Aretha Franklin sang about it in the late 60’s … R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
It’s also a term bandied about in a plethora of inspirational quotes designed to give us all the get up and go, in order to face another day.
In any form of competition where respect meets rivalry, it is a real measure of worth when you can earn the honour of admiration amongst your peers.
And in the case of husband and wife duo, Michelle and Mick Lill, they have been able to achieve such acclaim amongst their fellow greyhound trainers.
“Fast dogs and great people.”
That’s the constant theme spoken whenever the Lill name is a topic of discussion.
“Thanks mate, we will cop that,” is how a humble Mick Lill replied, kind of embarrassed when told of the widespread admiration.
“Greyhound people are awesome and to know that is being said about us is rather humbling.”
When it comes to the fast dogs part, there is nothing to debate.
Mick and Michelle put the polish on two of the current headline acts of our sport - namely More Sauce (17 wins from 27 outings) and Casual Glance (23 wins from 41 starts), with that pair two of the standouts in Friday’s heats of the Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top at LADBROKES GARDENS.
There is little point or need to insult his intelligence by asking which of their freakish sprinters is faster. That would be akin to expecting a parent to select which of their children they liked more.
“Look, we love our dogs and feel blessed to have them,” Mick proudly exclaimed. “They are home grown members of our family. Their mum, Ness Quick, is a daughter of Thickness, who herself was out of Special Sauce - and she was the foundation of where this all began for us.”
Special Sauce was a $500 purChase for the Lills - acquired from Michelle’s dad, John Eilersen. Fast forward a decade and a half and it’s a lineage that now sees Mick and Michelle riding a crest of an incredible wave, and helped with a facelift for their Special Sauce Kennels at Greta.
“We’ve poured $150,000 into getting the kennel block in mint order,” said Mick. “And it’s complete with a pool to be able to swim the dogs regularly.”
A stint early in their lives saw both Mick and Michelle work within the thoroughbred industry. Mick spent time in the establishments of legendary trainers, Lee Freedman and John Hawkes, while Michelle was a stablehand for Group 1 winning trainer, Marc Conners.
But their passion has always been - and certainly is with greyhound racing.
“It was hugely beneficial, my time working with racehorses,” Mick said. “I picked up things that we are able to apply to our methods with the dogs today, particularly with blood cultures and the movement of the animal itself.
“It also taught me patience and that is an invaluable lesson.
“I often sit back and watch the ‘gait’ of our dogs, just to ensure they are walking freely,” he added.
With COVID-19 forcing the postponement of the 2021 TAB Million Dollar Chase series, it would be understandable if Mick and Michelle were walking around kicking rocks at the prospect of what might have been.
“No mate, we are very lucky,” is how a philosophical Mick put things into perspective. “Greyhound Racing NSW is doing a great job keeping racing going and ensuring the safety of participants and the welfare of the animals.
“In the meantime, we will set Willis (More Sauce) and Usain (Casual Glance) for the Black Top.”
Four heats of the Black Top will be run on Friday with the first two in each advancing to the $40,000 final the following week.
Some of the other leading contenders in the heats are the John Finn-trained Zipping Kyrgios, Peter Lagogiane’s Pay Call, Mick Hardman’s Zulu Warlord, and Mark Davidson’s promising young sprinter Mickey Doo.
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