Top 17 greyhound racing moments of 2017

IT'S been a massive year on the track for greyhound racing fans – we have farewelled champions set to embark on breeding careers and lives of retirement, and we have also welcomed some rising stars to the group racing stage.

As we prepare to kick off 2018 with a bang, Australian Racing Greyhound is looking back at the 17 biggest racing moments of 2017.

Not all of them focus on just one race, some reflect on the standout careers of the year as a whole and some share the background stories leading up to a major win.

Top 17 moments of 2017

No.17 – An Aussie invasion

Ring The Bell
Ring The Bell. PIC Greyhound Racing SA Facebook.

It was a bittersweet moment for Gerry O'Keeffe when he boarded a plane to NZ earlier in the year. The Victorian trainer was making the trip in pursuit of Group 1 glory with his consistent stayer Ring The Bell (Kinloch Brae x Absolute Stunna Nov '13), but at the same time he knew he would be coming home solo and leaving his brindle racer in NZ to chase further success at the highest level. Ring The Bell made an instant impact, winning the Group 1 Duke of Edinburg Silver Collar, while he also went on to take out the Group 1 Stayers Cup.

It was a brilliant year for our Aussies in NZ, with Nature's Gent (Shakey Jakey x Midnight News Jan '15) saluting in the Group 1 NZ Cup and Allen Ablett (Fernando Bale x Langi Bale Aug '15) claiming the Group 1 .

No. 16 – Cyndie's Magic was the Queen of Albion Park

Super sprinter Cyndie's Magic. PIC: Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club Facebook.

It's tough to narrow down Cyndie's Magic ( x Regal Silver Mar '13) greatest performance in 2017, because she was just so good throughout the entire year, winning 12 races. Trained by Bill Elson, Cyndie gets a mention for the way she captivated audiences throughout the year, with her last to first performances over the 520m sprint having to be seen to be believed. Cyndie's Magic, a rising five-year-old, finished 2017 with 44 wins and over $404,000 beside her name.

No. 15 – Equanimity wins the Perth Cup

Equanimity after winning the Perth Cup earlier this year. PIC: Greyhounds WA.

It's always a thrill to see someone win their first group 1 race. In February, prominent WA trainer Enzo Crudeli experienced that thrill when his consistent greyhound Equanimity (Barcia Bale x She's Historic Mar '15) landed the cash in the Group 1 Perth Cup at just his 10th career start the blue dog would go on to have a cracking year, also winning the Group 2 All Stars Sprint and the lucrative Anniversary Cup final. It was also a brilliant year for Crudeli, taking out the Group 3 with Black Bombshell and training just under 200.

No. 14 – Watch The Wasp…. what a run!

Watch The Wasp shows off his Bob Payne rug and trophy.

Plenty of people told Dean Swain to step his smart greyhound Watch The Wasp (Shakey Jakey x Midnight News Jan '15) up in trip to see his best, but the Vineyard conditioner didn't listen and it paid dividends when the black dog won the Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint at Wentworth Park. Despite finding trouble and spotting the classy Up Hill Jill seven lengths down the back, Watch The Wasp never gave in and was too strong when winning by a length in 29.99.

No.13 – The resurgence of Mister Twister

Mister Twister
Mister Twister with Josie Murray earlier in his career. PIC: Richmond Greyhounds Facebook.

There is a reason why Jason Mackay is one of the best in the business and he worked his magic again in 2017 with Mister Twister (Collision x Double Twist Jan '15). The regally-bred greyhound always looked pretty special, but early on in his career he went through a stage where he was struggling to run out a super strong 500. Mackay knew something was wrong and Mister Twister was diagnosed with tonsillitis. He returned to win 12 races including the $100,000 Richmond Riches, the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic and the Group 2 Black Top.

No.12 – Zinzan Brooke the dual cups King

Brooke Ennis (front) with Tracey and Wayne Thomson after Zinzan Brooke won the Group 3 Healesville Cup. PIC: Jason Mckeown Photography.

