TREATY RETIRES AS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS

Ian Fortune

In nearly a century of greyhound racing on this island, many dogs have claimed multiple classic titles.

A handful of truly exceptional runners have secured three, but only a rare few have gone beyond that - easily counted without the need for an abacus.

Clonbrien Treaty is one of the elite few. A standout performer over the past two years, he has thrilled those lucky enough to see him in the flesh with his brilliance on the track. However, his has now run his final race, as connections have confirmed his retirement following his exit from the Bresbet Easter Cup at Shelbourne Park last Saturday night.

“DOG OF A LIFETIME”

The sensational son of Pestana and Clonbrien Millie picked up a gracilis injury ahead of last year’s Derby and may have been retired then but was expertly nursed back to health.

Despite showing plenty of his old spark in the Easter Cup, the time seems right to call it a day with one of the true modern greats.

Nicky Holland confirmed the news, describing Clonbrien Treaty as a “dog of a lifetime”. She then gave further insight into his character and what she thought made him so special.

Said Nicky, “Aside from being brilliant on the track, he was also just a lovely dog. He was so laid back, did nothing wrong and was a great dog for us. To win back to back Legers after his Kirby win was special but then to prove himself around Shelbourne in the Easter Cup was further proof of how good he was.

“It’s a shame he didn’t get the chance to defend his title but he missed the kick the other night. We could have gone on with him but England wasn’t an option as he wasn’t suited by Towcester. He just ran too wide around there last year so there weren’t many options in the short term.

“The time is right to call it a day. He actually kennels with Cheap Sandwiches. They get on great, as they’re both very laid-back characters.”

RAW BUT BLESSED WITH HUGE PACE

We got our first glimpse of Clonbrien Treaty in late February 2023 in the opening round of the Talking Dogs ON1 525 at Shelbourne Park and even the least observant judges would have seen that he was blessed with pace.

He would suffered defeat in both starts in the stake, finishing second to another future star Hawkfield Blue on debut and in the final. On both occasions, Treaty walked from traps but burst through the pack into the bend to slip around in second.

Just a week after his second start, he took his place in a Kirby memorial Trial Stake at Limerick and again walked from traps before finishing down the field. He record may have read no wins from three starts but his owners Jim and Muireann Murphy and handler Graham Holland knew what they had on their hands.

THE PENNY DROPS IN KIRBY MEMORIAL

He may have been raw but he had frightening pace and things began to click when he was thrown into the deeper waters of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial.

An eye-catcher in the first and second rounds, he claimed his first career victory in the third round.

Making the best start of his career to date, he would leave a talented field in his wake as he stopped the clock in 28.31. It was a significant success and one that clearly filled him with confidence.

A week later, despite moving off from an inside draw, he again left a talented field in his wingmirrors, coming home clear in 28.15.     

There was much debate on how he would handle a trap one draw in the decider and, despite most observers believing he was the fastest dog in the race, he would drift out to 5-2. Those that stayed loyal to the emerging star were richly rewarded as he overcame a moderate start, charging into the turn to force his way past the fast-starting Scaglietti.

In a matter of strides, he put distance between himself and the chasing pack and was afforded the luxury of coasting home one of the easiest classic winners of recent years. Less than two months on from looking a raw youngster with plenty of promise around Shelbourne Park, he would establish himself as one of the fastest greyhounds on the planet with an eight and a half-length victory in the €80,000 classic decider in a stunning 28.08.

INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL

The world was his oyster. Even the most cynical observers had no doubt he was going to achieve big things if avoiding bad luck but very few could have expected what was to follow.

He had mixed luck in the Produce Stakes at Clonmel but came good in the semis, posting a brilliant fastest of the year 28.09 in the semis. Sent to traps the warm favourite, he would miss the start and find bad traffic on the turn.

A CONTINUED LOVE AFFAIR WITH LIMERICK

His Irish Derby challenge would also end in bad luck, finishing just out of the frame in the quarter finals but he had a further date with destiny at Limerick at the back end of the year.

Fittingly for a greyhound named after the Treaty county, he would really come to life around Limerick.

After a couple of runs to blow away some cobwebs, he was entered for the 2023 Willwego.com Irish St Leger and proceeded to produce an incredible series of runs. Flawless through rounds one, two and three, he could overcome his first bit of adversity in the semis, charging down the back straight to assume control into the third turn.

In the final he would meet his kennel companion and another multiple classic winner Swords Rex. These two wonderful greyhounds served up an absolute thriller with Swords Rex exploding from the middle to set a strong gallop.

