It takes an almighty sprinter to capture the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best (Paws Of Thunder). Throughout the years the feature has been won by some of the best greyhounds to have ever graced the track such as Black Top, Glider’s Son, Promises Free, Winifred Bale, Pure Octane, Leprechaun Pace, Cindeen Shelby and Lochinvar Marlow.
Below we list all of the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best (Paws Of Thunder) winners in our extensive honour roll.
You can learn more about the recent runnings of the Paul Wheeler Simply The Best (Paws Of Thunder) and the race in general in our extensive Paul Wheeler Simply The Best betting guide.
Below is a list of every winner, dating back to the races’ inception in 1957.
| Year | Winner | Track | Margin | Time (s) | Trainer | Runner-Up | Boxes | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Idle Sign | E. Conroy | 580y | ? | ? | 32.10sec | ? | Feat |
| 1958 | Ebony Minda | L. Smith | 580y | ? | ? | 31.90sec | ? | Feat |
| 1959 | Super Samson | J. Wright | 580y | ? | ? | 32.10sec | ? | Feat |
| 1960 | Constant Raider | B. Mercer | 580y | ? | ? | 31.90sec | ? | Feat |
| 1961 | Elsie Moss | A. Connelly | 580y | ? | ? | 31.50sec | ? | Feat |
| 1962 | Black Top | F. Holmes | 580y | ? | ? | 31.30sec | ? | Feat |
| 1963 | Miss Warcroft | T. O’Brien | 580y | ? | ? | 31.60sec | ? | Feat |
| 1964 | Revival King | R. Taaffe | 580y | ? | ? | 31.70sec | ? | Feat |
| 1965 | Daily Tide | C. McBurney | 580y | ? | ? | 31.60sec | ? | Feat |
| 1966 | Sunset Fire | H. Conroy | 580y | ? | ? | 31.40sec | ? | Feat |
| 1967 | Another Glitter | L. Harper | 580y | ? | ? | 31.10sec | ? | Feat |
| 1968 | Zoom Top | H. Watt | 580y | ? | ? | 31.40sec | ? | Feat |
| 1969 | Beau Brin | W. Harper | 580y | ? | ? | 31.20sec | ? | Feat |
| 1970 | Size Seven | R. Thompson | 580y | ? | ? | 31.30sec | ? | Feat |
| 1971 | Romantic Top | B. Lawry | 580y | ? | ? | 31.10sec | ? | Feat |
| 1972 | Likely Light | J. Wright | 580y | ? | ? | 31.10sec | ? | Feat |
| 1973 | Trella Light | W. Fletcher | 530m | 2,3,4 | 5L | 30.93sec | Julie’s Shoe | Feat |
| 1974 | Busy’s Chief | L. Watt | 530m | 7,1,4 | 6L | 30.82sec | Arkaroola | Feat |
| 1975 | Mighty Aussie | M. Stefan | 530m | 3,2,4 | 7L | 31.22sec | Camden Gold | Feat |
| 1976 | Palaver | S. Muston | 530m | 6,8,4 | 2L | 31.22sec | Call Me Hobbs | Feat |
| 1977 | Fire Arama | D. Murphy | 530m | 8,1,3 | 1-1/2L | 30.74sec | Monkey Jill | Feat |
| 1978 | Oberon Lily | K. Fletcher | 530m | 3,2,8 | 3/4L | 31.12sec | Tegimi | Feat |
| 1979 | Lord Raleigh | P. Turret | 530m | 8,5,4 | 1/4L | 31.09sec | Taciturn | Feat |
| 1980 | Glider’s Son | J. Macdonald | 530m | 4,1,8 | 1-1/2L | 31.13sec | Country League | Feat |
| 1981 | Promises Free | A. Pringle | 530m | 3,5,2 | 5L | 30.82sec | Admiral Lynch | Feat |
| 1982 | Winifred Bale | A. Wheeler | 530m | 1,8,7 | 2L | 31.06sec | All Spice | Feat |
| 1983 | Winston Lass | D. Thomas | 530m | 1,7,5 | 3L | 31.06sec | Star Prediction | Feat |
| 1984 | Beach Rhythm | P. Cauchi | 530m | 6,1,8 | 2L | 31.04sec | Deano Bell | Feat |
| 1985 | Another Flash | B. Tame | 530m | N/A | N/A | 31.21sec | N/A | Feat |
| 1986 | Memories Gate | K. Johns | 457m | 1,8,7 | 1L | 26.34sec | Tom’s Two | Feat |
| 1987 | See Yah | L. Barnett | 520m | 2,7,5 | 1-3/4L | 30.27sec | Aussie Venture | Feat |
