Time Greyhound Nutrition Juvenile Preview- Droopys Plunge- 16 April 2025

With a career record of 17 runs and 11 victories, Droopys Plunge will be looking to land the biggest race of his career so far when lining up in the Juvenile on Sunday

A November 22 whelp out of Droopys Sydney x Droopys Sweet, Droopys Plunge made his debut at Cork on 15th June last year but what a debut that was, when running out a 7 length winner over the 525y distance in a time of 28.42

He was subsequently beaten in his next two starts at Cork, but it was his fourth run on 6th July that really made people sit up and take note, when blasting clear from the boxes to make all the running to record a 10 length victory in a scintillating time of 27.94 which was the fourth fastest time of 2024 at Cork for the 525y, beaten by only two other Greyhounds, Untold Dollar ( 27.93) and twice by Bockos Diamond (27.88 & 27.83). That was a race packed with quality, with Romeo Control finishing runner up, who went on to finish runner up in the BGBF British Breeders Derby at Sheffield before winning the BGBF British Breeders Stakes Final at Nottingaham. Back in third was Callaway Knegare, who after that defeat went unbeaten throughout the Time Juvenile Derby at Shelbourne, before finishing third to Bockos Diamond in the final of the BoyleSports Irish Derby.

His last action in Ireland was on 24th August when knocked out of the Time Juvenile Derby 525y at the Semi Final stage when finishing fourth behind Cheap Sandwiches, before crossing the Irish Sea, joining the Patrick Janssens kennels.

Having had a couple of qualifying trials over the sprint distance at Towcester, Droopys Plunge made his UK debut at Towcester on 22nd September and stayed on well to finish runner up behind Proper Heiress, who also happened to be making his debut in a 500m Maiden Race. Talk about bumping into one!

However, the following week, he was able to go one place better and land a first victory when leading at the third bend to score by 4 ½ lengths in 29.49. But having secured his maiden, his victory the following week at Towcester put him on the map in the UK, when making all the running to defeat his kennel-mate Barntick Bear by a length, breaking the 29.00sec barrier in a time of 28.96 though couldn’t back that run up a week later when finishing third behind Keefill Goose, again at Towcester.

Janssens then sent Droopys Plunge on the road, and after a trial at Perry Barr, he won a Puppy contest which was supporting the PGR Oaks Final card at the Birmingham venue before heading off to Nottingham for a crack at the Eclipse. After an impressive all the way victory in his heat, again defeating Barntick Bear, he exited at the Semi Final stage when finishing a close up third behind kennel-mates Romeo Steel and Slick Sentinel, with Proper Heiress back in fourth.

Next up was a trip to Hove, and a tilt at the Coral Olympic over 515m, but having moved well in a trial prior to the competition, he found plenty of trouble in the first round when finishing last behind Newinn Syd, but was beaten by 5 ¼ lengths, having lost over double that in running. But, as he had done at Perry Barr, he ran out an impressive winner on the supporting card of the Olympic, running out a 4 length winner over 500m in a time of 28.77 (+10). That time was the joint second fastest time of the year over the distance and again showed his unquestionable ability.

Having ended the year with a victory back at Towcester, Droopys Plunge kicked off 2025 with victory in a Blue Riband Trial Stakes when defeating Table Toppers by 1 ¾ lengths in a time of 28.91. But it was in the first round where he produced one of his most impressive performances so far, when pinging the lids and making all the running, beating Droopys Display to record 28.57 (+10), the fastest time recorded at Towcester for the 500m this year, which still stands today.      

However, he exited the competition at the Semi Final stage, when defeated by eventual winner Table Toppers, having produced a flat performance.

Since then, he has competed in one-off contests, winning two at Towcester and one at Perry Barr. The first of those Towcester victories was recorded in 28.57, this time on normal going, equally that previous fastest time of the year.

His last competitive contest was on 29th March when finishing a narrow margin runner up for team Janssens in the Judgement Night competition at Perry Barr but has had a couple of solo trials at Towcester over 500m since, recording 28.97 and 28.92 in doing so.

Verdict: Having spoken to Patrick last week, he summed up Droopys Plunge perfectly. He said, “He’s a fast fast dog, but he either wins, or runs badly”. Which does seem to be the case, with fast times at Cork, Hove and Towcester backing that up, but isn’t able to produce them on a consistent basis, which could be a potential worry for a six-round competition like the Derby. But, in a one-off race like this, his claims can’t be ignored, and at 12/1, he looks to be a spot of value.

Yes he does have a tricky draw to work from, being drawn outside Wicky Neds and inside Proper Heiress, who will be heading to the rails in the early stages, but has won from Trap 3 in the heats of the Blue Riband, and that performance here could put him bang in contention.