Greyhound Stars of 2013 UK and Ireland

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RACING POST: STARS of 2013

Post by admin on Jan 3, 2013, 5:17am

STARS OF 2013

Jonathan Kay 12 To Follow.....

AERO REBEL

bk b Droopys Maldini-Final Rose

Apr 10

Trainer: Paul Young.....

Arrived from Ireland in midsummer

and got off the mark second time,

powering through over 575m at

Romford. Was stepped up in distance,

scoring over 750m at the same track

in October and really giving notice of

her talents with a 680m track record

victory at Nottingham. Has generally

progressed since ending the year with

a hat-trick, including beating Salina’s

31-year-old 925m mark at Romford.

Can flourish in a modest marathon

division.

BALLYMAC ESKE

f d Burnpark Champ-Ballymac Penske

Sep 10

Barrie Draper'......

No marks for originality but simply

cannot be left out of a list such as this

after a brilliant first campaign. His

major victories were the Nottingham

Puppy Classic and Hove’s Olympic,

and he claimed track records at the

first-named venue in addition to

Monmore. Chased home kennelmate

Farloe Warhawk in Wimbledon’s

Puppy Derby without truly looking

comfortable there so that is a question

to answer. Could be absolutely

anything given a longer trip.

BOLD THREE

bd d Scarty Lad-Mohawk Misty

Aug 10

Paul Sallis.......

The Monmore handler has much

to look forward to with an exciting

litter out of his former classy bitch

Klockwork Kyla tearing up the track

at the moment, but this one already

seems the complete article. He has

won five of his last six, including two

opens at Nottingham, rounding off

with victory at Perry Barr’s Bags Track

Championship meeting where he was

inside the track record in calculated

terms despite making mistakes. Looks

to have many more wins in him.

BONAMASSA ROCKS

bk d Timor Blue-Sanu We Kee

Jun 11

David Mullins.....

Winner of four of his five starts with

a sole defeat coming in third behind

Lemon Pluto and Greenwell Mentor,

both of whom also make this list

as does fourth-placed Longwood

Warrior, at Belle Vue. The four wins

came at home track Romford, two in

A1s then a couple of opens including

an impressive final performance of

the campaign when he gave start

and a beating to classy Puppy Cup

champion Glanmire Lad. An exciting

prospect with all-round ability.

FLAMING HONEY

bk b Droopys Vieri-Flamingo Girl

Aug 10

Steve Fletcher......

Made a rapid ascent from A9 at

Henlow to opens there and became

one of the most prolific greyhounds

at the Bedfordshire venue. Has yet to

prove as effective away from home

base, although she did make the

Gymcrack semis at Kinsley and Oaks

quarters at Wimbledon, but what

really excites is the potential she has

to be even better over slightly longer

distances than four bends – she looks

a resolute galloper who really sees her

races out well.

GREENWELL MENTOR

bd d Daves Mentor-Greenwell Puma

Apr 11

Pat Flaherty.....

Successful in his first two starts at

Newcastle, including a heat of the

Northern Puppy Derby, showing

brilliant early pace on both occasions.

Could not hold on to the lead in

the semi-final and was eliminated,

but rounded off the year with a

good effort in defeat behind Lemon

Pluto at Belle Vue. Has the ability

to strengthen up over the coming

months leaving him less vulnerable

late on and his early pace will be a

potent weapon in any company.

JOLLY BULLSEYE

bk d Hondo Black-Echo Lady

Aug 10

Kevin Hutton....

A five-time winner in Ireland, he

chased home the very useful Bush

Bandit in the Tipp Cup consolation

at Thurles in August and was then

aimed at Henlow’s Maiden Derby on

his arrival in Britain. Eyecatching in

defeat in round one, he impressed

in the semis and arguably ran even

better when second, beaten threeparts

by Nishas Guitar, in the final.

Sauntered home at Sittingbourne on

Sunday and should be competitive

wherever he goes.

LEMON PLUTO

w bk d Scolari Me Daddy-Lady Ecko

Feb 11

John Sharp....

Won three from four in Ireland, going

unbeaten through a minor stake at

Kilkenny, before a winning UK debut

at Coventry in September. Next was

Newcastle for the Northern Puppy

Derby where his blistering early nearly

saw him claim the Category One, just

finding Teejays Bluehawk too strong

in the final. Impressive wins followed

at Monmore and Belle Vue and

had excuses for subsequent defeats

before rounding off with second in a

Sheffield sprint on Monday.

LONGWOOD WARRIOR

bk w d Top Honcho-Kildallon Maid

Mar 11

Colin Callow.....

An encouraging debut in the hot

puppy open at Belle Vue on Laurels

final night has been followed by four

victories, each more impressive than

the previous. Started off with wins

at Nottingham and Sheffield, both

times beating subsequent competition

winner Farley Semour, then finished

with a Wimbledon double including

when clocking the same time as

top-class Loughteen Blanco on Oaks

final night. Looks to have all the tools

required to be a major 2013 player.

PATTERDALE JAZZ

bk b Shaneboy Lee-Patterdale Chloe

May10

Craig Dawson.....

Confidence appeared to be knocked

after suffering a bad fall in her third

race. As a result, it was ten months

and ten races before she opened her

account, but she did so with an easy

win for Newcastle in a Bags Track

Championship contest at Kinsley and

proved a superstar for the eventual

champions with further victories at

home, Sunderland and in the final at

Perry Barr. Just shaded in an A1 at

the weekend, she remains an open

maiden but surely not for long.

