Red Mills Champion Unraced 2013

Finally, there is a small bit of kindness in the weather, the grass is green again, and there is a stretch in the evenings.   The greyhound racing scene is also getting warmer, and its time for many to produce their red hot pups, for the Red Mills Champion Unraced.   For many greyhound men and women in Kilkenny this is the greatest time of the year.   We have just concluded a super McCalmont Cup, won by a Red Mills Unraced graduate, Boherna Rumble , and now we face into one of Ireland's premier juvenile events.     There is also added spice to it now that it is followed closely by the Red Mills juvenile, the competition that heralded the arrivals of Derby winner Skywalker Puma and SIS Gold Cup Winner Priceless Sky.

However, it is the unraced that has really given us first sight of some of the stars fo the game over the years.  Pat Dalton's great brood bitch Airport Express took the laurels in 2001.   Spiral Nikita, Lemon Sash, Yahoo Jamie, Pacific Mile, Cool Performance, Definate Opinion, He Said So, Lax Law, Kilmessan Jet all started out in this great competition.   For those of you of a certain vintage, go back to one of the greats, Suir Miller, who Michael Barret brought down from Crohane to compete in the 1980 running.    Suir Miller won it, and went straight to Shelbourne park to compete in and win the 1980 Derby.

Rather disappointing is the volume of entries this year, back to 36 from last years 66, but the quality is by no means lacking.     To scan through the card there are few with breeding that indicates huge potential.

In the opening heat the Peter Cronin trained Dodging Bullets (Head Bound - Borna Skylark) is from a great early paced damline, and you don't have to move too far back in his pedgree to see the link to Produce Stakes winner and multiple track record holder, Geldrops Touch.   While Paddy Ryan is introducing a beautifully bred dog in Ruby Rouge (Big Daddy Cool - Finally Arrived) who is a half brother to Munster Oaks winner Beaming Olive.

Shaneboy Novak (Black Shaw - Shaneboy Kylie) is an interesting sort in the second heat, while Global Tally Ho (Westmead Hawk - Droopys Cher) is a member of a maiden litter for Droopys Cher a first round winner (29.41) in the 2011 Red Mills. 

In Heat 3, Sidaz Eagle (Westmead Hawk - Soviet Cheyenne) is the obvious standout.   A half brother to Matt O'Donnell's super charge, Ardfert Thunder, this pup has some super qualifying efforts on his card.   While in trap two Express Dasher (Kiowa Sweet Trey - Express Mist), is a grandson of the aforementioned Airport Express and a full brother to superb stayer Express Trend (from a repeat mating).

In heat 4, Bellmore Torres (Ja Mann - Shelbourne Capri) and Loansome Boatman (Scolari Me Daddy - Mrs De) have both qualified in impressive fashion.

Burgess Rumble (Ace Hi Rumble - Rising Angel) is a half brother to English Derby winner Taylors Sky, and he has a couple of nice Youghal qualifying efforts on his card.      While in the final heat, Lemon Dolores (Razldazl Billy - Lemon Abby) represents the Lennons of Thresscastles, and this bitch is a half sister to their stud dog, Scolari Me Daddy.

So, there is plenty to ponder there and a trip to Kilkenny on Friday night for any greyhound enthusiast is the area is a must.