Jeff Mooney admits it would be “as good as winning a Melbourne Cup” if one of his two greyhounds can take out the CHRIS Mooney Tribute series, which kicks off with heats at Bathurst this afternoon.
CHRIS Mooney, a long serving Bathurst committeeman and popular owner-trainer in the NSW western districts, succumbed to cancer eight years ago, aged 40.
The Bathurst club has since staged an annual event in his honour and this year his younger brother Jeff, himself an accomplished trainer, has runners engaged in Monday’s heats.
Promptness jumps from box four in the first of two heats of the series for Jeff and looks capable of continuing her impressive recent form.
She has scored two wins and two minor placings from her last five starts, including a victory over the 618m at Bathurst on her last start seven days ago.
“This is the first opportunity I have had to get a greyhound into my brother's race and Promptness especially has a strong chance,” Jeff said.
“She equalled the Cowra 524m record in a trial before leading all the way over 618m at Bathurst last week.”
Little Gysmo, meanwhile, is owned by six friends of Jeff Mooney’s and is the first greyhound they have raced.
“She has won three races and has run 30.27 at Bathurst thanks to her good early speed,” Jeff said.
“Little Gysmo should be the pacemaker in her heat but the last bit of the 520m race could be her worry.”
Jeff said he only got into training greyhounds thanks to his brother, CHRIS.
“CHRIS... bought me my first dog, Brother Seagull, nearly 30 years ago, when I was 15 years old,” he said.
“CHRIS and I were very close, we did everything together and raced greyhounds in partnership. I took out a trainer's licence when I was 19 but when CHRIS died I was so distraught I gave the dogs away for a few years.
“I have always wanted to win CHRIS's race but until this year I have not had the chance to even have a starter.”
Promptness' toughest rival looms as Easy Breeze, a new addition to the kennels of top Sydney trainer CHRIStine Oldfield.
“I have not had a starter at Bathurst for years but as this is Easy Breeze's first race for me I thought it best to take him to a track he knows well,” Oldfield said.
Bathurst specialist Starburst Bassy, who has had two wins and two seconds from four starts over the Kennerson Park 520m trip, will be hardest for Little Gysmo to topple in heat two.
In other Bathurst action on Monday, Milko's Magic looks the top pick in the Murphy's Pre Ed and rearing Final (race five, 307m).
One of the greyhounds from the gun NSW Central West kennel of Paul and Pamela Braddon, Milko's Magic was the fastest heat winner and has a formidable record from the wide boxes.
Black Vanilla (box eight) looks ideally drawn to score a win in race nine over the 450m.
He resumed at Wagga last start with a sound placing but is better drawn out wide and has won twice over this distance.
Stunning Ruby (box six) looks capable of resuming with a victory in race 11 over the 307m.
The Ashley Lamb-trained greyhound has not raced since April 24 at Dubbo but had won once and placed twice in three starts prior to that and has also trialled well at Bathurst.
For Bathurst Monday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
