There are plenty of sliding doors moments in the greyhound game, and although there’s no point dwelling on the near misses or ones that got away, it is still nonetheless intriguing and somewhat fun to contemplate what could have been.
In late 2022 and early 2023, classy trainer Mick Hardman was travelling around the State with emerging staying siblings ZIPPING Neutron and ZIPPING Whiskey.
The brothers both qualified for the Group 2 Newcastle Cup final in December last year, Neutron then ran in the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate decider in January, before Whiskey made the Group 1 Association Cup finale in April.
The duo's next assignment was the heats of ‘The Ladbrokes 715’ at The Gardens on May 6, with Whiskey going on to run fourth in the $500,000 finale behind ZIPPING Orlando.
“I always thought the two of them (Whiskey and Neutron) were Group 1 stayers. The rest of the litter were nice bread and butter dogs but these two were the ones I wanted to stick with,” Hardman said.
Two starts later, Whiskey hurt a back muscle in the final of the Group 3 Dashing Corsair and the son of Sh Avatar was forced off the track for more than four months.
Neutron on the other hand only had one more start for Hardman after ‘The 715’ series, before being sold to Tim Aloisi in South Australia and beginning a new chasing chapter in the Festival State.
Since then, Neutron has won a remarkable 19 races and has looked near on unbeatable in his new surroundings.
ZIPPING Neutron has now 27 races from 56 career starts
“I was looking for a stayer with a group of owners for Adelaide and were hunting around for a dog that suited the Angle Park 730m because it’s a pretty strong 700 here,” Aloisi said.
“A lot of pacier stayers don’t tend to run out the trip at Angle Park so we were trying to find the right dog and we liked Whiskey and Neutron. So we contacted Mick [Hardman] to see if he would be interested in us buying both of them.”
“Mick said no money would buy Whiskey, but for the right offer, he and Marty Hallinan might sell Neutron. We obviously got a deal done and Mick was great, he took the dog to Sandown for the Cup and then the dog came home to us.” Aloisi
Leading owner-breeder Hallinan comfortable leaving those type of business decisions to his loyal group of trainers.
“I go off their judgement, I don’t ring them and say, “let’s sell”. I let them decide and that’s how you keep your trainers happy,” Hallinan said.
“Tim [Aloisi] is always hunting around for stars in Adelaide and he’s got a good eye for a dog and I genuinely like the bloke, I think he’s a straight shooter and when the ZIPPING’s go elsewhere, I want them to win.”
Neutron debuting in South Australia on May 25, running second by 0.10 of a length to Bedrock Will, before reeling off 10 straight wins at Angle Park and Mount Gambier.
The run finally ending in the Group 1 National Distance race at The Meadows when he finished sixth behind Palawa King.
“He’s exceeded expectations for sure. We thought he’d go well in Adelaide but we didn’t think he’d come here and do what he’s done,” Aloisi said.
“You buy any dog hoping they win your money back and have a bit of fun, but he’s well and truly paid for himself.”
The wins continuing to pile up for the red fawn chaser who has tasted victory more than any other dog in the country (19 times) since joining Aloisi’s kennel.
Failing to secure a place in Saturday night’s Group 1 Topgun Stayers field frustrating Aloisi.
“We obviously missed out on a Topgun start which I was disappointed about because I’m not sure what more my dog could do,” Aloisi lamented.
“He’s broken a track record and he’s won four staying cups in Adelaide. I’m only a part time trainer so it suits us to race here in Adelaide and he’s won us nearly $100,000 in 20 starts.”
“There’s some people in the media who want to keep knocking him and his form but maybe we’ll have to look at a race like the Bold Trease now because I think the dogs got a point to prove.”
Tim Aloisi with his daughters Azaliya and Zianna, alongside ZIPPING Neutron after winning the Premiers Cup. Photo: Kurt Donsberg
The depth of the South Australian staying scene certainly “dropping away” beyond the top handful of greyhounds according to Aloisi.
“It’s the same as any state, the top three or four dogs are pretty handy and then it gets a bit thin. South Australia has got behind the staying races though and if there’s a minimum of four dogs nominated, they’ll put on a race,” he added.
“I’m not going to lie, smaller fields suit most good dogs, but the cups Neutron has won have all been eight dog fields and you can only be beat the opposition that shows up.”
The relationship between Hardman, Hallinan and Aloisi growing stronger with every win.
“I’ve formed a good friendship with Mick and Marty and they flick me messages every so often after Neutron wins so there’s a lot of respect from everyone and we appreciate the continued support,” Aloisi added.
