, a son of Im Slippy and Exception. Dalcash Vixen was a daughter of Whisper Wit (Whisper Wishes/ Westmead Kim) while Burnpark Vixen was a daughter of Manorville Major and Burnpark Sally.
Boss A Matinee Idol
Wednesday, January 28th
Flying Mancini’s winning run came to a half in the final of the 25th Matinee Idol at Derby Lane at the weekend.
Mancini was seeking a tenth win on the trot but TMC’s Trail Boss beat her to the traprise and led Mancini to the opening bend. Flying Mancini wasn’t going down without a battle and challenged all the way but TIC’s Trail Boss contained her best efforts by a head.
TMC’s Trail Boss is a son of Lonesome Cry and TMC’s Josalynn and is owned by Eddie McDonald and comes from the Filipelli & O’Donnell kennel. Trainer John Filipelli previously won the event back in 2000 with JB Junior B.
Flight In Trouble
Tuesday, January 13th
Former Irish tracker Ballymac Flight was out of luck in Saturday’s Inaugural decider at Twin River. The Liam Dowling owned tracker went off favourite to win the stake but he was in the wars early and didn’t get into the reckoning.
Victory went to the Kerry Hills Kennel representative Rossmore Playboy, a son of Dodgem By Design and Oneco Mariacalas who came home seven lenghs clear of Super C Arias with U Rock My World in third.
Ballymac Flight set a record at Twin River last year by winning 34 wins, which gave him a place in the top six of the nationwide win list.
Down Under ……
Tuesday, January 13th
The first major prize of the year in Australia went as expected with the Jason Thompson trained Fedex taking the $50,000 prize after quite a battle.
Din’s Son cut out the pace but was chased along the back by Fedex. The two leaders bumped a few times and it was Fedex that led on the third bend.
There was a thrilling finish as Austin Bale produced a whirlwind finish but Fedex held him by a short head with Jarvis Bale coming through for third. The winning time was 30.01.
Fedex is a December ’06 son of primo Uno and Tranquil Goddess while the dam is a daughter of the Irish dog Tinas Jo, a son of Staplers Jo and Tina Marina.
Penny’s Win No; 42
Monday, January 5th
Last week we related how Penny Candy was destined to be the North American win champion and the Sharon Williams owned bitch sealed the title when winning her 42nd race of the year on New Year’s Eve at Orange Park.
The daughter of Stan’s Boy Flyer and Majestic Angle raced home five lengths clear of Hobo Dan in 37.78 was completing a remarkable year that saw her finish second in the Derby and fourth in the Patton Marathon at Orange Park.
Nearest to Penny Candy in the win list were Hallo Gold Acre and Kiowa Kay Krebs on 39 wins each, followed by Wish Frank and Red Dirt Road on 35 and then the Pat Dalton trained, Liam Dowling owned Ballymac Flight.
It’s Mancini Again
Monday, January 5th
Just two weeks after winning the 660 Challenge, Flying Mancini captured another prestigious prize when winning the St Petersburg Inaugural at Derby Lane and so provided the McAllister Kennel with back-to-back victories in the event.
Last year it was Flying Stanley that captured the Inaugural for McAllister and he went on to win the Rural Rube and was the Captain of the All-America team. Now the speculation is that Flying Mancini could do likewise.
On this occasion Flying Mancini ran second for virtually the full distance as TMC’s Trail Boss cut out the running but the bitch nailed him in the closing yards to snatch victory. Kelsos Hathaway finished fast and actually grabbed second place from TMC’s Trail Boss
Dubai’s Inaugural
Monday, January 5th
The favourite Silver Ace failed to live up to expectations in the Southland Inaugural on New Year’s Day when only finishing fourth behind Bretts Dubai.
Bretts Dubai dashed to the front early and was assisted by some trouble in behind. Jim Morrison overcame a first bend bump to finish a length second in 32.28 while Djays Octane took the third money.
Bretts Dubai is a son of Kiowa Sweet Trey and WK Rogers Brett and is owned jointly by William Lockhart and Stacy Kates.
Easy For Omni
Monday, January 5th
Braska Omni brought his year record to 22 wins from 60 starts when winning the $10,000 Holiday Sprint at Wheeling Island, January 31st.
Bill Elliott’s Braska Omni (E’s Able/ Ideal Ruckus) was slowly away but flew to the bend where he shot clear and raced home a six and a half length winner in 30.04.
