Droopys Clue may well have etched his name on to the greyhound of the year trophy with his third Category 1 final win of 2023 in the George Curtis Ballyregan Bob Memorial at Hove earlier this evening.
As soon as Droopys Clue hit the front in tonight’s final, the race was effectively over. Such is the talent of Seamus Cahill’s precocious youngster, it would be easy to forget that tonight’s race featured the runner-up in the Regency final (Swiper) and the defending champion (Clongeel Ozzie). Surprising too, was how readily June Harvey’s Ower Smasher was dismissed, for she is a bitch that can never be overlooked at this distance. As it transpired, Ower Smasher found trouble early in the race and left herself too much to do, although she was closing rapidly on the run-in and had passed ‘Cluedo’ before the ‘7th bend.’
Tonight’s victory makes this Cluedo’s third Cat1 title of the year. His first came at Towcester back in July when he picked up Wrighty near the line to win the Juvenile Classic by a short head.
However, it wasn’t until he was stepped up to six bends that his true potential was realised. At Monmore, in August, he was involved in an epic battle with Fromposttopillar in The Summer Stayers which saw him pass ‘Postie’ soon after the line. Another step up in distance, first to 710m in the PGR St Leger, and then up to 740m in the George Curtis Ballyregan Bob Memorial tonight brought further Category 1 success.
Cluedo made the final of the PGR Kent Derby when he switched back to four bends in October, finishing fourth behind Churchfield Syd, Romeo Command and Asbo Lenny.
Sired by Out Of Range ASB out of Droopys Natalia, Cluedo is blessed with four bend pace and six bend stamina. Just an August ’21 dog, it’s frightening to think just how much he can improve.
It will be interesting to see if Seamus Cahill has a tilt at the Derby with Cluedo next summer. My guess is that he won’t. Cahill is more likely to focus on the longer 6 bend staying races which brings 9 races into the equation for 2024 if we include a defence of the George Curtis Ballyregan Bob Memorial.
Races Seamus Cahill could target with Droopys Clue in 2024 and this years winners:
