Star Trio In Contention For Qld Greyhound of the Year

LITTERMATES Extra Malt and Spotted Elk and fine staying bitch Maggie Moo Moo are the three contenders for the 2021 Queensland greyhound of the year award.

The winner will be announced at a function to be held in the Queensland  Cricketer's Club at the famous Gabba, scene of greyhound racing for two decades, on April 1.

A panel of nine selected the trio recently.

It is a tribute to the year of success for Graham and Leanne Hall that the litter sisters Extra Malt and Spotted Elk are two of the finalists.

Extra Malt notched up 22 wins and 10 placings from 45 starts including the Group 3 Ipswich Auction Series.

#TABPhoenix: Queenslander SPOTTED ELK (B3) set the early pace but it was the Jacqueline Greenough-trained WOW SHE'S FAST (B4), in just her 7th race start, defying her lack of experience to take out the $750,000 1st prize for slot holder SportsBet#GreyhoundRacing @TheMeadowsDogs pic.twitter.com/IWRH5tjICT

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) December 18, 2021

She was also a close second to NSW star Jungle Deuce in the Origin Series.

Spotted Elk won 16 races in 2021, claiming the inaugural Listed Qld Flame, and earning a spot in the coveted $1.145m The Phoenix at The Meadows in the process.

She did her state and her connections proud by grabbing second in The Phoenix and a $100,000 pay cheque.

Maggie Moo Moo finished fourth at Group 1 level in the Association Cup and Sandown Cup, but at Albion Park landed the Group 3 Super Stayers Invitational and was runner-up in the Group 1 Queensland Cup.

A hock injury in September forced the early retirement of Darren Johnstone's star.

This year's awards hold special significance being hosted at The Gabba, the original home of the Brisbane Club, in what is the club's 50-year anniversary.

Other awards on the night include:

Trainers Strike Rate Award

Brisbane Sire of the Year

Brisbane Leading Owner Award

Brisbane Dam of the Year

Top Simbi Award

The Young Achiever

Woman in Racing

Run of the Year

RQ Outstanding Contribution Award

QRIC Welfare Award

Hall of Fame inductees and

Club Award winners (leading trainer and leading greyhound).