"Blue" Greyhounds

Why is it many people dislike or even disregard the colour "blue" in greyhounds? As legendary breeder/trainer Steve Kavanagh said in a recent article "...there are that many old wives tales in greyhound racing. If you believed all of them you would never leave your house through fear" The reality of course is they are just that...old wives tales!

While the colour "blue" in the greyhound is somewhat rare - most likely due to the fact the colour "blue" is a dilution of arguably the most popular colour "black". The FACTS are the colour "blue" is behind some of racings greatest names, both on the racetrack and at stud. The likes of;

Malawi's Prince - a "blue" greyhound, who set the track alight...breaking the great Farmer George's Olympic Park track record (29.55) and in doing so, he [Malawi's Prince] became the only greyhound to ever break 29.50 at Victoria's former premier Metropolitan racetrack...setting the record at 29.47. Malawi's Prince went on to be a champion sire...with such notables as Hall of Fame bitch Tenthill Doll, Amongst Thieves (blue), Westend Prince (blue), Toolibuk (blue), Awesome Mclaren (blue), Blue Lustre (blue), Mighty Glory (blue), Roxy Reason (blue), Addict's Actor (blue), Hillcrest (blue), Time Shock (blue) & Young Daisy (blue)

Of course Malawi's Prince is the sire of the legendary Token Prince and dam sire of so many superstars, such as, Collision, Modern Assassin, Collide, Dancing Habit etc

Promises Free - a superstar racebitch, "blue" in colour and dam of the "Litter of the Century"...Amerigo Man, West Cape, Walkabout Sid, Bogenfel, Carnival Boy etc.

Placard - a "blue" greyhound, winning the GROUP 1 National Sprint and GROUP 1 Topgun. Proven both a successful sire and dam sire. As dam sire his star grand daughter is also blue, namely Tasman Queen.

Side note - Tasman Queen's sire Where's Pedro had two round 1 winners of the GROUP 1 Sapphire Classic...Tasmna Queen & Brooklyn Belle - both "blue" in colour.

Droopys Maldini - the peoples "blue" coloured champion the last 2 or 3 years. Winning the GROUP 1 Champion Stakes, GROUP 1 Boylesports International - and running some of the fastest times ever seen over Shelbourne Park's 550y (29.43, 29.47, 29.55 - T.R 29.42). Droopys Maldini is starting to make a real noise as a sire, already siring a GROUP 1 winner and GROUP race finalists such as the "blue" coloured Farloe Batman & Farloe Superman. As Malawi's Prince did...Droopys Maldini is destined to have many of his top offspring the colour "blue".

Bahama Image - a "blue" coloured winner of the GROUP 1 Golden Easter Egg, GROUP 1 National Derby and was running for a $100,000 bonus if he was able to win a third GROUP 1 event at Sydney's premier track Wentworth Park

Springtime Magic - "blue" coloured QLD Greyhound of the Year...no surprise that her dam sire is the "blue" coloured Malawi's Prince.

Excite Ability - 28kg "blue" coloured winner of the GROUP 1 Melbourne Cup & GROUP 2 Temlee. Winning over $300,000 in prize money. Interesting his sire, Bearability was "blue & white.

Slippy Blue (UK) - a "blue" coloured winner of the GROUP 1 English Greyhound Derby, GROUP 1 Sussex Cup, All England Cup.

Parkdown Jet (UK) - "blue" coloured winner of the GROUP 1 English Greyhound Derby

Climate Control (Ire) - "blue" coloured winner of the GROUP 1 Irish Greyhound Derby

Ardkill Jamie (Ire) - "blue" coloured winner of the GROUP 1 Easter Cup, GROUP 1 Champion Stakes

Mineola Farloe (Ire) - "blue" coloured GROUP 1 Easter Cup, GROUP 1 Tote Gold Cup

Flamingo Dancer - high class "blue" coloured bitch and multiple GROUP race finalist. Her dam was the high class "blue" coloured racebitch Magnacarter.

Magnacarter - is behind a dynasty of current racing greyhounds and no surprise her "blue" colour is behind her high class grand daughter, the "blue" coloured Magnitude.

History Lesson - a very fast "blue" coloured greyhound and quality sire of such notables as Irinka Barbie & the exceptionally fast "blue" coloured Mountain Dry.

Winsome Blue - a "blue" coloured flyer and star dam of Winsome Dollars. Winsome Blue's "blue" colour seen to the fore in her Grand son...the "blue" coloured Winsome Lesson - the only greyhound to break 26 seconds around Bulli's 472m trip...stopping the clock at 26.98 in winning the GROUP 3 Bulli Gold Cup, by the length of the straight.

Franklin Mint - the superstar "blue" coloured speedster and foundation dam of a dynasty of stars...the likes of Mint Magic, Mint Mojo, Queen Mint and Lindale Blue. Franklin Mint's "blue" colour well to the fore through her white & blue daughter Queen Mint and the influence seen with LB being white & blue in colour.

Trip And Go - sired by the champion U.S.A sire Fortress. Trip And Go was a "blue" coloured speedster, who ran 29.69 around Sandown Park (VIC) and was a finalist in the GROUP 1 Golden Easter Egg, won by Brett Lee. Trip And Go was undefeated in the 3 rounds leading up to the Final.

Other "blue" coloured notables - Droopys Scholari, West Tipp, Blue Majestic, Express Ego, Bearability, Blue Merlin, Jaxerback, Honcho Classic, Dromana Blue etc etc

As you can see there are FACTS and there are Old Wive's Tales...clearly the "blue" coloured greyhound is an exceptional choice when choosing a potential puppy. As without doubt it is one of the rarer colours found in the racing greyhound. Yet the "blue" coloured greyhounds performances as shown above has no peer!