Reena Flies High To Dam Of The Year Gong

SERENA Fly High's spectacular success as a brood was celebrated on Sunday with her crowning as NSW Dam of the Year for 2021.

It's hard to imagine that the star of the NSW Greyhound of the Year awards was a 9 ½ year old brood but that was very much the case at the weekend.

Maintaining her mantle as one of the sport's most influential brood matrons, Serena Fly High enjoyed a remarkable 2021 with her offspring for proud owners Vince Bennett and daughter Amy.

During 2021, Serena Fly High's progeny raced 34 times in NSW for a staggering 17 wins and 13 placings, amassing a cool $424,900 in prizemoney.

Headlining her all-star cast of offspring are two now retired superstars which are poised to forge hugely successful careers at stud and maintain the family name with distinction.

They are of course WA champ Tommy Shelby and NSW phenom Jungle Deuce which was crowned 2021 NSW Greyhound of the Year in emotional scenes on Sunday.

See, Serena Fly High, or Reena as she's more affectionately known, had her paw prints all over Sunday's awards, her impact simply profound.

There was perhaps no better illustration of Serena Fly High's deeds in the breeding barn than Golden Easter Egg night at Wentworth Park in 2021.

It was a night that saw Tommy Shelby (ex Fernando Bale) sweep to victory in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg only a few hours after his younger half brother Jungle Deuce (ex Barcia Bale) charged away with the Group 3 New Sensation.

Both would go on to race with distinction all around the country before Tommy Shelby retired with prizemoney of more than $1 million while Jungle Deuce was well on his way to the same lofty milestone before retiring with earnings of $654,720.

At Sunday's gala awards, Amy Bennett spoke in glowing admiration of the family's once in a lifetime producer.

"We're just so extremely proud," Amy said. 

"To see the results she's produced and the lives she's changed along the way just makes it all so very special.

"Watching her pups go on and do such amazing things is hard to put into words."

And for those looking to get into the incredible line the door is still slightly ajar.

"There are a couple of pups from her latest litter still for sale," Amy added.

"They are great types – the opportunity is there for anyone keen on tapping into the line."

Congratulations to Jungle Deuce and Tommy Shelby's dam, Serena Fly High, who collected the honour of 2021 GRNSW Dam of the Year.

During 2021, Serena Fly High's progeny raced 34 times in NSW for 17 wins & 13 placings, amassing $424,900 in prizemoney.#thedogs #GOTY pic.twitter.com/eUed82icNp

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) November 15, 2022

Overall, Serena Fly High's progeny have won upwards of 150 races for more than $2 million in stake earnings.

A remarkable body of work.

From a damline Vince Bennett has cultivated since obtaining Smokey Melody from Ralph and Jeanette Fuller, Serena Fly High has an 18-month old litter To Fernando Bale while a 10-month old litter of six to Superior Panama is waiting in the wings as well.

Whether her breeding days are over isn't entirely clear but regardless, her legacy as one of the sport's most successful broods is already secure.