Bantiss Greyhounds

Champion Bitch Stake reaches boiling point: Pudsy to score?

What a great night's racing on Saturday at Thurles for the 3 semis of the Champion Bitch Stake.  A couple of fancied bitches were eliminated, but Racing Manager Daniel Monk must be feeling pretty saitisfied with the quality of greyhound he has in this year's final 6. In fact I'd say he's chuffed.

Trap Draw for Saturday night's final

1. Home Belle (Daves Mentor x Picallilli)
2. Hillcroft Josie (Larkhill Jo x Shanless Rose)
3. Sadie Vieri (Droopys Vieri x Turbo Flight)
4. Danmar Pudsy (Droopys Scholes x Tyrur Fiona)
5. Maireads Fantasy (M) (Premier Fantasy x Maybe Baby)
6. Semolina (M) (Honcho Classic x Carmel Down)

A quick look at the draw sees that last year's winner Hillcroft Josie has a plum draw in trap 2 as the red jacketed Home Belle has not been showing great pace to the bend.

Home Belle, still a puppy, is from a super damline, and whilst I cannot really make a case for her here, she will be one for 2009 I am sure.

In the white jacket, Newbridge Oaks finalist Sadie Vieri could be very well drawn if she exits like she can - if she records a time like she did a couple of weeks ago, she coulde be there or thereabouts - will 28.89 win it? She is certainly bred to win a big one - her half brother Micks Savings will testify to that.

The Newbridge Oaks winner and quite possibly the best bitch in Ireland at the moment, Danmar Pudsy, goes from trap 4. Connections were not overjoyed by the 'coffin box' draw, but this early paced daughter of Droopys Scholes can fly out and open up a big lead to the 2nd bend.  It will all be down to whether Hillcroft Josie is close enough, ad Pudsy is running at the top of her game.  It will take a good bitch to beat Pudsy on Saturday - if she clocks 28.72 like she did in the first round, I think she wins. She is unbeaten in the stake thus far - as is the jolly. Pudsy, if winning, could be the first big winner for dam Tyrur Fiona this month, as Tyrur Laurel is currently in the semi finals of the Golden Jacket Classic in Galway.

In orange we have Maireads Fantasy. I had a drink with connections on Saturday and they were confident of a huge run from this lovely bitch - she didn't disappoint, winning in 28.93 on a slowing track.  Expect Maireads Fantasy to be finishing best of all on Saturday, and this bitch will be some brood bitch in years to come - the grand-daughter of Ballinderry Mist goes through Ballinderry Sand back to Ckipping Chick.

Last but not least, In stripes we have Semolina. Owned by the Dervans in Loughrea, this nice bitch by Honcho Classic will need to show the early pace that her form at Galway had previously showcased.  She will be a surprise winner if she does get home first, but she will not be an undeserving winner as she has shown great battling qualities in this stake to date.

SUMMARY: A huge crowd is ensured at the weekend, and I expect a great race. Putting my neck on the line I fancy Danmar Pudsy to fly to the bend to give Danny and Marie Potter a second big win in the space of a month, holding off the fast finishers Hillcroft Josie and Maireads Fantasy.

IGB Opens Sire Performance November 2008: Droopys Scholes bursts from the pack

A sire that is not really anyone's flavour of the month, yet he is regularly in the top 6 sires in the UK, and November saw Droopys Scholes, the English Derby Winner of 2004 (ii was there to see it), blitz every living sire in the chart to come a very clear 2nd place  to the resident top dog Top Honcho. It really is an incredible preformance by Scholes this last month - he is well clear of all the usual contenders. 

Other dogs that performed really well were Top Savings (again) and Tucks Mein.  There was a big gap in high profile winners for Top Savings after the classic winners Ardkill Jamie and Micks Savings, but all sires have this hiatus between their first and second crops. He is constently doing well on my charts for the last few months. 

