By Mike Hill

INTEREST is certain to be strong for several extremely well-bred pups at next month\’s annual Ipswich Puppy Auction.

In August club operations manager Narelle Long was anticipating at least 100 pups would go under the hammer at the auction at the club\’s  Ipswich Showgrounds complex on Sunday, October 11.

She said the club had received 68 entries by the mid-month cut-off, however, officials had extended the nomination period for another two weeks ending on August 28.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, including border closures, numbers were expected to be down on last year\’s figure of 166 pups.

Heading the early list of nominations was a pup by Aston Dee Bee from Tom Tzouvelis\’s former outstanding Group performing bitch Del Rey offered by Paul Dicks, while Kerry Hoggan has four pups  by Out Of Range from Paint (Made To Size-Tina\’s Show) – the well-bred mother of Peter O\’Reilly\’s smart Group-winning sprinter Shakey Diesel – and another quartet by Magic Sprite from the Barcia Bale bitch Gold Diva.

O\’Reilly himself has nominated a dozen pups, including five by Dyna Double One from the good performing Oaks Road bitch Steel Rose.

Terry Priest is offering an interesting group of four pups by Zipping Garth from the smart sprinter Wild Miss Judy (Magic Sprite-Takeover Teddy), a multiple winner at Wentworth Park and The Gardens.

Barry Kitchener has nominated a total of 15 pups from three different litters, including three from a Hostile-Golden Gossip mating.

Golden Gossip (Turanza Bale-Expect More) was a talented WA sprinter, winning 16 of her 51 starts and runner-up in the 2015 Mandurah Cup.

Paul Graham has an extremely well-bred youngster on offer by Fabregas from the regally-bred Lady\’s Angel, a daughter of Elite Angel, whose litter included Knocka Norris and the great producer Elite Oriental, mother of the likes of Ima Geisha Girl, Rickshaw Rosie, Aston Galilee, Aston Elle, Aston Thomas and Transcend Time.

Scott Duffy has two pups by Cosmic Rumble from the Barcia Bale bitch Kokomo Beach, while Donna Darcy is offering two pups by boom sire Fernando Bale from multiple Wentworth Park winner Camden Gossip (College Courseway-Camden Blue).

Leo Vidler can expect buyers to show keenness in his offering of three pups from an interesting mating – Orson Allen from the Fernando Bale bitch Miss Fernando, a 30.22s Albion Park winner.

The auction is for pups whelped between October 1, 2019, and June 1, 2020.

Fernando Bale dominated last year\’s auction with 20 per cent of the catalogue, but only had four pups in early nominations.

Heading the sire list was Dyna Double One with 10 pups, followed by Allen Deed (7), Zabdon Ferrari (6) and Zambora Brockie (5).

Pups offered for sale at the auction will be eligible for a series of rich races in 2022 headed by the $60,000 Alan Price Memorial Auction Series Final (520m).

There will also be a $10,500 Series consolation over 520m and a $21,000 Auction Sprint Series over 431m, with a $2000 bonus going to the breeder of the winner of each final.

Pictured: Champion sire Aston Dee Bee is just one of the top stud dogs whose off-spring will be offered for sale at the Ipswich Puppy Auction (Photo: BlueStream Pictures)