Caption: Irish sensation Jackslittlething promises to be a big hit in Australian breeding
GEORGE Farrugia and his US-based mate Tony Cummins have been a successful combination for some years now.
Tony is an Irishman, based for many years in Boston. As a young man he spent time working for Irish legend Pat Dalton in his US racing kennel.
He remembers well the great Fortress racing during his time with Dalton. Fortress became a stud great in the US.
George is as devoted a dog man as there is.
When George went looking to import US-bred and raced bitches, then semen for high-class US race dogs, he turned to Tony. Tony has his finger on the pulse.
Now that pair has combined to import to Australia an Irish race dog of the highest order, one bred to suit the most discerning of broodbitch owners, and one with a degree of ability few can match.
He is Jackslittlething … yes, a funny name, but a dog with super ability.
A 34.5kg son of current Irish sire sensation Droopys Sydney, he is out of Limini who boasts a pedigree make-up chock full of Group 1 stars.
He comes to Australia after 31 starts for 12 wins and eight placings.
He finished third in the 2021 Group 1 Irish Derby, chasing home those glamour bitches Susie Sapphire and Singalong Sally who, from boxes one and two, missed all the first turn trouble and raced to Derby glory.
But, Jackslittlething overcame that strife to get third, beaten only four lengths in a flying 29.18, with such stars as Explosive Boy, All About Ted and Carrigeen North behind him.
“Jack” had already proved himself on the racetrack. He won the Rural Hawaii Unraced Stake at Clonmel and the Champion Plate, but it was his 29.10 at Shelbourne Park that stamped him a superstar.
The time is the fourth fastest ever at Shelbourne Park, the home of Irish greyhound racing for generation after generation. He also reeled off winning times of 29.23 and 29.31 around Shelbourne. Pestana holds the record at 28.99.
Jack comes from a fabulous litter that also includes Swords Maestro (finalist G1 Juvenile Classic) and Galadriel (won 2nd round Irish Oaks, injured in 3rd round and retired).
Jack’s sire Droopys Sydney is a stud sensation in Ireland and England. A son of Duke Special-Droopys Laramie and a grandson of Aussie great Roanokee, Droopys Sydney has become the dominant force in Irish/English racing.
Just some of his progeny include Deerjet Sydney (2020 G1 English Derby, 3rd 2021 G1 English Derby, finalist G1 Tralee Juvenile Classic, G1 Waterford Select Stks), Bubbly Bluebird (Sunderland Puppy Cup, Hove Puppy Cup, Nottingham Classic, Eclipse), Coolavanny Aunty (G1 Express Stks, G1 Essex Vase), Brookside Richie (G1 Juvenile Classic, G1 Romford Puppy Cup), Droopys Aoife (G1 Essex Vase, finalist G1 Coronation Cup, G1 Essex Vase), Coolavanny Bani (G1 Monmore Stayers Classic, 2nd G1 Essex Vase), Knockaboul Syd (G1 Easter Cup, G2 Kingdom Derby), Drumcrow Brent (G1 Sussex Cup, 3rd G1 Select Stks), One Time Only (G1 Irish St Leger, G1 Irish Champion Stks), Bellmore Sally (G1 Golden Jacket), Swords Rex (G1 Kirby Memorial), Pocket Lola (G1 British Produce Stks), Ballymac Tas (2nd G1 English Derby), Jacob Tashadelek (G1 Juvenile Classic), Kildare (finalist G1 English Derby), Broadstrand Bono (G1 Juvenile Derby) … you get the picture.
But, Jack’s damline is one of the very strongest in Ireland and continues to toss up superstars.
His dam Limini (Droopys Nidge-Woodhill Spark) was a winner and half-sister to Shellam Delano (finalist G1 TV Trophy), Dynamic Trend (3rd G1 Irish Cesarewitch), Shellam Maeby (2nd G3 Great North Run), Kilmalady Fox (2nd Nat Sprint), Priceless Rumble (finalist G1 Cesarewitch, multiple Group finalist), Groupie Doll (Newbridge TR, 3rd G1 Night Of Stars) and Princess Spark (finalist G2 Christmas Oaks).
Jack’s second dam Woodhill Spark (Premier Fantasy-Linger) was a multiple Shelbourne Park winner and became a super producer.