Tucks Mein was one of these sires that aways had a few nice winners (from limited opportunities). Breeders cottoned on to the fact that he was consistently performing well with little fanfare, and his 'books' for the last two years have been in excess of 100 bitches.  He has now started to put the numbers on the board, and 11 winners this month is a very good return.

I expect Razldazl Billy and Westmead Hawk to have very good Decembers - they have several quality pups running at present siring 5 of the 8 National Puppy Stake winners on Saturday between them.  Brett Lee had a good month too.

A couple of big name sires appear well down the table - did you notice?

Remember, as usual you can see the complete listings for the year in the IGB Open Race Sire Statistics page on the left.

November 2008 Open Race Wins by Sire (278 in total)

1	TOP HONCHO	31
2	DROOPYS SCHOLES	20
3	DROOPYS KEWELL	15
4	BRETT LEE	14
	DROOPYS VIERI	14
	HONDO BLACK	14
7	PREMIER FANTASY	11
	TUCKS MEIN	11
9	CRASH	10
	HEADBOUND	10
	TOP SAVINGS	10
12	DROOPYS MALDINI	9
	LARKHILL JO	9
14	BOHERDUFF LIGHT	6
	GO WILD TEDDY	6
16	RAZLDAZL BILLY	5
	WESTMEAD HAWK	5
18	BIG DADDY COOL	4
	HONCHO CLASSIC	4
	YEAH MAN	4
21	BLACKJACK TOM	3
	DROOPYS SCOLARI	3
	HALLUCINATE	3
	HOT CRUISE	3
	KNOCKABOUT WOK	3
	LATE LATE SHOW	3
	MINEOLA FARLOE	3
	PREMIER COUNTY	3
29	BALLINTORE BRAVE	2
	BALLYMAC MAEVE	2
	CHARITY JACK	2
	COME ON LLEYTON	2
	DROOPYS AGASSI	2
	JUST THE BEST	2
	ROANOKEE	2
	TYRUR TED	2
37	ACE HI RUMBLE	1
	AHANE LAD	1
	ALEXS REVENGE	1
	BOND	1
	CLIMATE CONTROL	1
	COOL PERFORMANCE	1
	DAVES MENTOR	1
	DIGITAL	1
	DISGUISED	1
	DROOPYS SHEARER	1
	DROOPYS WOODS	1
	ELITE STATE	1
	FLYING PENSKE	1
	HE SAID SO	1
	HOTSHOW BEN	1
	KIOWA SWEET JOE	1
	KIOWA SWEET TREY	1
	NO TAIL TOLD	1
	PACIFIC MILE	1
	ROYAL IMPACT	1
	SONIC FLIGHT	1
	SPIRAL NIKITA	1
	TRUE HONCHO	1
	WHAT A LARK	1
	WORLD CLASS	1
	WW TIME WARP	1

Update on pups for sale

FULL DETAILS ON ALL LOTS AVAILABLE ABOVE ON THE 'FOR SALE' TAB

LOT 1:  DROOPYS MALDINI x BANTISS JYMMI OCTOBER 2008

Dogs €1300 Bitches €1000

UPDATE: There are 2 DOGS REMAINING - not earmarked yet so pick of litter is available if you are willing to take a spin down in the car - smashing pups!

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LOT 2: DROOPYS MALDINI x BANTISS SLIMLINE Sept 2008

DOGS (BLACK or BLUE)    €1300 (€2200 PAIR)

UPDATE: There is 1dog left for sale - choice of  of 3.  A couple of buyers at the weekend commented on how forward these pups are - and on their 'rotundity'. In other words BIG CHUBBY BOISTEROUS PUPPIES!
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Lot 3: ACE HI RUMBLE x BANTISS POPPY July 2008

DOGS (BLACK OR BLUE)  €750

UPDATE: I was only selling 2 dogs from this litter but lads that came up to by pups from Lots 1 and 2 were almost amazed at the coat condition and physical strength of the Ace Hi Rumbles. All 4 dogs and the bitch have now been sold. Thanks to all customers.

