Punch One Out (pictured) set Richmond alight in April 2013 when she broke the track record and she will return to the spotlight at the Londonderry track once again today when two of her pups, by leading sire Magic Sprite, go up for sale at the Ladbrokes Richmond Puppy Auction.
Trained by Jason MACKAY, Punch One Out had a glittering career on the track, winning the Group 3 Gold Coast Cup and finishing runner-up at Group 1 level in the Paws Of Thunder and Sapphire Crown. She was also a finalist in the Topgun, Golden Easter Egg and National Futurity.
Her time of 29.90 for the 535m at Richmond still stands as a record, while she also set a former track record at Wentworth Park in March 2013, clocking 29.27 in a semi final of the Golden Easter Egg.
Punch One Out’s pups - one dog and one bitch catalogued as lots 37 and 80 respectively - at Today’s Richmond Puppy Auction are from her third litter.
The February ’11 daughter of Knocka Norris and Little Egyptian’s previous matings were with Fabregas (May ’14) and Barcia Bale (February ’15).
Seven members of her first litter to Fabregas won on city tracks, while the only two of her Barcia Bale progeny to have raced at this stage have both won.
“You wouldn’t write home about what her pups have done so far, but that shouldn’t deter buyers on Sunday,” Punch One Out’s owner Grant Fennelly said.
“It’s more than four years since Punch One Out ran 29.90 at Richmond and nothing else has got near it. I don’t think her record will ever be broken.
“There hasn’t been a pup in both her litters that hasn’t broken in sensationally, but they haven’t gone on with it, due to injuries and other issues.
“The Fabregas litter included a dog called Magic Diamond, which broke the post-to-post record at LADBROKES GARDENS. Jason (MACKAY) said to me several times that he’d never had one faster than Magic Diamond, but he didn’t take the next step.
“The majority of the Barcia Bale litter have just left the breakers, with very good reports. They’re a bit late getting to the track because the owner wants to take his time with them.”
After a two-year break, Fennelly selected Magic Sprite for Punch One Out’s third, and most likely final, litter, heeding the advice of breeding expert David Brasch on the potency of a match with the Brett Lee line.
“Knocka Norris bitches going to Magic Sprite are just clicking,” Fennelly explained.
“A lot of people don’t realise that Punch One Out is very closely related to the dog that held the Wentworth Park track record before her, Noble Pedro. Little Egyptian is also from Ken Wright’s line. She’s a granddaughter of Kellbrett Jeanie, the mother of Golden Easter Egg winner Edie Beauchamp.”
“Another bitch I owned called Awesome Knocka, which was also by Knocka Norris, went to Magic Sprite and produced a Group winner in Zabdon Ferrari and Group placegetter My Awesome Magic. Awesome Knocka won a heap of races, but Punch One Out would pick her up and carry her.
“I asked Kim Hyde to rear the two pups I’ve put in the auction, because I wanted them to be reared the right way, the tough way. Kim has told me they’re fantastic pups and knowing my luck, I’ll sell them and they’ll end up being superstars!
“I’m taking them to the auction to sell them, but I’m not fussed if I don’t, because they’ll be in the race and I’ll give them every chance to win it!”
Nearly 100 lots are up for sale at the Richmond Puppy Auction on Sunday, with proceedings to get underway at 10am at Richmond Race Club, 312 Londonderry Road, Londonderry.
More information is available at Richmondpuppyauction.com.au">www.Richmondpuppyauction.com.au