Sparky Magic is the latest addition to the magicgreyhounds team.
He is a 2006 dark brindle dog puppy, with a white blaze and a couple of white paws. Already, at 6 months, Sparky is a good size, strong and confident.
Purchased from the Elbony Kennels establishment of Ken and Sarah Duce in Limerick in Ireland, and bred by them, he will also be reared by them to race qualification as have other recent race dogs Kynan Magic and Kendra Magic.
Click here for video of Sparky at 3 months.
Click here for video of Sparky at 5.5 months.
Born on 20th June, Sparky was bought in October with an eye to the future when it was apparent that neither Kynan nor Kendra were to become the next long-awaited magicgreyhounds Open Race dog.
All being well, in the Autumn, Sparky will be the twelfth dog to race under the magicgreyhounds name, but the pressure is already on him, as he could also be the last if he fails to break the recent run of bad luck and disappointments.
Sparky is from the first litter of Elbony Inferno, daughter of Open Race winner and consistent producer of first class offspring, Elbony Spirit. Inferno was mated to a top American racer, Dodgem by Design, who is making a name for himself at stud in the USA. There is more info below on Mum and Dad.
Departing from the recent tradition of naming dogs beginning with a letter K, Sparky has been named from his parentage. The Dodgems being one of my favourite fairground attractions, I recall the sparks which used to be visible from the electrical contacts above each car. Also you need a spark to start an inferno - hence Sparky Magic!
He is also the first magicgreyhounds dog to have shared ownership - a good friend of mine having been 'volunteered' into sharing the joys and pitfalls of greyhound ownership for the first time.
Sparky is already enjoying life with his litter-mates in the paddocks at Elbony, as the latest video shows. July should see him start to learn what being a racing dog is all about, starting with handslips on the track.
In the meantime, here and the NEWS page will show his progress.
Here is what Ken Duce had to say about the litter in December 2006:
Dodgem By Design - Elbony Inferno
This litter was born at the end of June 2006, they are a fine litter of pups
and very strong, this is the first litter that Elbony Inferno has produced
and we are very pleased with their size, strength and temperament.
As their sire Dodgem By Design was bred and raced in America he may not be familiar with a lot of people who do not follow the American racing/breeding. Let me fill you in on his background, as a racer he was a top class race dog, he earned his place on the '2002 All American' team after winning the St. Pete Matinee Idol & Derby Lane Sprint Classic (both 550y), beating some of the best dogs in America at the famous Derby Lane circuit in Florida. He is by America's No.1 sire Gable Dodge who is fast becoming recognised as the Sire of Sires in the USA, Dodgem By Design has had a great start to his stud career and produced some very good stake winners to date, as such the American breeders have flocked to him, and he has been by far THE most bred to stud dog in America every month since February of this year.
Given the huge influence the Irish breeding has when crossed with American blood you can imagine how much we are looking forward to this litter of pups hitting the track next year, take a look at the video footage.
Elbony Inferno was a very good early paced bitch who stayed out the 525y well, she started her racing career by finishing runner up in an Unraced stake in Limerick, she then went on to record her first race win by 7 lengths in 29.25 in LImerick, her next Stakes race was in Tralee where she was entered along with her brother Elbony DeNilson, she ran a blistering 2.98 sectional on her first run at the track, she went onto run in the consolation final (was involved in a lot of trouble with her brother in the semi final), she was unfortunately involved in more trouble in the consolation final as her brother Elbony DeNilson went on to win it in 28.79, she ran a 16.50 unofficial sprint trial in Limerick before heading for and reaching the final of the Breeders Cup sprint in Youghal (325y), she went onto run 30.22 (550y) & 28.95 (525y) in unofficial trials around Limerick before her final race where she was badly baulked at the first bend and subsequently retired to the breeding paddocks.
Her breeding is top class, her litter brothers 'Elbony DeNilson' won the afore mention stake in Tralee in 28.79, he also ran through to the semi final if the Irish St Leger (unfortunately he missed his break in the Semi final and was baulked at the first bend costing him a place in the Final), and ran a blistering 16.08 (TR 15.99) unofficial trial over 300y in Waterford, 'Elbony Leonardo' won heat and final of a stake in Limerick in 28.92 & 28.89 (.30 slow) in Limerick, before travelling over to the UK where he won numerous opens at Walthamstow.
Her sire 'Staplers Jo' became Irelands No 1 sire and was largely renowned for producing dogs with great early speed, he had a fantastic track career that culminated in him becoming 'Greyhound of The Year' in the UK. Her dam Elbony Spirit is from a great litter which includes the brilliant 'Fat Boy Slim' winner of the 'Arc' (475m Walthamstow) in 28.62 (T.R.28.49), he also won the Invorshire Puppy Stakes (W/stow), Sussex Puppy Trophy (515m Hove), Racing Post Puppy Stakes (W/stow), he was also a finalist in the Puppy Derby (460m Wimbledon), & Scottish Derby (Ante Post Fav, 480m Shawfield), Elbony Polaris, was a semi finalist in both the Irish St Leger (550y Limerick) and the English Cesarewitch (718m Catford), Elbony Isambard ran 29.16, 525y Limerick, before being exported to the USA where he now stands at stud.