Greyhounds News / Editor / 02 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

Oaks format and prize money to be re-evaluated, Ballymac Ruso and Calzaghe Frisby return and all the other latest Greyhound News.

Scottish-based Lochbo Meg is among the 48 bitches going for gold at Wimbledon this week as the last Classic of the year, the Oaks, begins.

The event has already hit the headlines for being well oversubscribed. Almost double the 48 entries were received by Wimbledon, and it is understood the whole format of the event is now being looked at in 2009.

Like the Derby, the Oaks could be open to all entries, or restricted to 72 bitches. Prize-money is also being reevaluated, as efforts are made to upgrade the old competition and make it a match for the Irish Oaks.

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Ballymac Ruso, Matt Dartnall's Irish Derby finalist, returned to the track at Monmore on Monday with a gallant run in a heat of the Cotswold Scaffolding 480.

Completely missing the kick, the still lightly-raced two-year-old showed great pace to get back into contention and score from Farloe Magic. The other four-bend heats were won by Droopys Mikel and Marbeck Wonder, the latter the fastest heat winner at 27.87sec. Genesis Dream laid claim to a second Monmore triumph with a comfortably fastest-of-the-afternoon 37.86sec in the heats of the six-bend competition.

Already winner of the Spring Festival 630, Mark Wallis's bitch trapped in typically swift style for an all-the-way triumph and here time was quicker than other heat winners Boherbee Ben and Romeo Llan.

The finals take place on Saturday.

* * *

Swift Ninja, a TV Trophy finalist when tried over the eight bends earlier this year, has made a cracking return after a recent lay-off.

Michael Harris' dog continued his good form during the Coventry St Leger with a fluent semi-final win and fastest-of-the-night 42.60sec triumph.

He now lines up in arguably one of the best six-bend races of the year in Sunday's Coventry St Leger final, taking on among others St Leger runner-up Midway Skipper.

* * *
The battle of re-claim Walthamstow Stadium continues.

A possible bid for the land now owned by a housing association has fallen through, but other developers are understood to be interested in the site, which was vacated and sold by the Chandler family in August.

"There are issues with the new owners being able to knock the stands down and build flats," said one source. "The local council still require the land being used for leisure reasons and there is a time-limit on the land remaining unoccupied and unused.

"It means there is still a chance of someone coming in to bid for the land."

* * *

Laurence Tuffin has had a cracking 2008 in terms of open-race winners.
Talented four and six-bend performer Commander Chief has proved a natural replacement for his Two Nicks, who was lost to injury, while Go Big Hitter reached the St Leger final for the Mansfield-based handler.

But most satisfying for the Tuffin camp has been the return to the winner's enclosure of the veteran Calzaghe Frisby. He was winning big races for fun two years ago, but has struggled with various setbacks since.
Coventry on Sunday, however, saw the four-year-old notch up a quickfire double.

Brickfield Dream, the sole locally-trained runner in the line-up for the £10,000 decider, returned the famous Gaskin name to the Essex Vase roll of honour with a trap-to-line victory at Romford on Tuesday, upsetting the odds on his rivals.

Blasting out from the boxes, Ernie Gaskin's dog was always in charge and held the finish of Bomber Blue and Droopys Carvalho, the latter looking a touch unlucky after a storming run from halfway.

Bubbly Totti was prominent to halfway but could never launch a challenge. On the supporting card, there were wins for among others Genesis Alex and Blindin Bell, the latter's success capping a mixed night for trainer David Mullins, who lost leading hurdler Be All.
Bubbly Kate, the popular marathon performer, was retired after trailing the field over 925m.

* * *

Boherna Best, now as short as [1.3], was another winner post-Romford as his odds to be Greyhound of the Year tumbled.

With all eyes on Bubbly Totti, the shock success of Brickfield Dream saw the odds on Ted Soppitt's dog winning top honour lengthened. He can now be backed at [4.0]. Boherna Best's odds shortened dramatically in the immediate aftermath of the final. Barrie Draper's dog has won three Category Ones in 2009, one more than both Bubbly Totti and Lenson Joker.

Lenson Joker, meanwhile, has hardened to [3.5] for the award next January. Now off the track until next year, Tony Collett's dog is likely to be joined on the sidelines by Bubbly Totti, who will be rested ahead of a 2009 campaign.

* * *

Droopys Quinta was quickest of the eight heat winners of the Oaks at Wimbledon on Tuesday, Seamus Cahill's Puppy Cup third stopping the clock in 28.75sec.
She can now be backed at [5.7], along with kennelmate Kilelton Rose, who also won her heat.
The second round takes place on Saturday.

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