Nangar Jim Wins Temora Cup, Via Dubbo

JOE McFadyen headed off to Dubbo on Saturday with Nangar Luna for the semi-finals of the Country Classic that night and took Nangar Jim as a “travelling companion”.

Not really … Nangar Jim was running on Sunday night in the Group 3 Temora Cup final (457m) and Joe did not fancy a return trip from Dubbo to his home base at Kariong and then the long trip to Temora all within two days.

“I took Nangar Jim with me and he stayed in the van all night while the Dubbo meeting was on, but I sat out in the van with him to make sure he was fine,” said Joe.

Joe and his dogs stayed with Jack Smith at Forbes overnight before heading to Temora.

“Fine” he was because on Sunday, Nangar Jim (Aston Dee Bee-Nangar Silk) sped out of the boxes and led throughout to win the Cup by almost four lengths over a true group class field.

Chasing him home was Overflow Beau and Tattooed with the hot favourite Nangar Larry fourth and Derby winner History's Coming in fifth.

Nangar Jim has added another Cup to his name tonight, winning the @Ladbrokescomau @TemoraGreys Cup Final in 25.56 from Overflow Beau and Tattooed ???? ????#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds #temoracup pic.twitter.com/wXU3FctiJ9

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) March 10, 2024

“I suppose the 12 stirs up Jim got on Saturday night at Dubbo might have helped him for Temora,” joked Joe.

“I could not believe how sensible he was in the van at Dubbo. He never turned a hair.”

Nangar Jim, winner of the Group 2 Maitland Cup in December, has now won 15 of 28 starts for $144,000 in stakes and he is raced by the Tre Fratelli (three brothers) syndicate of Jason, Adrian and David Carrozza.

“The boys came into my kennel through Mick Hardman recommending they send Sandstorm Rico to me and we had good success with him, and still do,” said Joe.

“Jason is big on form and will always flick me a dog to watch with the aim of buying it and that's what he did when Nangar Jim started out early in 2023.

“They contacted Dennis Barnes and bought the dog.

“He is a genuine Group dog and the first genuine Group dog I've trained.

“We had 10 Group finalists last year, but and with all due respect for those other dogs, this is the first dog we have had we thought can go into a Group race with a great chance of winning.”

Jason Carrozza admitted today he and his brothers were still riding a high after the Group win.

“We've been in dogs since 2017 and finally got a really good one,” said Jason.

I'm always watching for dogs we might be able to buy and I spotted this dog very early in his career.

“We approached Dennis Barnes and bought him. Everything you buy from Dennis you know will be well reared, well educated and great chasers.

“But, we have to admit Nangar Jim has improved out of sight. When we first bought him, we thought he could make a nice Wenty dog, win his fifth grades and then we might be able to move him on.

“But he has kept on improving and his early pace is a huge bonus.

“What a big thrill just to have a dog in a Group final, let alone win it.”

Joe gave Nangar Jim a great chance if he led and that just what he did.

“That field was a super Group field,” said Joe.

“It panned out just the way I hoped it would, not necessarily the way I thought it would.”

He now plans to sit down and map out Jim's immediate future but it certainly includes a tilt at the Golden Easter Egg.

“He may even go straight into the series without another start,” said Joe.

Joe arrived home at 6.30 on Monday morning to a social media storm on Facebook, and on his phone.

“I could not believe the congratulations I was getting on Facebook, the phone calls and texts, it all just exploded,” he said.

“I was overwhelmed by it all.”