AMIGO SUCCESS A REAL THRILL FOR ANTRIM BREEDER MAGILL

Ian Fortune

Santas Amigo raced to a brilliant Category 1 success at Sunderland on Friday night, capturing the hugely valuable Premier Greyhound Racing Classic.

The flying son of Ballymac Best displayed massive early speed to go to the front into the bend and dominated thereafter to win the stg£20k decider by five lengths in 26.92.

It was wonderful for his owners Nadeen Raja and Greg White and handler David Mullins but also his breeder Ryan Magill, who we subsequently found out was screaming the house down in his Antrim base. Santas Amigo is a member of the second litter from Magill’s wonderful brood Santas Jet and Ryan was still on cloud nine when we caught up with him on Sunday afternoon. Said Magill, “Let’s just say there was some noise in our house on Friday night when he hit the front and I’m sure the neighbours heard”

He takes up the story of Santas Amigo, “I bred him and sold him to my good friend Peter Rogers at 12 weeks old. I then reared him on behalf of Peter who sold him unraced after flying around Taylorstown schooling track to a UK syndicate.

“He hit the ground running in the UK, posting some flying times but last night he got the big win he deserved.I’m only a small breeder but it gives hope to the “wee man” in the sport. We need a bit of help”

He certainly makes a valid point. The focus of attention is understandably often on the owner and trainer, but none of their success would have been possible without the breeder and those that rear our canine athletes.  

And the good news for Magill after such a great success is that he has more pups on the way out of Santas Jet. She has thrown a few fast ones in every litter to date and her current crop by Ballymac Cashout are only 18 months and their breeder reports that they ‘are flying’.

In fact, one of them, Santas Tornado posted a rapid 28.58 in a qualifying trial around Shelbourne Park earlier this month. No doubt Ryan has been fielding plenty of enquiries about his latest potential star while he will be kept busy as Santas Jet is currently in pup to Dorotas Wildcat. She is due in early December so it should be a fun Christmas for all in the Magill household.