McInerney On Cusp Of Emotion-Charged Victory

MARY Mugavin-Brown always had a saying for her elder brother Noel that in times of need she would “keep rattling the rosary beads for you”.

Mary died suddenly of an aneurysm aged 62 just a few weeks ago leaving behind a devastated family.

On Saturday night at Wentworth Park, her brother Noel's dog McInerney will start one of the major chances off box one in the Million Dollar Chase Final (520m) and Noel admits the rattle of rosary beads will come in handy.

Mary was a greyhound racing devotee having raced that wonderful sprinter Modern Assassin to win a Paws Of Thunder and Perth Cup. Her husband Brian played AFL for Fitzroy and Essendon.

Their son Jonathan captained the Lions, was twice an All Australian and three times a premiership winning player for the Brisbane Lions.

Jonathan's brother Matthew was as good but broke down. He handled Modern Assassin wherever he raced.

“Mary's funeral was a lovely tribute to a wonderful woman,” said Noel. “Just as the funeral was ending, Modern Assassin's wins in the Perth Cup and Paws of Thunder were replayed.

Brendan Pursell is the only interstate finalist in the @tabcomau #MillionDollarChase next week, here's what he had to say after McInerney's grand win in the closing semi-final…#thedogs #MDC #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/jfFzNpSG9e

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 16, 2022

“It was fitting.”

Noel Mugavin and his family have been through some tough times in recent weeks. Three weeks ago his son and wife lost an unborn baby, and Noel's brother-in-law died before that.

Noel knows only too well Mary's rosary beads have been rattling.

Last Friday night, when McInerney stormed to success in the MDC semi-final, Noel and the team around him preparing the dog were buoyed.

“I got a text from Robbie Britton that said ‘who wants to be a millionaire?',” said Noel.

“My answer was ‘Brendan Pursell'.”

Brendan trains the dog now for Mugavin.

He had been with the Britton team early in his career but a need for some racetrack confidence saw him switched to Tassie to Brendan's son Blake. The dog thrived and ran third in the G1 National Sprint.

“After Tassie, he came back to Victoria and reeled off a 29.20 at Sandown and a 29.80 at The Meadows,” said Noel.

Mugavin and his son Jeremy will be at Wentworth Park on Saturday night for their assault on a million dollar pay day.

“Yes, of course we will be there,” said Noel. “We have to enjoy these opportunities win, lose or draw,” he said.

Noel named McInerney after Tony McInerney a stalwart of the University Blues VAFA club where Noel's sons played A Grade amateur footy.

“Tony was one of those guys,” said Noel. “He was president of the club, did everything for them, but unfortunately died in his 70s just recently when Covid hit the country.

“Tony's son Chris and his family never miss watching the dog race.

“Tony was just the best bloke.”

Noel Mugavin has been breeding with his damline since his brother Kevin gave him Magic Gairn, the fourth dam of McInerney.

The MDC finalist is by champion sire Fernando Bale and from Noel's G1 WA Galaxy winner Born Ali. He is the 10th Group class progeny, seven of those being G1 performers, from Born Ali.

McInerney is from a repeat mating.

“He's a lovely natured dog, just reaching his peak,” said Noel.