STARS OF 2013

Michael Fortune 12 To Follow.....

ARDFERT THUNDER

bk d Droopys Vieri-Soviet Cheyenne

Nov 10

Trainer: Frances O’Donnell.....

Preceded to the track by a big

reputation, he had a fine victory on

Race of Champions night at Tralee.

Didn’t really justify expectations

thereafter until joining the O’Donnell

kennel and went through the Munster

Puppy Cup unbeaten to earn his

place in the Night of Champions 550.

Left some big names struggling as

he raced clear by halfway. He won

by a couple of lengths but can stay

stronger.

BALLYHILL SUB

bk d Droopys Scolari-Olympic Audrey

Oct 10

Plunkett Matthews.....

A leading 525-yarder and reached the

Puppy Derby decider unbeaten. Ran

out of stamina in the final when clear

leader down the back, but finished

third behind Razldazl Luke. No doubt

he will run over 525 in 2013, but it is

as a sprinter that he can star. Unlucky

in running in the Night of Stars 350,

he has clocked 21.08sec for Dundalk’s

400 and is the long range fancy for

the Irish Sprint Cup.

BALLYMAC SWIFT

bk b Royal Impact-Ballymac Floss

Aug 10

John Mullins.....

One for UK readers and a prediction is

that she will win the famed Dorando

Marathon on English Derby final

night. She won over 550 yards at

Cork but it wasn’t until moved to the

1,010-yard distance that she came

into her own. A finalist in the Ted

Hegarty Marathon, she had a good

position early but dropped out before

then flying home in fourth. There will

be few better over extreme distances

this year.

BORNA GEM

bk b Crash-Borna Magic

Nov 10

Ruairi Dwan......

Only fifth in the Christmas Oaks final

at Shelbourne on Saturday, but just

has to be the top selection in the bitch

category. A strapping 68-pounder,

she is the fastest ever bitch around

Shelbourne with a stunning 28.08sec

run and, while the Oaks will be her

prime target, she would be equally,

if not more, effective over 550 yards.

She has everything from all-round

pace to stamina.

ISABELS BOY

bk d Foleys Folley-Blueinthewind

Oct 10

Gary Silcock.....

Consistent tracker who ran-up the

Puppy Derby to Razldazl Luke and

then continued on the upgrade. A

prolific sort, he won three sprints at

the start of his career and went on to

win over 600 yards. He had a niggly

injury through the Puppy Derby and

it also affected him on the Night of

Stars, where he wasn’t fluent on the

bends. A long lay-off should rectify

such problems and he will be a Classic

contender.

KEREIGHT KING

bk d Droopys Maldini-Quam Celerrime

Jul 10

Aidan Denton.....

Interrupted start, with his first race

nine months after his first qualifying

trial. Looked a star in Enniscorthy’s

Future Champions Unraced and was

an unlucky third in the final. He

was quite brilliant at Shelbourne on

December 22 as he displayed brilliant

early to win in 28.16sec. What really

impressed was the electric turn of

foot that saw him leave top-class

rivals struggling in his wake.

LEAMANEIGH STORY

be d Ace Hi Rumble-Turbo Flight

Mar 11

Davy Reynolds....

Regarded as the only danger to

Paradise Madison in the National

Puppy final and was challenging at

the third bend when hampered in

the decisive incident. He is another

tremendous prospect and will be

equally effective over 550 yards. He

goes up fast and really motors down

the far side. He emerged through an

A6 stake at Thurles and was bought

prior to the Shelbourne final for a

reputed very large sum.

MELODYS DIAMOND

w bk b Royal Impact-Talita Beauty

Jan 11

Declan Byrne....

A young bitch who has shown huge

potential over 525 yards but appeals

as the sort that can go on to become a

real champion over distances of 575

yards and further. She has clocked

28.40sec at Shelbourne when coming

from well behind over 525y, and her

initial attempt over 575 saw her get

lost early due to a missed start and

trouble. But the way she finished

suggested great things to come.

MELODYS GAMBLE

w bk d Royal Impact-Talita Beauty

Jan 11

Tim O’Donovan.....

A brother of Melodys Diamond and

another very unexposed performer.

However, he has shown huge

potential and will be seen to best

effect when moved up to 550 yards

and further. He virtually fell at the

start on his debut and his second

race was in the National Puppy

Stake. His run in the second round

gave everybody a sight of his huge

potential and he was very unlucky

when knocked out in the third.

PARADISE MADISON

bk d Head Bound-Paradise Alanna

Dec 10

Ollie Bray....

Forget the National Puppy Stake

defeat, caused by a slow start and an

unlucky clip on the third bend – but

for that fall he would have won. Also

forget the knockers who say the track

was on fire the night he set the new

record of 27.67sec. Yes, it was fast but

it was still a fantastic run and this dog

can only be described as a machine.

He has unbelievable pace and is

crying out for 550 yards and more.

Michael Fortune in yesterdays Irish View

Bouncy Castle 

There was many flying puppies on show at Clonmel last weekend but this ia one
that could be just the job for UK readers. From the famed Dalton damlines and
with stamina in abundance, this fellow could be a real stayer in the making.He
was last to halfway on his racing debut but then really motored and was flying
up the straight when finishing second.It will be a surprise if he is not useful
over distances up to and including six bends. Could be quite exceptional.