| 1988 | Grizzly Bear | B. Buckley | 520m | 2,7,8 | 3L | 30.54sec | Snow Legend | Feat |
| 1989 | Jessica Kate | F. McFadyen | 520m | 7,4,6 | 2-1/2L | 30.57sec | Master Hilo | Feat |
| 1990 | Dixie Lass | K. Howe | 520m | 5,9,1 | 1/4L | 30.68sec | Centrefold Pet | Feat |
| 1991 | Little Denver | J. Johnston | 520m | 4,8,1 | 1-1/2L | 30.17sec | Tallest Peer | Feat |
| 1992 | Iago | R. Britton | 520m | 7,1,3 | 1-1/4L | 30.67sec | Deanne’s Dancer | G1 |
| 1993 | Leon Mal | D. McMillan | 520m | 8,4,5 | 4L | 30.98sec | Rocking Romero | G2 |
| 1994 | Zazziam | K. Taberner | 520m | 1,8,3 | 3L | 30.55sec | Wary Andy | G2 |
| 1995 | Nine Inch Nails | R. King | 520m | 6,5,4 | 3-1/2L | 30.88sec | Major Smoky | G2 |
| 1996 | Tamborine Dancer | P. Chaker | 520m | 4,7,6 | 1L | 31.28sec | Tried And True | G2 |
| 1997 | Elle’s Commando | D. McMillan | 520m | 8,3,1 | 2-1/2L | 30.26sec | Bobniak | G2 |
| 1998 | Waimera Marika | F. Hampson | 520m | 1,5,2 | 3/4L | 30.64sec | Dylan | G2 |
| 1999 | Stately Bird | K. Paull | 520m | 2,4,5 | 7-1/2L | 30.26sec | Flash Joan | G2 |
| 2000 | Some Secret | C. McGuigan | 520m | 3,4,1 | 5-1/4L | 30.05sec | Bride’s Son | G2 |
| 2001 | Suellen Bale | G. Bate | 520m | 1,2,5 | 2-1/4L | 30.18sec | Vi’s Magic | G1 |
| 2002 | Modern Assassin | M. Mugavin-Brown | 520m | 3,6,8 | Neck | 30.26sec | Tommy Hand | G1 |
| 2003 | Winsome Shot | J. Finn | 520m | 7,4,6 | Neck | 30.59sec | Tarawi Lass | G1 |
| 2004 | Kobble Rock | M. Sattler | 520m | 5,1,3 | 1/2L | 30.35sec | Ravada Reason | G1 |
| 2005 | Pure Octane | D. McDonald | 520m | 8,1,2 | 3/4L | 29.77sec | Benny’s Toll | G1 |
| 2006 | Suave Fella | J. Thompson | 520m | 1,7,6 | 1-1/4L | 30.50sec | Wongawillisue | G1 |
| 2007 | Leprechaun Pace | R. Crawford | 520m | 1,5,7 | Neck | 30.37sec | Shanlyn Prince | G1 |
| 2008 | One Tree Hill | R. Britton | 520m | 1,3,4 | 1-1/4L | 30.24sec | Mantra Lad | G1 |
| 2009 | Cindeen Shelby | K. Greenough | 520m | 4,2,7 | 3L | 30.08sec | Take The Kitty | G1 |
| 2010 | Lochinvar Marlow | R. Smith | 520m | 1,7,5 | 9L | 29.90sec | Cosmic Planet | G1 |
| 2011 | Fancy Will | A. Azzopardi | 520m | 1,3,2 | 1L | 30.03sec | Oaks Road | G1 |
| 2012 | Race Not Held | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2013 | Sheikha | J. Finn | 520m | 2,1,3 | 1L | 29.84sec | Cavendish Flyer | G1 |
| 2014 | Iona Seven | R. Britton | 520m | 6,9,4 | 2-1/4L | 29.56sec | Punch One Out | G1 |
| 2015 | Dyna Villa | J. Hunt | 520m | 8,1,2 | 2-1/2L | 29.69sec | Assertive Bella | G1 |
| 2016 | Asa Flying Spur | A. Azzopardi | 520m | 3,7,4 | 1-1/4L | 29.83sec | Elfen Bale | G1 |
| 2017 | Shima Bar | A. Dailly | 520m | 1,6,7 | 1-3/4L | 29.92sec | Clock’s Ticking | G1 |
| 2018 | Raw Ability | A. Azzopardi | 520m | 4,2,5 | 1-1/2L | 29.86sec | Slick | G1 |
| 2019 | Buck’s Future | S. Swain | 520m | 7,3,6 | 3/4L | 29.80sec | Cash Point | G1 |
| 2020 | King Cratos | J. Magri | 520m | 8,1,7 | 1L | 29.64sec | Feral Franky | G1 |
| 2021 | Wow | K. Britton | 520m | 5,8,3 | 2L | 29.49sec | Winlock On Top | G1 |
| 2022 | Jungle Deuce | R. Smith | 520m | 4,5,8 | 3/4L | 29.52sec | Wow | G1 |
| 2023 | She’s A Pearl | J. Lord | 520m | 8,3,6 | 2L | 29.50sec | Gatlin | G1 |
| 2024 (Jan) | Dutch Riot | C. Bermingham | 520m | 1,7,2 | 2-3/4L | 29.54sec | My Hepburn | G1 |
| 2024 | NAME CHANGED | FROM PAWS OF THUNDER | TO | PAUL | WHEELER | SIMPLY | THE | BEST |