Despite a tardy exit from the outside trap, Clonbrien Treaty would charge into the turn to move second. The pair were in control entering the back straight with Swords Rex in pole position but Clonbrien Treaty had the bit between his teeth.

Showing incredible pace and determination, he flew into the third turn to join and quickly pass Swords Rex. The latter would rally but Clonbrien Treaty would claim a second career classic success by a half- length.

SUCCESS IN DUBLIN TO COMPLETE CLASSIC HAT TRICK

With both his classic wins coming around Limerick it was understandable that some would label him a track specialist but great greyhounds find a way to win everywhere.

His record in Dublin may not have matched his record at Limerick but he would cement his place amongst the greats in the spring of 2024 when returning for a crack at the Easter Cup.

His critics remained vocal as he failed to his warm up outing or any of his first three starts in the classic itself but he would reach the decider where he would wear his beloved striped jacket.

Initial quotes of 8-1 seemed insulting to a two-time classic winner but market correction saw him go to traps a 4-1 chance. Thoe that stayed loyal to Clonbrien Treaty were again richly rewarded. A brilliant field lined up for the final but none could live with Clonbrien Treaty.

Despite wet conditions and a slow start, he once again displayed the most incredible early speed to leave a top-class line-up chasing shadows. A length of the leaders after five strides, he would hit the bend with a couple of lengths in hand. Running the most beautiful racing line, he would enter the back straight in complete control.

His kennel companion and fellow classic winner Clona Duke would start favourite and find himself in second into the back straight but Clonbrien Treaty was on his way to a hat trick of classic victories.

For a greyhound that many believed didn’t run Shelbourne Park well, he would emerge a brilliant winner of the oldest classic on the calendar at the famous Ringsend venue, crossing the line two lengths clear.

NO LUCK IN ENGLAND

We were now entering the realms of legend. Here was a greyhound with thirty-three career starts and three classic successes.

If he had never run another race, it would have been one of the great careers but connections knew he remained as good as ever.

Understandably, he was given the opportunity to show his class at Towcester and won an English Derby Trial Stake before taking in the classic. He won his opening round heat and was narrowly beaten a week later in the second round but never really took to the track, leaving too much out there as he continued to steer a wide path.

He would make his exit at the third-round stage but this gave Graham Holland and those at his Riverside Kennels operation time to prepare him for his St Leger defence.

A FITTING DISPLAY TO DEFEND HIS LEGER CROWN

A 28.16 trial at Limerick ahead of the Leger suggested he was ready to rock but he would get picked up in each of the first three rounds, finishing second on each occasion.

It was clearly all part of the plan, however.

He would strip fitter in the semis, dominating to win in 29.50 before being installed favourite to defend his title and land a simply incredible fourth classic victory.

He produced a typical ‘Clonbrien Treaty’ display in the final. Giving his rivals a start, he displayed his trademark early speed to race to the front into the turn. By the second bend, the race was over as a contest.

Clonbrien Treaty would emerge a comfortable winner in a stunning 29.28. He would be roared home by an appreciative crowd. Little did we know but it would be the final victory of his career. It was a fitting stage to produce one of his greatest ever displays.

THE END OF THE ROAD

He was being prepared for a crack at the Irish Derby when picking up the aforementioned gracilis injury in early October.

Great credit must go to those around him for getting back to the track for the Easter Cup but, despite showing glimpses of his brilliance, it probably came too soon and the decision to retire him to stud is the right one. More than any greyhound in recent memory, he has earned the right to bow out at the top.

A NEW CAREER AWAITS

Perhaps the fastest ever son of Pestana, out of a proven dam line which also features classic winners Clonbrien Hero and Clonbrien Prince, he is bred to be a brilliant sire.

Blessed with the most sensational speed, an incredible will to win and the constitution to be one of the great competition dogs of all time, he is made to be a top sire.

The most stunning blue tracker, who tipped the scales at 80lbs for much of his career, he moved with real fluency and provided his lucky owners and those connected to him with the most memorable nights.

Twice nominated for Dog of the Year, he will forever be remembered as one of the all-time greats. He is set to stand at the Riverside Kennels and will mate his first bitch in the coming days. One suspects he will serve many more before the year is out and we look forward to seeing his progeny hitting the tracks in the future. If they have a small percentage of their sire’s star appeal, they will be box office. 

It has been a true honour to witness Clonbrien Treaty develop from a raw youngster into one of the most talented trackers to ever grace the tracks of Ireland and we wish him all the best in his retirement. Thanks for the memories champ.