Grand Sprinter Paddy Wants Pats Retired

PADDY Wants Pats, arguably the best bred greyhound in the land, has been retired to stud.

The son of G1 Melbourne Cup winner Black Magic Opal and three time G1 winner Striker Light, has injured a hock and Brett and Kelly Bravo have decided to call it quits on his racetrack career.

He retires after 66 starts for 22 wins, eight seconds and eight thirds for stakes of $316,000.

“We were aiming him at the Masters series during the Million Dollar Chase carnival but he pulled up lame recently and that is it,” said Brett.

“We have already done all the work needed for a stud career and have 10 straws already.

“I got Westy (Paul Westerveld) to check his semen last week and he was amazed at how good it is.”

Paddy Wants Pats proved himself throughout the land as one of the very best race dogs of his era.

He won the Listed Ballarat Derby, but was beaten narrowly by Lala Kiwi in the G1 Australian Cup.

‘Paddy' received winning pats

PADDY WANTS PATS recorded the 20th win of his career over a classy field at @MelbourneGreys on Saturday night.

This was the first victory for PADDY WANTS PATS since a heat of the Group 1 #MelbourneCup in November.#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing pic.twitter.com/SEX51Zx7aG

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) March 27, 2023

Third in the Listed Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter, Paddy was also a finalist at G1 level in the Melbourne Cup, Perth Cup and also in The Phoenix.

He could run like the wind, reeling off 29.75 at The Meadows, 29.17 at Sandown, 25.39 at Warragul, 24.93 at Ballarat and 29.76 at Cannington.

It is his pedigree that will attract broodbitch owners.

His sire Black Magic Opal won the G1 Melbourne Cup and has become a super sire with Black Opium his standout.

His dam Striker Light won 30 races and $703,000 with G1 victories in the Golden Easter Egg, National Futurity and Temlee. She made 16 Group finals, 11 of them Group 1.

“We have not settled on a service fee at this stage, but that will come very soon,” said Brett.

“Check out his pedigree, he has no Fernando Bale or Barcia Bale. That opens him up for just about every broodbitch in the country.”