The favourite Kiowa WW Brother took second with Makin Bakin some six lengths further back in third
Flight’s 34 Wins
Tuesday, December 30th
Former Irish racer Ballymac Flight has made a massive impact in the States and with just a few days to go in 2008, he is in the top six in the North American Win Leader table.
Formerly owned by Liam Dowling and sent out to Pat Dalton’s kennel in America in preparation for the ill-fated 2008 Derby Lane Million, Ballymac Flight has established himself as one of the leading trackers.
A son of Sonic Flight and Ballymac Minnie, Ballymac Flight first appeared in the Mike Cronin Readymix Juvenile Classic at Tralee where he was unluckily knocked out in the semi-final but won the Consolation.
He survived three rounds of the Produce Stakes but had to be withdrawn then due to injury. He next appeared in the Irish Derby where he got to the fourth round before making his exit in what proved to be his last race in this country.
During 2008 Ballymac Flight has had 34 wins to date to be sixth in the countrywide list which is headed by Penny Candy on the 41 winner mark. Then come Hallo Gold Acre and Kiowa Kay Krebs on 39 with Kiowa Wish Frank and Red Dirt Road on 35.
Penny Candy is a son of Stan’s Boy Flyer and Majestic Angle
Futurity For Yahoo
Tuesday, December 30th
The Rader Racing Kennel has established a total domination over the $20,000 Dick Andrews Futurity which has just been staged for the eleventh time at Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Having won the past three runnings with KNK Iowakaty, KB’s Riffraff and SK Brooklyn, Norm Rader’s kennel had three runners in the 2008 decider which was staged on St Stephen’s Day and they duly came in first, third and fourth. .
OJ Kellen and Yahoo Maddux set the pace with Yahoo Omar in third but the latter came through in the final stages to win by a length from OJ Kellen in a time of 29.82. Yahoo Maddux finished third with Nitro Perdy Lady in fourth.
The winner is a son of Lonesome Cry and Pin Oak Vicki while the runner-up OJ Kellen is a son of Irish sire Premier Fantasy out of San Tan Rewind.
The World’s Oldest Track
Tuesday, December 30th
On Friday next Derby Lane Stadium in St Petersburg will celebrate it’s 84th Anniversary and also the fact that it is the oldest racetrack in the world.
The splendidly appointed Derby Lane track first raced back on January 2nd, 1925 and it has been one of the forerunners in the world of greyhound racing ever since.
It was Derby Lane that staged the Derby Lane Million a few years back but unfortunately the second running, scheduled for February last, never materialised due to lack of support.
Mancini’s Challenge Win
Tuesday, December 30th
The McAllister Kennel celebrated a great 2008 campaign by gaining a second successive 660 Challenge at Derby Lane just days before Christmas.
Having won the event last year with Flyin Bridgport, the McAllister Kennel struck this time with Flying Mancini, a victory that put the winner in the running for the Flashy Sir Award which was claimed by Flyin Bridgport a year ago.
Vince Berland’s Flying Mancini had posted a season’s fastest time in the semi-final and she caught her kennel companion Flying Hombre on the final bends before pulling away for a five length victory in 37.67. Backwood Hombre finished second with TMC’s Remedy in third.
Berland also bred Flying Mancini which is a daughter of Kiowa Sweet Trey and Gable Acadia.
Topgun Positive Tests
Tuesday, December 30th
Word has just come through from Australia that the “B” sample taken from Topgun winner El Galo has tested positive.
Following the race, which was staged on October 25th, Greyhound Racing Victoria reported that the “A” sample had tested positive.
At this stage trainer Jason Thompson requested that an independent analyst be allowed to observe the testing of the “B” sample. This test confirmed the presence of NButythyoscine.
An inquiry will be held at a date yet to be confirmed.
MAJOR BLOW FOR SPORT IN US
GREYHOUND RACING BANNED IN MASSACHUSETTS
Friday, November 7th
The future of greyhound racing in America is looking bleak following the decision of voters in Massachusetts to ban greyhound racing in the state from January 1st, 2010.
This decision means that the two tracks in the state, Raynham-Taunton and Wonderland, will have to close before that date. It is still not certain whether the tracks will remain open for Casino or slot betting purposes.
Eight years ago the previous attempt to ban the sport had failed but the antis were better equipped this time and they won the vote on a 56-44 percent basis. Incredibly, the reason behind the vote was that they regard greyhound racing as “inhumane”. They say the dogs “are routinely injured during races, suffering broken legs and paralysis, and even dying from cardiac arrest”.
Incredible as it may appear, while we watch images of children carrying guns through the streets of American cities, one of their major issues is the morality of greyhound racing!