Panama Poised For ‘Superior' Stud Standing

SUPPORTED by some of the sport's leading breeders, Superior Panama is on the verge of making his presence felt on Australian shores.

Adam Dobbin14 June 2020

For more than two decades, Martin Hallinan has resolutely stuck by colonial bred stud dogs and reaped reward.

Zipping Bailey (Golden Easter Egg), Zipping Tayla (Dapto Megastar), Zipping Bruiser (Hobart Thousand), Mantra Lad, Malfoy and two-time Chairman's Cup winner Zipping Maggie tasted success at the elite level yet each had no import influence in pedigree.

The tide, however, is turning with a litter out of Newcastle Cup winner Zipping Katelyn (by Superior Panama) changing Hallinan's gaze on breeding and his view of the youngsters which stretch their legs on 200 prime acres at Clergate NSW's central west.

"We've not bred to an import for a long, long time and I've resisted when others said I was crazy not to," Hallinan said.

"The Wheelers have consistently produced the best dogs in the land, with Fernando Bale being by an American sire yet Barcia Bale is free of any import influence.

"We just stuck to what we knew and watched them grow but the feedback I got on Superior Panama was at the next level."

Superior Panama (KC And All – USS Ceremony) is in huge demand in the USA.

In the northern autumn of 2019, 73 services were registered with the National Greyhound Association of which 16 (or just on 22 percent) were by Superior Panama with only one breeder represented twice.

The NGA statistics provide clarity on Superior Panama's surge in popularity.

His 2018 whelpings (by number) are second only to SH Avatar yet with half the total pups named over a four-year span (2015-18), he strikes at 3.382 wins per individual.

Superior Panama x Zipping Katelyn

His acclaimed sire KC And All leads the sires' standings 3.139. Real time ratios are difficult to calculate as the NGA standings (over four years) include much older or deceased sires – and they rank highly due a historical component – yet a trend is emerging with Superior Panama.

A very good one.

On his mindset, Hallinan added: "The KC And All progeny here have been immensely successful with Striker Light and Orson Allen multiple group 1 winners."

It's a tangible tick from a country where choice is vast, his appeal is clearly broad-based.

The second most utilised sire was part Australian-bred, 2015 and 2016 All American Captain Seldom Told (Trent Lee – Need A Date) at five.

Just three others had three (3) services registered for the period.

"High speed has been the calling card for the best KC And All stock and I elected to use Superior Panama with Zipping Katelyn – a stayer.

"The litter was just his third on the ground here and there's only 16 (litters) in total but that'll soon get a quick upturn I reckon.

"Mine are athletic, long, lean individuals which is against the type we usually rear … but that's a great result in my view. We bred with him to secure change and that's what we've got."

While Superior Panama has only 16 litters on the ground locally, there is depth in quality.