SOUTHFIELD JOCK, described by his trainer as “one of the fastest four-bend greyhounds that I’ve trained”, was retired in 2017 and a new career at stud was being considered as an option by his connections.
Seamus Cahill’s top notch performer, campaigned exclusively in opens throughout his career and a winner of 27 of his 57 starts, gained his first big-race success in the Lawrence Jones Memorial Puppies (480m) at Monmore in a field that also included subsequent big-race winners Ballymac Mossjoe and Millwards Whitey.
In 2015, he was sent off favourite in the majority of his races in top company and he reached the finals of the Betfred Gymcrack (462m, Kinsley), Ladbrokes Summer Cup (480m, Monmore), Totepool East Anglian Derby (462m, Yarmouth) and he ended a highly successful season with a runaway win in the Lawrence Jones Memorial Festival 416 (416m, Monmore).
The following year Southfield Jock, who narrowly missed out on a place in the decider of William Hill Greyhound Derby at Wimbledon after finishing a head adrift of third-placed Cloran Paddy in the semi-finals, put up the best performance of his career when coasting home three lengths clear of California in the William Hill Derby Invitation (480m) in 28.08sec – the fastest time of the night.
SOUTHFIELD JOCK: Described by handler Seamus Cahill "as one of the fastest greyhounds that i have trained".
“He is a beautiful-looking greyhound, very well-bred with a placid temperament,” said Cahill. “His Derby adventure last year alongside Ballymac Brogan gave everyone connected to the kennel a tremendous thrill – Southfield Jack was top-class over four bends.”
There were mixed fortunes for Southfield Jock in the second half of 2016, as he was fourth to Roxholme Scolari in the decider of the William Hill Classic (450m, Sunderland) and he established himself as the clear ante-post favourite for the 70th East Anglian Derby at Yarmouth following two impressive victories in the preliminary rounds.
However, a broken hock prompted his non-participation in the semi-finals of that Category One annual and Southfield Jock was off the track for 213 days prior to his return to the fray in a 285m open at Hove on home soil on April 6 where he hinted that he retained most of his ability when finishing a close-up second to Swift Watson.
Sixteen days later Southfield Jock, who earlier in his career had set track records at Hove (475m) and Monmore (416m), sustained a career-ending wrist injury when unplaced behind kennelmate Crossfield Giles in the final of the Golden Crest (450m, Poole).
“His performance when winning the Derby Invitation at Wimbledon was the pinnacle of his career – he went .14 spots quicker than Jaytee Jet did in the Derby final itself,” said Cahill. “I think 460 metres was the best distance for Southfield Jock and he gave Mark [Gilbert,co-owner] and Peter [Reed, co-owner] a tremendous amount of fun - greyhounds of this quality are always difficult to replace.”
Written by Patrick Kelly
