Daleys Gold

White/Black, born: 1983-03, hight: XX cm, weight: 30 kg

An expensive Irish purchase, the early paced white and black first came to national notice when he overturned the year´s top youngster Hongkong Mike in the final of the 1984 Manchester Puppy Cup. A 5-2 chance, Daleys won the 460 m final in 28.32. Early in 1985 he twice broke the Harringay 272 m track record in 16.05 & 16.04 in preparation for the English Derby at Wimbledon. He was beaten in the qualifying and second round when failing to stay the 480 meters. Early pace secured a trouble strewn quarter final in the slowest time of the round, 29.04. Daleys led to the third bend in the slowest semi and just missed out on a final place with a close fourth.
The 442 m Scurry course was more to his liking. He beat Skelligs Tiger in 26.75 first time out, clocked 26.79 in the second round and 26.88 in the fastest semi. Drawn stripes in the final, he missed his break but powered through to lead at the bend. He then held off Glamour Hobo by a length in 27.23.

He went unbeaten to the Peterborough Derby final where he missed the break and finished fourth. He won the fastest heat (16.10) and final (16.11) of Harringay´s National Sprint beating Upton Rocket and Very Attractive. A quick jaunt to Dundalk saw him take second place to Shanagarry Duke in the International but he finished lame in the first round of the Irish Derby. Rye´s Sovereign Stakes followed and he looked a different class. Daleys lowered the 281 m record to 16.59 in the semis and collected the decider in 16.64 from Ballyherly and Damiens Slave. Greed presumably fuelled a journey to Brough Park for the 500 m All England Cup. He was later eliminated from the Laurels and from then on was a spent force.

Daleys was from a repeat of the May 1980 litter that included Swift Rapier (east Anglian/Suffolk Derbies), Dysert Moth (TR 252m Wimbledon), Westpark Goldie (derby semi finalist, dam of Hot Sauce Yankee etc), Westpark Moth (Shelbourne Leger winner, jt TR 700 Youghal) Derry Linda (dam of Tico, Jaguar, O´Hickey Garden and Droopys Jaguar) and Lackandarra (dam of Up For One, Dysert Sheola and Real Na Mara).
The March 1983 bunch included Paddys Dog (Islandbridge Sprint), Powerstown Polo (White Horse Trophy), Powerstown Pax (sire of Castleland Dream), Suir Moth (dam of Creative) and O´Hickey Silver (dam of Beau Ami, Orlando Jack and Ruler Wishes).

The Irish took a while to take him - possibly because they hadn´t seen him run. There seems no other good reason for not using such a beautifully bred fast greyhound.
One rumor suggested that he only threw sprinters. Obviously this has been proved as a complete rubbish though you will not find a dog who throws more early speed. In fact he has been the saviour of many ailing lines who have been drifting towards a lack of pace.
He also has faults. Daleys would be completely unsuitable for a bitch who struggles (in ability and breeding) to get four bends. His offspring are also (unusually) vicious in temperament - though not on the track. There are many tales of his offspring savaging other pups as well as each other.
On the track their preferred racing distance averages at around 430 meters.