Zinzan Brooke (Knocka Norris x All Fired Up Jan '14) proved to be one of the most underrated greyhounds in training when winning two country Cups throughout 2017 – the Group 2 Shepparton Cup and the Group 3 Healesville Cup. His performances were made especially remarkable given the Wayne Thomson-owned greyhound had a near-death experience whilst in pre-training when his stomach flipped over – the incident required his stomach to be stitched into place to avoid any future problems.

No.11 – Two firsts in one night

Ashlee Terry
Ashlee Terry embraces her Sapphire Crown winner Maja Mahi Mahi. PIC GRV Facebook.

Rising trainer Ashlee Terry got her first taste of success at the highest level when Maja Mahi Mahi (Spring Gun x April's Legacy Oct '13) won the Sapphire Crown at Sandown Park. Formerly trained in NSW, Maja Mahi Mahi made the move to Victoria just a couple of months prior to the series and, when the lids flew open on May 25, she put her best paws forward and was able to lead all the way.

Later that night, Anthony Karabitsakos also got his maiden group 1 win when Black Mumbo (Stagger x My Path Princess Nov '13) took out the Group 1 Harrison Dawson, defying all challengers to win by one and one quarter lengths in a handy 29.53.

No. 10 – Pantera Nera gets a rare Tasmanian double

Pantera Nera and . PIC: Pantera Nera Facebook.

The recently-retired Pantera Nera (Milldean Panther x Go Jessie's Girl Nov '13) was a proven top class performer, winning four times at group level. Two of his major wins were in Tasmania where he took out the Devonport Cup and the Launceston Cup – making him just the fifth greyhound to achieve the rare double. Unfortunately, Pantera Nera was injured in a heat of the Shepparton Cup and was later retired.

No.9 – Rockoon rockets to group 1 glory

Rockoon
Rockoon with Keith and Lisa Hellmuth after winning the Hume Cup. PIC: Paul Munt.

Keith and Lisa Hellmuth got their first group 1 winner a few years ago when Peter Rocket (Where's Pedro x Belron Blue Aug '10) won the Group 1 Dapto Megastar. Believing their chaser had what it took to make it at stud they chose to use him over their proven producer Raya Riot (Bombastic Shiraz x Holly's Gem Aug '07). The result was Rockoon and in 2017 the white and black dog emulated his father by winning at the highest level – taking out the Group 1 Hume Cup at The Meadows. The effort would have to be close to being the run of the year – the classy chaser weaved his way through the pack from the back and stormed clear in the home straight.

No.8 – Striker Light takes out the Golden Easter Egg

Striker Light winning her heat of the Melbourne Cup. PIC: Paul Munt.

Kelly and Brett Bravo won NSW's richest and most prestigious race with their bonny bitch Striker Light (Kc And All x Pretty Fancy Mar '15). It was one of the most thrilling editions of the race in recent years as Striker Light went stride for stride with outsider (Barcia Bale x Lagoon Lowanna Jun '14) but was able to travel home too strong when winning by a head in 29.99. It was the second group 1 for Striker Light, having previously won the National Futurity, and she would go on to race in the top races throughout the year including the finals of the Group 1 Sapphire Crown, the , the Temlee, the Topgun, the Adelaide Cup and the Melbourne Cup.

No.7 – Aston Dee Bee wins the Melbourne Cup

Aston Dee Bee winning the Melbourne Cup. PIC: Paul Munt.

You couldn't have a list of the top 17 moments without mentioning the world's richest greyhound race, which was taken out by Seona Thompson's Aston Dee Bee (Barcia Bale x Aston Elle Apr '15). The powerhouse sprinter had been knocking on the door of a big win for months, running placings in the Topgun, the Adelaide Cup and the National Sprint Championship. It was also an emotional win for Thompson, being her first win at the highest level after taking over the training reigns from her husband, Jason.

No. 6 – Up Hill Jill finally gets her group 1 win

Up Hill Jill strides clear to win the Group 1 Topgun. PIC: Paul Munt.

