‘Giveaway' Shaun's Entity Bursts Into Cup Contention

GIVEAWAY dogs are not supposed to run the fastest time of heats of a Group 3 and then be among the top chances for the rich final, but that is the case with Shaun's Entity in Friday night's Townsville Cup.

The son of Mogambo and Girl Aloud took his remarkable record to 91 starts for 20 wins and 13 placings when he rattled home to win his heat in a fast 28.57 last Friday, beating the powerful, multiple Group finalist, Maurice Minor.

And Shaun's Entity has come up with box one again in the final after drawing the coveted rails in his heat win.

“I answered an advert for another giveaway from Ray Walters in Newcastle but he suggested I could have Shaun's Entity even though he was already four years old,” said the dog's owner-trainer Rhonda Essery.

“Everyone said I was mad to be taking on a four-year-old giveaway but here I am in my first Group 3 final with him.”

Rhonda is the first to thank “catcher of the year” Sharon Burnett for the rails in the final.

“Sharon has been through a rough time of late with a cancer battle, but she is the only one allowed to catch our dogs on race nights,” said Rhonda.

“She asked if she could draw the box for the final.

“There were two boxes left and when Sharon turned around and burst into tears, I knew she had drawn the rails for us. Sharon fell in love with this dog the moment he arrived in the kennels.”

That was back in April and Shaun's Entity has since won four races for Essery.

“His win in the Cup heat has paid for a new garage for us,” said Rhonda.

“We have just bought a new car and my friends bought me a personalised number plate for my 60th birthday last month. I wanted a new garage for the new care with the number plate 22ESS. I'm a Melbourne Storm fanatic.”

Of his chances in the rich final, Rhonda says Shaun's Entity only has to jump off the rails and be handy to the leaders when straightening up.

“I think Dam Slippery is the one to beat,” she said. “Soft Sand is in the two box and it is not a quick beginner. Our bloke is very strong and if he is a couple of lengths off the leader on the home turn, he can win it.”

Rhonda won the 2003 Townsville Cup with Mr Footprints and has been a finalist with Rhonda's Wishes, Sleepy Mine and Licorice Shot.

“But this is the first time I've had a runner since the Cup has become Group 3,” she said.

“Our regular handler Robbie Lawdorn is over the moon with our chances. And to think he arrived here as a four-year-old giveaway.”