Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2013 20:46:02 GMT
Hills confirm backing for a £15k Wimbledon Leger
BY JONATHAN KAY
WILLIAM HILL on Thursday confirmed sponsorship of the £15,000 St Leger over 687m at Wimbledon (final November 12) but the Oaks the following month is to switch to Belle Vue with the GRA now actively seeking a new backer.
Hills are comfortably the leading sponsor in greyhound racing and only last week announced plans for a £200,000 Derby next year in addition to vastly-improved finalists prizes whilst also allocating a further £10,000 to be shared between last week’s beaten finalists.
With major festivals at the two Hills-owned tracks, Sunderland (starts Saturday) and Newcastle (October) also in the portfolio, there had been speculation about other competitions the firm has traditionally backed but support for the St Leger has been maintained.
“I’m delighted we are again sponsoring the St Leger again,” said Hills’s PR director Kate Miller, “this year in particular there is so much to look forward to with many of the greyhounds involved in what was a fantastic William Hill Derby having indicated that even better will be seen of them over six bends.
“And we had a taste of what to expect on final night with a tremendous race when Bouncy Bocko just held off Farloe Tango. All being well, they and others will serve up more of the same in the autumn.”
GRA managing director Clive Feltham firstly thanked Hills for their continued backing for the St Leger, saying: “I’m delighted that Hills have agreed to another year of sponsorship and that we can now confirm the details with a final at Wimbledon on November 12.
“As for the Oaks, we’ve taken the decision to move the competition to Belle Vue as we think it will be easier to attract a new sponsor there. Wimbledon is very much associated with William Hill and switching to Belle Vue should open up more opportunities whilst not detracting from the competition.
“It will still finish with a final (live on Sky Sports) on December 19 and, with Belle Vue staging additional meetings in the run up to Christmas, we will have a certain amount of flexibility when it comes to scheduling the earlier rounds.
“We will also explore the possibility of running it as a double-header with the Laurels, which has not been scheduled as yet this year, although that will also very much depend on how sponsorship negotiations go.”
Belle Vue will become the fourth home of the bitches’ classic which was first staged at White City in 1927, switched to Harringay in 1959 and then to Wimbledon in 1988.
It was restored to Category One level with a £15,000 first prize, won by Droopys Hope, last year although it remains to be seen what the status of the 2013 competition will be.
*Official confirmation of the TV Trophy venue and sponsor is expected on Friday. Yarmouth has been suggested as the likely host track with a final on September 4.
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Sidaz Jack also takes the media's monthly award
BY JONATHAN KAY
SIDAZ JACK is the near-unanimous choice of the Greyhound Writers’ Association as Greyhound of the Month for June following his victory in last Saturday’s William Hill Derby final at Wimbledon.
The two-year-old won three of his five races during the month, culminating with a game success in the £150,000 Classic final when he saw off the challenge of Ballymac Vic before holding the late charge of Airlie Impact by just over a length in 28.37sec.
“I didn’t really want to run him in the Derby, but his owners [Simon Wooder and Daren Johnson] did, which turned out to be a good thing really!” said the dog’s trainer Charlie Lister.
“It was a big ask and I’d say he was only 75 per cent fit going into the competition. But he got better and better through it and I really do think he’s got scope for a lot more improvement yet. Remember he’s only ever had seven races, he’s really laid-back which is good and can keep strengthening up.
“His preparation was held up when he jarred a metacarpal in a trial and we had to lay him off for a while so I wasn’t surprised that he came on with each run. He’s come out of the Derby in fantastic shape, but we’re giving him a few easy weeks now, then there are lots of races to look at later in the year.
“Dundalk were kind enough to invite him but I don’t think that would have suited him, and Nottingham’s 500m might be a bit far so I’m not sure about the Select Stakes either. Competitions like the Gold Cup at Monmore and East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth would be what I’m thinking about at the moment.”
Soviet Military, whose five wins from five runs, including the William Hill Champion Hurdle final and also a Coventry track record, would have been good enough to land the award in many months, was a clear second with Sawpit Sensation just shading Airlie Impact for third.
The presentation of the GBGB-sponsored award will be made to connections at Nottingham’s Select Stakes meeting on July 30.
============================================
Rosney calls for more consistency after red
BY JONATHAN KAY
TRAINER Pat Rosney admitted he could have no complaints at the Sunderland stewards’ decision to disqualify his Newinn Rocket for deliberate interference in heat two of the William Hill Classic on Saturday, but called for nationwide consistency.
Last year’s Monmore Puppy Derby champion appeared to have the race at his mercy, but turned on tiring leader Bubbly Rocket close home and went down by a head.
Rosney was at a loss to explain why. “I didn’t realise what had happened as I was in the middle of the track, but the stewards have got a job to do and they have done it,” he said.
“I just wish tracks across the country were all the same as I’ve had dogs’ chances recently spoiled by others who should have been disqualified in previous races. No-one wants to see disqualifications, but if a dog fights then they’ve got to go.
“This was completely out of character for Newinn Rocket and I’ve no idea why he’s done it apart from perhaps the heat getting to him. It does have an effect on dogs when the weather is like this.
