David Pringle has received offers of up to half a million dollars for Shakey Jakey, after the debutante broke the Wentworth Park 520m track record in his Sportingbet Magic Maiden heat last night.
Skimming over a track made sloppy by heavy rain, Shakey Jakey (pictured with Pringle, left, and handler Jacob Burke) had racegoers gob-smacked with his 20 length win in 29.07, posting splits of 5.49, 13.74, 17.75 and an unheard of run home of 11.32. The time was 0.20 seconds (three lengths) better than Punch One Out’s previous record of 29.27.
The win also had Pringle stunned, despite Shakey Jakey having broken the Bathurst track record in a performance trial in March.
“I knew from the times he was running in his trials that he would come close to the record at some point, but to do it last night and run that time was just unbelievable,” Pringle said.
"Almost a year ago, I was sitting in my house watching Punch One Out run 29.27 and I said to myself, nobody is going to beat that record for a very long time. And last night, what (Shakey Jakey) did just gobsmacked me.
“We've had a few offers since last night. There was talk last night of a half a million dollars for him. I don't believe that party would have thrown out that amount if they didn't have it or weren't genuine.”
Despite the huge money offers on the table, Pringle is still unsure whether he will sell Shakey Jakey.
“Don't get me wrong, money is always good and you can't pay bills with trial tickets but money can't buy the feeling we had last night. I wouldn't be doing this if I was just in the game for the money,” he said.
“This is the type of dog you dream about. I'd love to keep him up here in NSW and win a few races up here.”
Rival trainers were also in awe of Shakey Jakey’s performance.
After the race, premiership winning trainer Jason Mackay, whose bitch Punch One Out established the previous record of 29.27 a year ago, said: "Shakey Jakey might be the fastest greyhound we have ever seen.
"And on his run home time he would be completely unbeatable over a middle distance and would certainly become a champion stayer.
"But if Shakey Jakey was retired to stud immediately at a fee of $2,200 he would be booked out and could earn his owner $1 million before he even had a pup on the ground!"
Prolific group one winning trainer Anthony Azzopardi added his endorsement to Shakey Jakey’s extraordinary performance.
"I don’t believe I will see another run like that in my lifetime."