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. That was the sentiment felt by David Geall whose front running sprinter Up Hill Jill (Premier Fantasy x Where's Demonica Feb '15) had competed in nine group finals heading into the Group 1 Topgun, still searching for her first win at the highest level. Up Hill Jill looked awkwardly drawn in box seven and Geall had little confidence, but when the lids flew open Up Hill Jill made it a one act affair, leading all the way in 29.89 at The Meadows.

No.5 – Tony's terrific year

Jury wins the Group 1 National Sprint Championship at Albion Park. PIC: Box 1 Photography.

The past year was massive for Tony Brett – winning three group 1 races as well as a stack of other features. Jury ( x Velocity Sheba Mar '15) defeated a high class field when winning the Group 1 National Sprint Championship and Fast Times (Barcia Bale x Clockwise Apr '15) bagged a double when winning both the Group 1 Winter Cup and the Group 1 Brisbane Cup. Brett also took out the Group 2 Geelong Cup with Thirty Talks (Where's Pedro x Unfinished Jun '14), the 2017 Rockhampton Cup with Split Image (Where's Pedro x Unfinished Jun '14), the Group 3 Gold Coast Cup with Opal Nera (Dyna Tron x Black Sambuca May '15) and the Group 2 with Jury.

No. 4 Bogie Bekim defeats Fanta Bale

winning at Angle Park. PIC: Kurt Donsberg Greyhound Photography.

The Group 2 Topgun Stayers was set to be all about champion greyhound Fanta Bale (David Bale x Ucme Typhoon Aug '14) and when the lids flew open everything seemed to be going to plan when she jumped straight to the front. It was too bad South Australia raider Bogie Bekim (Bekim Bale x Bogie Skye Apr '14) had other plans – running down the sport's golden girl in the home straight.

The win was the second big race win for Bogie Bekim which had also saluted in the Group 1 Galaxy at Cannington earlier in the year – giving young gun trainer Ben Rawlings his biggest milestones throughout his time in greyhound racing.

No. 3 – Fanta Bale gets the group 1 hatrick

Fanta Bale
Fanta Bale winning the Group 1 Australian Cup. PIC Paul Munt

Fanta Bale stamped herself as one of the all-time greats in 2017 when she completed a treble never achieved before – becoming the first greyhound to win a group 1 over 500m, 600m and 700m. Fanta Bale took out the Hume Cup (600m) in 2016 before defeating a stellar field to take out the Group 1 Australian Cup (525m) at the start of the year, collecting $250,000 for the win. She then went on to take out the world's richest staying race, the Group 1 Sandown Cup (715m) in May.

No.2 – Who wants to be a millionaire?

Fanta Bale before her heat of the Top Cat Video Cup. PIC: Paul Munt.

Fanta Bale takes out another spot on our list for another unique achievement – joining the seven figure club. When she won the Group 1 Bold Trease in November, Fanta Bale became just the third greyhound to earn over $1 million in the history of greyhound racing – the others to achieve the feat being Fernando Bale and Dyna Double One. Incidentally, all three dogs are owned by leviathan owner-breeder Paul Wheeler.

No.1 – An emotional win

My Awesome Magic
Tony Brett with My Awesome Magic. PIC: Box 1 Photography.

Our top moment of the year wasn't a group 1 feature or even a heat of a major race, but it was without a doubt one of the most moving wins you will eve see. At the start of the year, the greyhound fraternity was rocked to the core by the passing of prominent Queensland trainer Peter Ruetschi, who was killed in a car accident on his way home from the track.

As a way to pay tribute to their fallen comrade, a group of participants, led by Tony Brett, decided to race Ruetschi's greyhounds in his name one last time, just days after his passing. The last runner to race in his name was a black and white dog named My Awesome Magic (Magic Sprite x Awesome Knocka May '14).

During the race My Awesome Magic found plenty of trouble and looked 100-1 down the back – but he never gave in and fittingly saluted ensuring there wasn't a dry eye on track – or in lounge rooms and pubs around Australia.