“We’ll get on with clearing him now, he’s far too good a dog to give up on.”
BY JONATHAN KAY
WILLIAM HILL on Thursday confirmed sponsorship of the £15,000 St Leger over 687m at Wimbledon (final November 12) but the Oaks the following month is to switch to Belle Vue with the GRA now actively seeking a new backer.
Hills are comfortably the leading sponsor in greyhound racing and only last week announced plans for a £200,000 Derby next year in addition to vastly-improved finalists prizes whilst also allocating a further £10,000 to be shared between last week’s beaten finalists.
With major festivals at the two Hills-owned tracks, Sunderland (starts Saturday) and Newcastle (October) also in the portfolio, there had been speculation about other competitions the firm has traditionally backed but support for the St Leger has been maintained.
“I’m delighted we are again sponsoring the St Leger again,” said Hills’s PR director Kate Miller, “this year in particular there is so much to look forward to with many of the greyhounds involved in what was a fantastic William Hill Derby having indicated that even better will be seen of them over six bends.
“And we had a taste of what to expect on final night with a tremendous race when Bouncy Bocko just held off Farloe Tango. All being well, they and others will serve up more of the same in the autumn.”
GRA managing director Clive Feltham firstly thanked Hills for their continued backing for the St Leger, saying: “I’m delighted that Hills have agreed to another year of sponsorship and that we can now confirm the details with a final at Wimbledon on November 12.
“As for the Oaks, we’ve taken the decision to move the competition to Belle Vue as we think it will be easier to attract a new sponsor there. Wimbledon is very much associated with William Hill and switching to Belle Vue should open up more opportunities whilst not detracting from the competition.
“It will still finish with a final (live on Sky Sports) on December 19 and, with Belle Vue staging additional meetings in the run up to Christmas, we will have a certain amount of flexibility when it comes to scheduling the earlier rounds.
“We will also explore the possibility of running it as a double-header with the Laurels, which has not been scheduled as yet this year, although that will also very much depend on how sponsorship negotiations go.”
Belle Vue will become the fourth home of the bitches’ classic which was first staged at White City in 1927, switched to Harringay in 1959 and then to Wimbledon in 1988.
It was restored to Category One level with a £15,000 first prize, won by Droopys Hope, last year although it remains to be seen what the status of the 2013 competition will be.
*Official confirmation of the TV Trophy venue and sponsor is expected on Friday. Yarmouth has been suggested as the likely host track with a final on September 4.
========================================
Sidaz Jack also takes the media's monthly award
BY JONATHAN KAY
SIDAZ JACK is the near-unanimous choice of the Greyhound Writers’ Association as Greyhound of the Month for June following his victory in last Saturday’s William Hill Derby final at Wimbledon.
The two-year-old won three of his five races during the month, culminating with a game success in the £150,000 Classic final when he saw off the challenge of Ballymac Vic before holding the late charge of Airlie Impact by just over a length in 28.37sec.
“I didn’t really want to run him in the Derby, but his owners [Simon Wooder and Daren Johnson] did, which turned out to be a good thing really!” said the dog’s trainer Charlie Lister.
“It was a big ask and I’d say he was only 75 per cent fit going into the competition. But he got better and better through it and I really do think he’s got scope for a lot more improvement yet. Remember he’s only ever had seven races, he’s really laid-back which is good and can keep strengthening up.
“His preparation was held up when he jarred a metacarpal in a trial and we had to lay him off for a while so I wasn’t surprised that he came on with each run. He’s come out of the Derby in fantastic shape, but we’re giving him a few easy weeks now, then there are lots of races to look at later in the year.
“Dundalk were kind enough to invite him but I don’t think that would have suited him, and Nottingham’s 500m might be a bit far so I’m not sure about the Select Stakes either. Competitions like the Gold Cup at Monmore and East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth would be what I’m thinking about at the moment.”
Soviet Military, whose five wins from five runs, including the William Hill Champion Hurdle final and also a Coventry track record, would have been good enough to land the award in many months, was a clear second with Sawpit Sensation just shading Airlie Impact for third.
The presentation of the GBGB-sponsored award will be made to connections at Nottingham’s Select Stakes meeting on July 30.
============================================
Rosney calls for more consistency after red
BY JONATHAN KAY
TRAINER Pat Rosney admitted he could have no complaints at the Sunderland stewards’ decision to disqualify his Newinn Rocket for deliberate interference in heat two of the William Hill Classic on Saturday, but called for nationwide consistency.
Last year’s Monmore Puppy Derby champion appeared to have the race at his mercy, but turned on tiring leader Bubbly Rocket close home and went down by a head.
Rosney was at a loss to explain why. “I didn’t realise what had happened as I was in the middle of the track, but the stewards have got a job to do and they have done it,” he said.
“I just wish tracks across the country were all the same as I’ve had dogs’ chances recently spoiled by others who should have been disqualified in previous races. No-one wants to see disqualifications, but if a dog fights then they’ve got to go.
“This was completely out of character for Newinn Rocket and I’ve no idea why he’s done it apart from perhaps the heat getting to him. It does have an effect on dogs when the weather is like this.
“We’ll get on with clearing him now, he’s far too good a dog to give up on.”
