My Boy Brodie will be chasing owner Shaun Dooley and trainer Trevor Rice's biggest payday when he exits box two in Thursday night's Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup final.
The 710m event is worth $84,700 to the winner and Dooley is extremely confident the Sydney stayer can bring home the bacon.
"He has drawn box two in the final so we could not be happier," Dooley said.
"Trevor's son Jordan put in the hard yards before My Boy Brodie's heat win last Thursday, driving from his kennels at Wedderburn to Brisbane in order to trial the dog over the Albion Park 710m trip. It was a 23-hour round trip for Jordan but in all the years I have had greyhounds, my mantra has been if you don't trial you don't race.
"We could have flown My Boy Brodie to Brisbane to trial but he is a very nervous dog and Trevor did not think he would cope with the flight.''
My Boy Brodie won his heat last Thursday night in 42.14, with local heroine Cyndie's Magic fastest qualifier at 42.12.
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Michael Galea's veteran Monster Storm scored his 21st win on Wednesday over 330m at Richmond but spare a thought for his owner-trainer who, but for a twist of fate, might have raced the great Bessy Boo, winner of more than $308,000 in stakes.
"Greg Smith, who bred Bessy Boo and his litter brother Inner City, contacted me when they were unbroken puppies and asked me if I wanted them,'' Galea recalled. "Because I had just taken delivery of a large litter I had to inform him I had no room for them.
"At the same time, I doubt if I, or anyone else for that matter, could have got the wonderful results out of Bessy Boo that his trainers Christine and Alan Proctor have achieved.
"In any case Monster Storm has been a wonderful dog for me because he turns five in September and he has now won 21 races from just 36 starts. Unfortunately 400 metres is his absolute limit.
"He was in a 400m final one day at Maitland and after breaking the first section record and being six lengths clear on the home bend he got pipped on the post in a photo finish.
"Monster Storm has only had two starts this year because he lost three months with a hock injury and then sustained a small tear in a back muscle.''
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Last Tuesday's winning treble at Goulburn for Bev and DENIS Mahoney was of special significance because two of their trio of winners, Honey I'm Home and Just A Hero, are grandsons of their great stayer Resigned.
The Mahoney-owned and trained Resigned not only won the 2004 Sydney Cup in race record time but was a wonderful producer before passing away last month at 14 years of age.
"Retired greyhounds on our place have a pretty good life and War Hero, who had 128 starts for 31 wins and 32 placings for us, is a pet at home and still fit as a fiddle at the ripe old age of 12,'' DENIS said.
"Honey I'm Home and Just A Hero are offspring of Resigned's daughter Kai I Ulani, while our third Goulburn winner, Almost Normal, is by Magic Sprite from Bearly Normal.
"We have seven greyhounds in work and six of them are from the Kai I Ulani litter, sired by Cosmic Rumble and whelped in May 2014.
"At this stage Honey I'm Home is the best of them and we think he will make the grade at Wentworth Park.
"While Honey I'm Home won over 440m at Goulburn and Just A Hero scored in a 350m race, we think they will actually be better suited over more ground.''
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The NSW greyhound racing industry is rallying behind popular Toronto owner-trainers Jeanette and DAVE Burgess, who were involved in a horrific car crash on May 10 while travelling to Gosford greyhounds.
Jeanette and DAVE face several months of rehabilitation after each suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash.
Breeder Rob Tyler has donated a five-month old dog pup by Outa Credit from Ellie Bale which will be auctioned via Facebook until bids close on Sunday, June 12. Search for Reason Kennels Greyhounds Australia.
Jody and Michael Manuel of Chevy Lodge have pledged to rear the pup free of charge until it is 12 months old.
A fund has also been set up for the Burgess family at The Greater Bank (a/c no 721 416 496, BSB 637-000, account name Diggin Deep For Jeanette and DAVE).
Enquiries to Paula Tooth (0457 188376) or Belinda Woodcock (0409 606567).