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LOT 4:   BIG DADDY COOL x EXPERT VIEW (Roanokee x March Queen)

7 dogs 2 bitches €1500 dogs €1200 bitches

UPDATE: 2 dogs sold so far - these really should be sold before Christmas so if you want to buy from a bitch that has thrown several group winners amongst a dozen open class hounds from only her first two litters, get in touch with me.

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LOT 5:  DROOPYS VIERI x WESTMEAD NICOLE (Larkhill Jo x Mega Delight)

DOGS €3000 BITCHES €3000


UPDATE: FIRST LITTER BY SCHOLES TEARING UP THE SCHOOLING TRACKS  Nuff said

NGRC Opens: Damsires Chart Nov 2008

1. Staplers Jo 603 winners

2. Top Honcho 511

3. Larkhill Jo 489

4. Spiral Nikita 459

5. Toms The Best 323

*Courtesy of the Racing Post

Romford centre stage this week

The finals of the the Coral Romford Puppy Cup and the Coral Essex Vase will be run at the London Road track in Romford this week, and two great line ups they are too.  Droopys sires have totally dominated these two competitions this year - recent winners of these two prestigious stakes include Westmead Keawn, Fear Assassin and Knockeevan Magic in the puppies, and Eye Onthe Veto (twice), Eye Onthe Magic and Top Power in the Vase.

Friday 28th November

Coral Romford Puppy Cup Final: £8,000 to the winner

1. Masterful  (Droopys Corleone)
2. Deanridge Ammo (Droopys Maldini)
3. Droopys Quinta (Droopys Vieri)
4. Confident Kermit (Ballymac Maeve)
5. Droopys Richard (Droopys Maldini)

6. Droopys Goran (Droopys Scolari)

Tuesday 2nd December

Coral Essex Vase Final: £10,000 to the winner

NOT IN TRAP ORDER

• Bomber Blue (Droopys Vieri)
• Droopys Carvalho (Droopys Maldini)
• Bubbly Totti (World Class)
• Bubbly Rambo (Droopys Vieri )
• Brickfield Dream(Boherduff Light)

• Sherries Boy (Top Honcho)

 

Bucks Teddy

A record was set recently at Limerick when Bucks Teddy (Go Wild Teddy x Mottos Friend) won in 16.11 on his debut.  This was the fastest debut ever at the track, and the fastest run ever by a pup (I have amended the puppy records database accordingly).

This boy is owned by Ger O'Reilly in Killoscully, North Tipperary, and was bred and reared by Paul McCusker of Drumscraw Kennels.

One for the notebooks.

Breeding Prospect

If any of you readers fancy taking a chance at the old breeding game, a superb little prospect has come onto the market.

By Droopys Maldini out of Frosty Rose this August 2007 bitch is bred in the purple and available for a very reasonable fee.

For those of you not that up to speed with this breeding, Frosty Rose was the only litter sister of the legendary Late Late Show.   Frosty Rose is the dam of Digital (Track Record Holder at Thurles and rising stud) and Icy Joe (also at stud), thus making this bitch a half sister of these two dogs.

Contact me on the usual number or email me if you are interested.

Thurles Champion Bitch Stake Semi Finals

It's hotting up now down in Thurles, as we are down to the last 18 bitches.

Here's the semi final line up for Saturday night with 2 to qualify from each heat (1st Rnd and 2nd Rnd placings in brackets and sire) followed by best time in stake.

