Postman Pat

ANYONE with a remote interest in greyhound racing, and who may have tuned into Albion Park last Thursday night, will have been left gaping at the performance of Postman Pat.

The son of Hooked On Scotch-Birdie Tee by Fabregas was awesome and he certainly would have put the shivers up the spine of rivals for the up-coming $1 million Brisbane Cup.

To run 29.39, the third fastest time ever at Albion Park, at his first start on the track and only his second 500m race ... well normal greyhounds just don't do that sort of thing.

But, Kiwi-bred Postman Pat has been doing awesome things from the moment he hit the track, running a track record and winning a Group race back home, before being sent to Jason Thompson for an Aussie campaign.

Obviously, with ability like that, and a boom to rival those put on such legends as Brother Fox, Brett Lee, Fernando Bale and the likes, he is unlikely to ever leave these shores.

A stud career beckons.

He'd fill his book right now on what he has shown broodbitch owners.

So, what makes him tick.

Darren Puleio, breeder, owner and studmaster of his sire Hooked On Scotch, will no doubt reckon that's what has made him so fast.

But, Postman Pat is the result of some judicious line breeding and a proven cross, but he is also from one of the really great female families.

His damsire, Fabregas, is bred on the Black Shiraz/Larkhill Jo cross.

Have a look at the pedigree of Misty Fields, 2nd dam of Hooked On Scotch, and you will see she is bred on the same Black Shiraz/Larkhill Jo cross ... but in reverse. AND, Misty Fields and Fabregas are a fabulous "balance" for each other.

It is WAY too early in the stud career of Hooked On Scotch to garner what is going to make him great, but already there is proof bitches with Fabregas in their make-up are exactly what he needs.

If you happen to look at the pedigree of Fabregas' champion son, Dundee Osprey (G1 Topgun, G1 Sale Cup) you will see he too was in-bred, and balanced, to Larkhill Jo.

It is interesting that Jason Thompson should get Postman Pat to train. Jason won the G1 Melbourne Cup with speed star Black Magic Opal.

BMO was intensely in-bred to the family of Awesome Assassin, a Thompson-trained legend.

And, so is Postman Pat.

The Mad Midge family, that of Awesome Assassin, is found in the direct damline of Hooked On Scotch's damsire Knocka Norris, found through Awesome Assassin in the direct damline of Fabregas, and also has common ancestors through the Leprechaun Yap/Miss family in Postman Pat's damline.

Postman Pat's direct damline is that of the legend National Lass, but it is also the direct damline of Betty's Angel and also successful stud dogs Magic Sprite and Oaks Road.

There is no doubt Postman Pat will go to stud, more than likely with Jason and his family, and anyone with a daughter of Fernando Bale will be waiting for that moment with great expectation.

And, I would also expect him to do well with bitches with more Barcia Bale.

AND, I would also expect him to do well with bitches with Kinloch Brae to link up with that cross of Premier Fantasy in Pat's pedigree.

The opportunities are endless.

But, first Postman Pat has a $1 million mission.

All greyhound racing is watching and waiting for him.