Proud UK Owners Give Fern The Tick Of Approval

BLUE Tick Fern, the first greyhound owned by the English Blue Tick Syndicate, has been retired after a remarkable three year career on the track.

Consisting of greyhound racing enthusiasts across the UK, the Blue Tick Syndicate has enjoyed considerable success racing greyhounds in their homeland.

However after learning of the considerable prize money and racing opportunities available in Australia, the syndicate opted to take the plunge and expanded their interests ‘Down Under'.

The syndicate was put in touch with leading Victorian trainer Kel Greenough and breeders Greg Sprod and Tyrone Whittington and soon acquired Blue Tick Fern and her brother, One Night Only, as well as a share in the brilliant (if enigmatic) Captain Dynamite.

Blue Tick Fern digging deep! at nearly 5 she's still putting great dogs to the sword in Oz. Some bitch pic.twitter.com/ZUkLqx6x7A

— David Mitchell (@DavidJMitch) October 15, 2022

While One Night Only and Captain Dynamite may have had superior ability, regularly racing in high grade races in the city, it was Blue Tick Fern that stole the syndicate's heart.

"She really means the world to us," said syndicate manager, Dave Mitchell.

"As the first pup we bought in Australia, she took us on a journey we never expected. Her small 25kg frame, a shortened tail due to a freak accident and the heart the size of a lion. Each and every time she stepped foot on the track she gave it her all."

Blue Tick Fern made her debut in December 2019 and over the following three years, greeted the starter 93 times, winning 27 and placed on another 32 occasions, winning over $73,000 in prize money. Remarkably, nine of her wins and 11 of her placings came after her fourth birthday.

"What made her so special, and really captured the imagination, was her longevity on the track. At nearly five years of age she was still leading decent fields week in, week out. She really aged like fine wine,” Mitchell added.

"We're very proud that Fern, after 93 starts, retired on her own terms. She's not injured – in fact she's still bouncing around like a young dog.”

Blue Tick Fern began her career under the care of Kel Greenough before being transferred to Rebecca Romyn, then to Julie Chilcott in February 2022 where it was planned that she'd be eased into retirement ready for a career in the breeding barn.

Her enthusiasm for racing delayed those plans, but with her racing days coming to an end, she can prepare for a career as a brood bitch, albeit not as originally planned.

"She was supposed to be flying to the UK where we intended to breed her to Aussie Infrared – a straw is already waiting for her here – and she's had all the required injections to make the trip,” Mitchell explained.

Blue Tick Fern, our little Australian rocket, takes her first steps towards moving to the UK this week, as she gets her first vaccination. As we have done with her career, we'll be taking you all on her journey. pic.twitter.com/DzxTEU7yc3

— Blue Tick Syndicate (@bluetickracing) August 20, 2022

"However it's looking likely that she could be coming into season sooner than we imagined which really has put a block on that trip for now.

“We'll see what the next couple of months brings and then review the situation, but the idea is very much to breed from her. We've already been inundated with interest in her pups. As a syndicate we always try to keep our options open, a fluid plan has seen us right up to now.

“We'll let Fern and mother nature plot the course but there's definitely more chapters to be written in this story."

The Blue Tick Syndicate will continue racing in Australia with Blue Tick Maya, also prepared by Julie Chilcott, currently racing, and has a number of pups close to beginning their racing careers.