Alby Kennewell has a wise head on his shoulders and it paid off in spades with Rose of Galo’s victory in this year’s Group 2 Black Top Final (515m).
The experienced chaser was boxed well on the outside and duly produced a storming 29.52 effort to capture the $40,000 top prize for owner/trainer Kennewell (pictured).
It was a first Group winner in almost 50 years of training for the 71-year-old, who has been involved with greyhounds for most of his life.
The sprinter’s pre-race preparations had been affected after suffering a toe injury in last week’s heats, with Kennewell’s decision to rest the greyhound proving bang on.
“I was going to gallop her up the straight at home this week but I thought I could better of it,” he said.
“I thought she needed the run but even if I’d protected it with tape I could have made it worse.
“I took the chance of keeping her fresh for this race – and luckily it worked.”
Watch a replay of the race here.
Rose of Galo never looked seriously troubled after shooting out of the boxes to lead early in the Unibet Gardens race.
She was briefly threatened down the back straight but scorched away to win by three lengths from Push It, with Alan’s Kidz taking third.
Formidable Zipping Willow was a pre-race favourite but was withdrawn beforehand due to a shoulder injury.
Kennewell said winning such a prestigious race made all the years of training worthwhile.
“My wife does ask me sometimes, ‘when are you going to give it up’,” Kennewell, who works out of Mt Tarampa, close to Ipswich, said. “I reckon if I did then I’d just end up sitting in the lounge chair doing nothing until I die.
“While I can keep going, I will.”
Kennewell copped some friendly ribbing from members of the large crowd after claiming the crown for the Sunshine State.
He is Broken Hill-born and bred but moved to Queensland for family and health reasons a few years ago.
“I may live in Queensland but I’m a New South Welshman alright,” he said. “I’m happy to take the Blue money back north.”
Kennewell said he would now prepare the winner for a crack at the forthcoming Gold Coast and Brisbane cups.
The meeting was the was the first leg of the new Thank Dog It’s Friday series.
The series, which continues this Friday at Dapto, with the Sportingbet Megastar prelude, aims to promote regional racing in NSW.
For more information about Thank Dog It’s Friday, click here.
