Samantha Bonner looks back at a great night on the graded scene for trainer Craig Morris at Yarmouth and sprinter Jovial Alex at Perry Barr. Find out what Meg’s been up to this week – “walkies!”
Five is the magic number!
On Monday the 18th of December, less then a week before Christmas, trainer Craig Morris had his Christmas come early.
Heading to Yarmouth Greyhounds with just 6 runners. Local trainer Craig Morris went on to have a fantastic night with 5 Winners? and the other runner placing 3rd ?!
Starting off with Great Pet, “Lucy” the Sept ’21 whelped White and Black bitch, owned by Caister Racing Club. Competing in a graded A4 race, she went off 2/1J favourite. Having only just 16 starts of her UK career, she has won 5 of those races which includes an IV 659 Match race against Wee Mac Spanner which she won by 1/2L.
“Great Pet has been a great buy for me and Alan,” Craig told me. “She was £500 and running A8 around Tralee , but has really come out of herself since joining us. She won the match race over 659 a few months ago and will be back over that trip soon.”
His next winner was Brennans Natalie, “Natalie” an April ’21 whelped Blue and Fawn bitch, owned by Mr Billy Brennan. Competing in a graded A6 race, she went off at 9/4. Having only competed in 29 races, she has won 4 of them and come second 9 times.
“Brennans Natalie is a frustrating Bitch , she has lots of pace and ability but seems to ease on the bends when there’s dogs around so doesn’t win as many as she should but when she does get room she can run.”
The third win came from Geneva Judy, “Judy” an August ’22 whelped blue and white bitch, owned by Mr Craig Morris. She’s still very young in her running, having only the second race of her career, after being brought from the Premier Greyhound Sales from Crayford.
“Geneva Judy was a Bitch I bought for £300 out of Crayford sales. She found all kinds of trouble the other night and must have been 10 lengths behind down the back straight. She got up to win but did have a look at the leading dog so was marked awkward and will now go off for some more schooling.”
Winner number four was, Brennans Sophia, “Sophia” a March ’21 whelped black bitch, owned by Mr Billy Brennan. Competing in an A6 graded race, she was the 11/8f. Again, only having 28 career starts, she has won 6 of them, and placed 2nd four times. She has now won her last two starts.
“Brennans Sophia is just coming back from a serious hock injury and has won 2 from 3 now. Again a cheap purchase from the sales at Yarmouth, that was her fastest and best run to date.”
Craig’s fifth winner of the night came from Rathcoole Poppy “Poppy” an October ’20 whelped black bitch, owned by Mr Craig Morris. Competing in an A2 graded race, she went off 15/8. Poppy is on a winning streak as this was her second win in a row after winning her previous A3 race.
“Rathcoole Poppy has been a great Bitch for the kennel winning 10 from 18 graded races and an open at Romford. She has brilliant early and runs the bends as good as I’ve seen any dog run them. She’s just coming right out of season and will look to head back to Romford soon.”
Well, what a fantastic night it was for Craig, and the dogs and all connections. Well Done to all involved.
5 wins in a row – Jovial Alex
Jovial Alex is a black dog, whelped on 1st September 2020 and bred out of Rockybay Foley and Dansa Kate.
Having just won 5 of his latest starts, let’s take a look back at his career so far.
Jovial Alex started his career in January 2022, where he had four trials at Youghal, Dundalk and Newbridge – before he found himself at Weatheroak Racing Kennels under trainer Simon Deakin.
Starting of with a sprint trial. followed by two 480m trials, he found himself graded. Debuting on 7th June 2022 in an A8 graded race, he went on to win.
After five 480m graded races, the decision was made to switch him to sprinting. Since then he has had a great career running the sprints at Perry Barr, winning eight of his sprint contests.
Speaking with the Weatheroak kennels, they told Greyhound Weekly that,
“Alex is a quiet dog in the kennel who loves his grub. He had a few niggles in May and he was treated and given plenty of rest, around 7 weeks which seems to have done the trick with him. Since the break, week on week he seems to have been getting better and better. If he can find another couple of lengths, a D1 might not be out of the question for him.”
5 in a row streak – race by race
Alex headed into the D3 graded sprint on the 11th November, going off the 5/4f, he won his race in 16.64, by 1 3/4 lengths.
Keeping him in a D3, he went off to work again on the 25th November. This time going off at a slightly bigger price of 7/2, he soon took the lead in the race to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Once again, on the 30th November, the grader decided to put Alex in another D3, making it a slightly harder race. But Alex took it all in his stride when going off at a bigger price once again at 5/1 and winning by 1 length in 16.51.
On the 7th November, Alex was called up to work, taking place in D3 company for his fourth attempt. Going off again at 5/1, Alex took the lead from the off and bagged his fourth win in an even faster 16.49.
Perry Barr decided this time, an upgrade to D2 was required. On the 18th December, Alex took part in his first ever D2 graded race. Alex went off at again, an even bigger price than his last race at 6/1. Alex went on to deny the others and took the Win. His fifth win in a row.
Certainly a dog in great form for trainer Simon Deakin and owners Tracy Baker (assistant trainer) & Mr P Cole.
Good luck to all future races with Alex ?
Ballymac Meg – weekly update ?
This week Meg has had a very busy week herself. Meg spent a lot of time this week with her human daughter Skylar-May.
Meg taught Skylar-May to WALK!! A massive moment that filled my heart with pure joy and love.
My daughter (Skylar-May’s mum) learnt to walk with her greyhound Rosie, so I kept the tradition going. An absolute magical moment captured that we will never forget.
Meg, also visited the salvation army this week to see their Christmas lights which she really enjoyed,
Meg and myself would like to wish everybody a very Merry Christmas ??
