Oh Boy! Guthrie Celebrates Birthday In Style

SHAUN Guthrie celebrated his 32nd birthday and loaded up on the $16 and then $19 about Nora's Boy when he raced to victory in the Taree Million Dollar Chase regional final (537m) on Wednesday.

A brickies labourer from Lake Cathie just south of Port Macquarie, Shaun admitted he snapped up the juicy odds while having a drink in the pub on Tuesday afternoon with workmates.

Nora's Boy (La Grand Quality-Cyclone Nora) got a dream run to the first turn, tracked early leader Weffalee Shield, swept to the front on straightening and then held off Sunshine Lily to win by three-quarters of a length in 30.98.

Weffalee Shield was third a length and a quarter away.

Hot favourites, Fat Boy's Dream and Hurricane's Fury did themselves no favours finding early trouble and first turn woes to trail in the field.

???? ???? What a birthday present for trainer Shaun Guthrie – Nora's Boy into the @ladbrokescomau Million Dollar Chase Semi-Finals at @WentyParkGreys on October 6!

Kat Ernst caught up with Shaun after his Taree Regional Final win…#thedogs @Kat_Ernst92 pic.twitter.com/c3tzsBttYE

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 6, 2023

Shaun has only had Nora's Boy for a few months.

The Trot Boys Syndicate in Victoria bought the dog for $12,000 a few months ago and stuck loyal to Shaun.

“I'd trained a dog for them a while ago and when they bought this bloke they asked if I would train him,” said Shaun.

“I deal with the syndicate boss Connor Clarke who is a trot driver in Victoria.

“I thought he was a great chance after his run in the heat and told the boys to back him.

“When he came up at $16 yesterday while I was in the pub after work, I had to have something on him. Then he went out to $19 and I jumped in again.

“And, with it being my birthday today, it's been a great day.

“I get the day off to go racing. It's much better than slapping mud on bricks.”

Nora's Boy has now started 24 times for seven wins and the victory on Wednesday took his earnings to $22,000.

“Yes, he'll head to Wenty for a couple of trials because he's never been there, and probably a race before the Million Dollar Chase semis,” said Shaun.

“Yes, it's probably a big ask taking on the big boys down there, but it's a huge thrill just to be there.”

Shaun gallops his dog on the Lake Cathie beach and relies on vets John Newell and Peter Yore to keep him sound.

“I've been training on and off for about 10 years,” he said.

“I started off in a syndicate with a dog in Peter Lagogiane's kennels. Then someone said why don't I give training a try for myself, so I did.”