After flying the flag for Ireland and his owners, the FOMO Syndicate, in the UK in recent weeks, Omuircheartaigh is set to stay across the water with Nic Jeal stepping into buy the powerful son of Broadstrand Bono and Lemon Ariana.
While under the care of Tom Heilbron, he made the final of both the Northern Puppy Derby at Newcastle and the Puppy Derby at Monmore, but is now set to join English Derby winning trainer Kevin Hutton and is to be renamed Antigua Eagle.
Of course, Omuircheartaigh also finished a fine third in the National Puppy Stake at Shelbourne Park at the back end of the year. One would assume a crack at the Star Sports & TRC English Derby is now on the cards. Certainly, the step up to 500m could really play to his strengths.
Wayne McCarthy, who was a part of the FOMO Syndicate, sourced the dog as a youngster and is disappointed to lose him. “It’s kind of bittersweet to be honest. I bought him as a pup rom Tom Lennon and then syndicated him. Nalin Monerawela did the schooling and then Eamon Reynolds did a great job to train him to finish third in the National Puppy Stake.
“As a syndicate we then agreed to send him to Tom [Heilbron] in Newcastle. He did a great job, getting him to the final of the Northern Puppy Derby and Monmore Puppy Derby. I would have loved to have kept him but the other lads felt it was the right time to sell and it probably is the logical thing to do. Perhaps it is just because I had emotional connection with the dog. The naming of the dog meant a lot to me.
“He’s a smashing greyhound and will certainly win a big one at some stage. I am disappointed for Tom [Heilbron] as he did a tremendous job with the dog and I would encourage others to consider sending him top class dogs. Finally, I’d just like to wish Nic [Jeal] the best of luck with him. He’s bought a good one.”
