by DROOPYS SYDNEY out of CICERO whelped 9.12.21
Race videos are listed at the bottom of this page
Otto was purchased at a Greyhound Trader online sale in June 2023. He was unraced with just two official marks on his card – 28.95 and 28.73 both at Curraheen Park, Cork. He is with Chris Fereday at Monmore Green. His grading trials proved eventful. He checked at the sough when moving well to win over 480m and losing at least four lengths in the process. He then gathered himself and ran on strongly to go down by just a short head before racing clear to the pickup. In his next four bend trial he was cut off by the dog in front and essentially had to hurdle that runner, costing further lengths. We weren’t sure whether the grader would require another trial on the back of those efforts but he didn’t and Otto graded with a 29.06.
His debut came from trap 3 in an A4. He ran very promisingly, running middle throughout, finding some trouble at the second bend but running on very well to finish third in 28.91. His performance was noted by the pundits and, given likely improvement as a December 2021 pup, he would hopefully go close next time out.
In fact Otto broke his duck on his third attempt in A4, taking the lead at the last bend and coming home in 28.73. He ran on very strongly suggesting a staying career was a real possibility further down the line.
It took two runs in A3 for him to win again, improving his best time to 28.60. The opportunity arose to run in a valuable OR3 puppy race at Monmore so he was entered and ran with great credit, finishing second to an extremely promising dog and qualifying for the final the following week. Otto reduced his best time again in the process to 28.51. In the final he drew trap 5, which wasn’t ideal and found much trouble whilst running with credit.
In an attempt to avoid being drawn so wide again we then gave him a solo trial and he was noted as running middle to rails, coming home in a fast 28.43. Whilst that exercise might pay dividends further down the line, it didn’t immediately as he was again drawn out of the bag last of four middle runners for the next OR3 and again ran from trap 5. Backed on the night from 5/1 into 9/4 he trapped well, was forced to check twice but still finished to great effect to win in 28.69 and lose his maiden tag whilst not having competed in a graded race higher than A3!
Noduff Sahara’s race videos in date order