First Semi

1. Danmar Pudsy (1-1-Droopys Scholes) 28.72
2. Lassa Experience (2-1-Droopys Kewell) 28.92
3. Woodhill Spark (2-3-Premier Fantasy) 29.15
4. Lemon Razza (2-2-Mustang Yank) 29.21
5. Strangford Katie (5-3-Droopys Vieri) 29.28
6. Borna Del (2-1-Droopys Kewell) 28.92

Second Semi

1. Wilcos Sonia (1-2-Crash)28.94
2. Sadie Vieri (1-2-Droopys Vieri)28.89
3. Yagga Wagga (4-3-Ravage NY Ranger)29.43
4. Maireads Fantasy (3-3- Premier Fantasy)28.99
5. Lughill Jewell (4-1-Larkhill Jo)28.94
6. Her Eyesare Blue (3-2-Come On Lleyton)29.14

Third Semi

1. Hillcroft Josie (1-1-Larkhill Jo)28.76
2. Plan (1-3-Brett Lee)28.78
3. Cruise Code (3-3-Hot Cruise)29.17
4. Light Shift (1-1-Tucks Mein)28.82
5. Rising Smoke (1-2-Droopys Vieri)28.64
6. Semolina (3-2-Honcho Classic)29.27

A wide open stake still, with the third heat in particular likely to see a couple of big shots eliminated.  For the record I'd fancy Danmar Pudsy, Borna Del, Wilcos Sonia, Her Eyesare Blue, Hillcroft Josie and Rising Smoke to make up the final six, and then it's down to the draw.  Hillcroft Josie has a nasty draw this weekend and a lot will depend on Plan's exit from traps.

Comerford Cakes National Puppy Stake

It must be the best collection of pups so far in this stake - widely regarded as the most important puppy stake in these islands.  The times clocked by the 11 heat winners in the first round were simply sensational, and it is a wide open stake.

On the sire front it is clear to see some of the young guns are starting to make a big impression on the Irish stud scene - I have put the sire of the winner in brackets. 

Ht 1: Fane Slasher 29.32 (HONDO BLACK)

Ht 2: Blue Starship 28.86(DROOPYS MALDINI)

Ht 3: Seamore Sam 29.14 (HALLUCINATE)

Ht 4: Skywalker Queen 28.92 (RAZLDAZL BILLY)

Ht 5: Pennys Oberon 28.57(BRETT LEE)

Ht 6 Faypoint Man 28.58 (YEAH MAN)

Ht 7 Fawn Express 28.55(CRASH)

Ht 8 Dilton Swift 28.79(DROOPYS SCHOLES)

Ht 9 Inny Blue 28.87 (HONCHO CLASSIC)

Ht 10 Soviet Maldini 28.67 (DROOPYS MALDINI)

Ht 11 Oran Empire 29.17 (DROOPYS MALDINI)

Aston bows out but holds his head high

The 2008 Irish Derby Winner and 2008 Irish Champion Stakes Winner Shelbourne Aston was elimated from the Golden Jacket Classic at Galway on Saturday night after being baulked at the first bend after a better than usual start from the blue brindle son of Just The Best and Queen Survivor. He will get a nice break now (well deserved) and probably serve a few bitches for the craic.

The competition looks to be wide open now, although Graham Holland's Broadacres Turbo is tearing up the track and will be a warm favourite. It is the sponsors who may have the biggest say though, as they own Mardocs O'Shea, Mardocs Heinze and Mardocs Nani, and all three dogs trained by Frances O'Donnell, have made the Quarter Finals.  The added bonus of having dogs in the same ownership is that they are 'guarded' in the draw and avoid each other in the Quarter Finals.

It should be an interesting night on Saturday, and I will be there.

First Quarter Final

1. Zontes Footstep
2. Toledo James
3. Droopys Teabag
4. Royal Treason
5. Imaal Master
6. Nawhobberthadda

Second Quarter Final

1. Mardocs Heinze
2. Full Bloom
3. Tyrur Laurel
4. Ask Amy
5. Kerrydale Celt
6. The Other Sonic

Third Quarter Final

1. Oakleaf Tom
2. Broadacres Turbo
3. Shaneboy Sophia
4. Lemon Zamora (DOUBTFUL)
5. Mardocs O'Shea
6. The Other Achill

Fourth Quarter Final

1. Slick Spiral
2. Burnpark Duke
3. Mardocs Nani
4. Skywalker Dream
5. Elouisa
6. Tyrur Lee