South Australian  Hound of the Year 2001/2002

We were very fortunate to have Derby offered to us as a three year old by Julie & Emmet Roche of Qamari Afghans. We had asked to buy him as a 9 month old puppy, but he was with Vicki Robinson and unavailable at the time and we thought that one day we would import semen from him.

                   First and foremost to us was Derby's bloodlines. He fitted perfectly with the Paddington semen we had brought into the country. His father, Am Ch Qamari's Flying Colors, Rodeo, is Paddingtons half brother. Derby's mother was Am Ch Kashara Diza-Jori-g-Girl and we had always admired the type that Donna Broucek bred also, so bringing him to Australia was very exciting for our future breeding plans.

                      To date Derby has at least 17 American/Canadian Champions, 9 Australian Champions, one New Zealand Champion and 2 more very close to their Australian titles.

                       He has proven to be a prepotent sire for correct filled in fronts, strong rears and toplines, natural hard muscling, which is so hard to find on showdogs of today, lengthening heads and good basic structure and soundness found so often in the Qamari lines.

                      Two years ago Derby had an extended visit to the east coast, Melbourne Victoria where he was put into partnership with Peter & Cathy Frost of Dzum Afghans. Peter is one of the best handlers & trainers of dogs in our country and this proved to be a wonderful dog/handler combination and they won numerous BIS/ R/U BIS's together. I am indebted to both Peter & Cathy for their unlimited belief and respect for Derby and their superb care and presentation of him. We wish them every success with their Dzum puppies sired by Derby.

                      Derby then returned to us in April 2001. Since his return he has dominated the Afghan breed and Hound Group in South Australia. He has won 4 more BIS and 13 BIG since his return. In September he won our states largest and most prestigious show - the Adelaide Royal Show - a dream come true for anyone. I felt this win was as much Peter's as Derby and mine, as Peter had trained Derby and shown me how to get the best out of him in the ring.

                     Today Derby will stand in the showring, head held proudly, for all to see. Not a finger touching him, for as long as I ask him to. A true king of dogs.