His third dam Linger (Spiral Nikita-Martinstown Gold) was another broodbitch goldmine. A Dundalk and Longford winner, she became the dam of greats and has produced a direct damline the equal of any.
Her daughter Kildallon Maid (G2 Irish Puppy Oaks) also became a legend producer. Her progeny includes Irish Oaks winner Ballydoyle Honey, a multiple Group winner, Fear Emoski (G1 Regency), Mill Babs (2nd G1 Irish Oaks, 2nd Cork Oaks, finalist Southern Oaks, Munster Oaks, Christmas Oaks) etc.
Jack’s direct damline also includes such superstars as Coolavanny Bani (G1 Stayers Classic), Cable Bay (G2 Kirby Mem), Dana Point (Shel Pk TR, stayer of the year), Jaytee Taylor (Limerick TR, finalist G1 Irish Derby), Clash (finalist G1 Olympic, G1 Champion Stks, G2 Golden Crest), Coolavanny Chick (3rd G1 English Derby) and Killer Bee (G1 Puppy Stks) etc.
Jack’s pedigree is hugely in-bred 2×2 to virtual sister and brother Droopys Laramie and Droopys Nidge.
Jack has huge Aussie influences to Roanokee, Honcho Classic, Top Honcho, Hallucinate and sires like Droopys Kewell, Premier Fantasy and Spiral Nikita all with great influence here.
Jackslittlething comes to Australia with proven bloodlines, proven racetrack performances, and a degree of speed only a small number can match.
So, what bitches “could” suit him?
His own sire, champion stud Droopys Sydney, already has a proven “nick” with the Rumble Spirit damline. This is how his English Derby star Deerjet Sydney is bred. Consider the number of bitches in this country with the Rumble Spirit damline in their make-up … through Collision and Cosmic Rumble alone.
Superstar Ballydoyle Honey is by Brett Lee-Kildallon Maid. This is the same Brett Lee-Spiral Nikita cross as found in Magic Sprite and Oaks Road. It would make sense for bitches with lots of Brett Lee be mated to Jack.
Ballydoyle Honey is already a G1 producer in a mating to Kinloch Brae. That would lead us to believe Kinloch Brae’s influence in bitches in Australia would be ideal for matings to Jack.
G1 Irish Derby finalist All About Ted is by Kinloch Brae from a daughter of Groupie Doll.
Groupie Doll (a half-sister to Jack’s mother) has a G1 English Oaks finalist by Fernando Bale’s son Out Of Range. That, of course, means Out Of Range, Hooked On Scotch and Fernando Bale bitches must suit Jack.
A very special potential mating could be with daughters of Dyna Villa. He carries Droopys Vieri as his damsire and his mother Droopys Fergie is found twice in Jack’s pedigree. And, being a son of Collision, Dyna Villa also introduces a powerful reinforcement of the Rumble Spirit damline.
Barcia Bale has proven himself a stud dog able to match up very successfully with imported bloodlines. Barcia’s champion sons like Dyna Double One (especially), Aston Dee Bee, Mepunga Blazer, and the quickly emerging Beast Unleashed, Raw Ability, Ritza Lenny, Hooked On Scotch and the likes are ideal for Jack.
Remember, too, that Barcia Bale has combined with Premier Fantasy to produce G1 stars Mepunga Blazer and Orchestrate. And, he has combined with Spiral Nikita to produce G1 stars like Dyna Double One, Fast Times etc.
That cross of Premier Fantasy in the direct damline of Jack means Kinloch Brae’s influence in bitches is a must. It is a hugely proven cross and found in UK sprint star and stud success Ballymac Vic.
Another “special” mating for Jack could be for any bitch with Bekim Bale in their pedigree. Check out how closely bred are Bekim Bale (and his litter brother Heston Bale) and Droopys Nidge (damsire of Jack). They both bring in Sonic Flight (balanced) and Hallucinate.
The Larkhill Jo-Sonic Flight crosses in Jack also lend themselves to links with Fabregas and Allen Deed to reinforce those great UK stud dogs.
Jackslittlething comes to Australia off some superb racetrack performances, the fourth fastest ever around Shelbourne Park and a G1 Irish Derby placegetter.
He is a son of the champion sire in the UK, and from a female family second to none. His pedigree shows an intensity few stud dogs have.
It is rare Aussie breeders get such an opportunity.
