WILLOW SOLD AND JOINS BUCKLEY

Ian Fortune

Pat Buckley confirmed on Tuesday that Flashing Willow, who was so impressive at Dundalk on Saturday night, is to join his kennel with a potential Kirby challenge his immediate target.

Kenny Glen has purchased Flashing Willow and will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of his recently retired English Derby champion Deerjet Sydney.

Said Buckley of Flashing Willow, “He looks a really exciting dog. He didn’t make a fast start and ran off the second bend but still went really quick. Aiden [McVeigh] hadn’t an awful lot done with him so there should be room for improvement. We have a nice team of young dogs down here and he should fit right in.”

Flashing Willow posted a very quick 21.05 for the 400yd trip on Saturday and is likely to step up in trip in the near future. We wish both Pat and Kenny the very best of luck with their new recruit.

Buckley also confirmed that he was hoping to have a minimum of three challengers for the upcoming Juvenile Classic at Tralee. He seems pretty enthused by the likes of Ballinabola Ed, Fire On Ice and Glengar Scholar and is hoping they will develop into top class performers. Certainly, the early signs seem very positive.

Buckley also reports that he has some exceptionally well bred puppies coming through and reported that Droopys Smasher, who has thrown so well to this point in her career as a brood, recently had a litter by Brett Lee.

Of course, the aforementioned Deerjet Sydney is now standing at stud with Pat’ daughter Emma at the wheel. He has already mated ten bitches and ‘seems a natural’. 

These are certainly exciting times for the Buckley outfit and he confirmed that a trip to Towcester for the English Derby was very much on the cards, while he is hoping that he will have a big Boylesports Derby team come August.