No 'Blues' For Con

BLUE greyhounds polarise trainers – a few love them, most simply tolerate them while others are reluctant to have them in their kennels – but Sydney owner Con Hansimikali's enthusiasm for this colour was rewarded when Northern Nangar won at Wentworth Park last Wednesday.

Trained at Yallah on the south coast by Cliff Bell, Northern Nangar led all the way to win the Bulli To Wenty Final by five lengths in a nippy 30.20sec.
Until recently Northern Nangar was owned by his breeder Dennis Barnes and was campaigning with a Victorian trainer.
But before the dog contested a 460m race at Warragul on April 17, Barnes and Hansimikali discussed the possibility of the Sydney owner buying the greyhound.
“Dennis said that he knew I liked blue greyhounds and agreed to sell me Northern Nangar if I was happy with the way the dog went at Warragul,” Hansimikali said.
“Northern Nangar won easily so the sale was made and the dog came to Cliff Bell's kennels.
“After a win and two seconds at Bulli we were well satisfied with the dog went and he won his heat to qualify for the Wenty final.
“We were very pleased with the way Northern Nangar went in his WP win because he had not seen the track, not even in a trial.
“And the greyhound had not previously been tested beyond 472 metres.”
Hansimikali and Cliff Bell combined to win a race at Wentworth Park in March, 2016, with Nangar Veiw, another purchase from Cudal breeder Dennis Barnes.
But Hansimikali is best known for having raced the former champion sprinter Fancy Dean in partnership with Socceroo star Tim Chahill.
Fancy Dean, yet another product of the Barnes breeding establishment, was trained by Wally Lutiger and scored 29 wins and 37 placings from 85 starts in 2011 and 2012, earning $163,430 in prizemoney.
And what colour was Fancy Dean? Blue of course!