Sorry for the lack of updates! Alot has happened since the last installment of the He Winked At Me Syndicate!
Now where were we, ah yes, Shrewdie struggling to grade round Monmore! Well the good news was that he did find grading time on his third time of asking and was then put into A10. The dog has cracking early but it was pretty clear early on that he would struggle to win a race round Monmore as he falls down a hole off the last bend.
He consistenly posted 4.38 sectionals but failed to finish better than 3rd place despite leading in 3 out of his 4 races round Monmore. The final straw was when he went 7L clear down the back only to again finish 3rd falling down a hole off the last.
Decisions had to be made, so we got in contact with Maxine Locke and sent him over to her at Romford. I have to say that Maxine is very friendly and quick on the contact with details of the dog and any questions we ask her during the week, its the way owners should be treated.
The 400m trip should suit Shrewdie more, but it wasn't great viewing after in his first two trials he was just outside grading time. It got better in his third trial when he somehow picked up a dog (never thought that would ever happen) to grade into an A7 the following week.
Shrewdie had posted a sectional of 3.72 in his first trial but a little slower in his 2nd and 3rd, but we were still confident he had the early pace to lead most dogs in an A7. Sadly he didn't manage it on his first attempt, going off a 9/2 shot he got led up and had to ride bumping at the first bend, he ended up fading behind and finished 5th.
His most recent race was on Monday (25th March), his second at the track, and the day he decided to ping! He flashed out doing a 3.74 sectional and ran really well into the 3rd bend increasing his lead to about 2.5L coming off the last from the rallying 1 dog. Shrewdie managed to hold on by a head to land his first race at a price of 5/1. It was a decent run 25.19 (-20) which will probably earn him an upgrade next time out.
Happy days, the first winner for the syndicate, who are now on the lookout to make another addition to the kennel when the right dog pops up! Onwards and upwards.....
