Tim Cahill GAPNSW Ambassador
Socceroo Legend Tim Cahill was announced last Thursday as the new ambassador of the Greyhounds As Pets NSW program.
Tim, who has also adopted a greyhound, a beautiful blue girl he has named Luna Moana - or Lumo for short - which means blue in Samoan, made his first public appearance in his new role at the GAPNSW Adoption Day at Lyne Park in Rose Bay on Sunday.
The day was a resounding success, not only with hundreds attending, but with another 17 dogs being rehomed, and with a further 40 applications for greyhounds being lodged online after the day.
Tim has shown in his short time in Sydney, and in his ambassadorial role with the program, that he has a real passion, not only for animals, but also for the GAPNSW program, and he is committed to continue to work to make it more successful and grow the awareness around greyhound adoption.
NSW strong representation in Brisbane Feature
NSW has a great chance of snatching away the $250,000 first prizemoney in Thursday night's Brisbane Cup at Albion Park after Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg winner Zipping Bailey, GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase victor Mystic Riot, and up-and-coming star Nangar Diva, all qualified for the 520m final.
Black Opium, now trained in Queensland by Tony Brett, will be favourite after leading throughout to defeat the Peter Lagogiane-prepared Mystic Riot in a blistering 29.62s in her heat last Thursday.
Black Opium had box six in her heat, but seems ideally positioned in the final in box eight, with former trainer Jason Thompson always insisting she preferred being positioned on the outside of her rivals.
But Zipping Bailey's trainer Jason Mackay is pleased with her box three draw, saying: "She is a good chance because considering she was able to run down a strong dog like Barooga Brett, her heat win from box two was great.''
Not so happy is Lagogiane, whose bitch Mystic Riot drew box five.
"Although she wasn't beaten far by Black Opium in the fastest heat, Mystic Riot's task is going to be huge,'' Lagogiane said.
"There is a lot of speed around her and Black Opium, along with Barooga Brett, who has box one, certainly got the best of the draw.''
Box draw for the final is: 1 Barooga Brett 2 Sennachie 3 Zipping Bailey 4 Dyna Patty 5 Mystic Riot 6 Nangar Diva 7 Lucy's Milo 8 Black Opium with the reserves Orson Allen and Dam Slippery.
Watch Zipping Bailey’s Brisbane Cup heat win here
Group 1 racing returns to Wenty this week
Group 1 racing returns to Wentworth Park next Saturday with heats of the Vic Peters Classic and Peter Mosman Opal.
Last Saturday night at Wentworth Park a couple serious candidates for the events stamped their credentials with impressive performances.
The Andrew Crouch-trained Sorry Scott, top pick for the Opal, set the 520m time standard for the night, leading throughout in the $10,000 to the winner NSW Bred Final in 29.65s, easily her best time run at Wenty.
Not to be outdone, King Cratos, from the Jason Magri kennel, showed improved box manners to be second early before hitting the front going through the catching pen to win the Free-For-All in 29.68s.
Good Odds Harada, like King Cratos a leading candidate for the Vic Peters Classic, lost no admirers by coming from fourth early to finish second in Saturday's top grade event, beaten less than a length.
Watch Sorry Scott’s Wenty performance here
The Zoom Top Flying 4
The Zoom Top Flying 4 was a much anticipated event, and didn’t disappoint – except perhaps for the favourite backers.
Littermates and all members of the John Finn kennel, Poco Dorado, Blue Moon Rising, Veloce Nero and Two Times Twice made up the field, with the queen of Wentworth Park, Poco Dorado, who had returned to form with some strong performances in Brisbane recently, the punters’ elect, as an odds-on favourite.
But there was a minor upset, with Blue Moon Rising toppling his litter sister Poco Dorado.
Poco Dorado had been expected to make the pace and lead all the way, but she settled down in last place, with her other siblings Two Times Twice and Veloce Nero leading at the first turn from Blue Moon Rising.
Blue Moon Rising accelerated into second in the back straight and after grabbing the lead on the home bend, held off a late rush from Poco Dorado to win by just over a length in 42.16s for the 720m.
Watch Blue Moon Rising win at Wentworth Park here
GAP News
The big Greyhounds as Pets’ Adoption Day at Rose Bay was a rousing success, but the work of the staff in our GAPNSW program never stops, and anyone looking for a new family pet should hop online any time and search for that new friend.
We will be having more adoption days in the future, but for the meantime, anyone interested in a greyhound as a pet, should head to their website, where they can look at, and read about all the available greyhounds.
For more information head to the www.gapnsw.com.au
Embye the dog not the footy player
His Queensland namesake attracted plenty of attention around last week’s State Of Origin rugby league series, now Embye the Ruth Matic-trained greyhound is set to create some headlines of his own.
Embye had begun his staying career in brilliant fashion earlier this year, with a 41.88s win at Wentworth Park in April. He then trialled at Sandown in preparation for the Speed Star Series in a blistering 41.56s, and was installed as favourite before an injury saw him ruled out of the event. He then ran in the heats of the Sandown Cup, but narrowly missed the final.
Embye resumed last Friday at Casino and was dynamic winning in near record time over 620m.
Despite being checked going through the catching pen, Embye came from third in the back straight to win by five lengths in 35.76s. That time compared well with the track record set by Queensland star Double Gee, who won at Casino in 35.44 in June last year.
