Mixed Fortunes for Sydney’s Progeny: A Tale of Two Studs

The decision to stand two remarkable sons of Droopys Sydney at stud in England has yielded varied results. Brookside Richie, now with his former trainer Jimmy Fenwick in the North East, has faced some unfortunate setbacks.

Jimmy shared that the first mating attempt with Richie was disappointing, as the first female dog, heavily pregnant, required a caesarean and sadly lost the pups. The second attempt with Fenwick's own female dog, Irene Hope—a sister to Ice On Fire—was more successful, resulting in a beautiful litter of one dog and four female dogs. However, the third attempt with Afton Pixie, owned by Jimmy Gaskin, ended tragically when the litter died overnight.

Meanwhile, Coolavanny Shado, another son of Droopys Sydney, is standing at stud with Richard Devenish and Dilys Steels. Richard mentioned that Shado proved to be extremely fertile upon testing. Jimmy Gaskin brought Hather Daisy to mate with Shado, resulting in a litter of four dogs and two female dogs. Shado has since sired five more litters, although there have been instances of missed pregnancies, with some female dogs not carrying to term.

Richard Devenish, reflecting on the closure of their long-time homes at Peterborough and Henlow, now focuses on Yarmouth, where they enjoy excellent facilities and a supportive staff. He expressed mixed feelings about the future, noting that their last litter, the "Wendils," marks the end of their breeding efforts. Despite having 11 acres of land, Richard lamented the difficulties young people face in breeding greyhounds and securing a mortgage, highlighting the challenges within the industry.