Apache Tiger denied Country Classic semi after race abandoned
The $25,000 Richmond Final at Casino was set to determine four qualifiers for the prestigious NSW Country Classic semi-finals at Dubbo, but the unexpected cancellation of the meeting due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred has sparked controversy over how those spots were allocated.
Originally, the top four finishers from The Richmond Final were meant to advance to the Country Classic semi-finals, but with the abandonment of the meetings, officials opted for the prize money to be split and a random draw conducted by GWIC Stewards using the banjo at Richmond.
This decision saw Go Bears, Firethorn, Party Mode, and Doing Fine secure semi-final berths, while Apache Tiger was named the reserve.
The outcome of this random selection process has left many questioning its fairness, particularly for Apache Tiger, one of the pre-race favorites with the top greyhound bookmakers.
Bred from Wow and Sweet Fire All, Apache Tiger is trained and owned by Michael Landrigan and had been in top form, winning his last four races and recording eight wins and three placings from 14 starts leading up to The Richmond Final, where he posted a strong 35.39 time over the 620m at Casino.
The Richmond Heat 1 – Apache Tiger (35.50)
He was also a $16 chance in the all-in betting market with Neds to take out the Country Classic final.
Given the importance of The Richmond Final as a direct qualifier for the Country Classic semi-finals, many industry participants believe a more structured approach—such as awarding the spots to heat winners and the fastest performers—should have been taken rather than a random draw.
Some have pointed out that at the very least, the two heat winners should have been automatically given semi-final spots, leaving the remaining two places to be determined by an alternative method.
Trainer Michael Landrigan, who saw his runner relegated to reserve status despite its impressive form, has yet to comment publicly, but frustration within the greyhound racing community is evident.
With the Country Classic offering a $100,000 winner’s prize, being relegated to reserve status could cost Landrigan’s team a chance at a career-defining victory.
While the randomness of the draw may have been seen as the fairest solution in a difficult situation, the lack of a performance-based selection system has left many questioning how abandoned race qualifications should be handled in the future.