The Sunday Afternoon “Finish On”

THE success ‘Team' Dailly has had over the past few years is quite remarkable with the likes of Bekim Bale, Heston Bale, Fernando Bale, Dyna Double One, Dyna Patty coming quickly to mind.

At the elite level, the Dailly team's partnership with Paul and Jan Wheeler has been enduring yet, at The Meadows on Saturday afternoon, six winners were prepared by Andrea Dailly – but all from their stock, bred by the family, for the family.

The pick of the sextet was Gypsy Wyong (Westmead Hawk – Dyna Gypsy) which secured the Group 3 Top Cat Video Final in 42.56.

Gypsy Wyong's early speed sets her apart from most young stayers and, having raced only twice beyond a middle distance, the black and white bitch has genuine upside.

On the night, three Dailly's winners were by Fernando Bale and all six have the hybrid vigour of American or English/Irish bloodlines.

And that brings us to the 2021 Irish Derby Final which will be held at Shelbourne Park on September 18.

Well documented is that Derby headline act Explosive Boy will head to Meticulous Lodge for stud duties upon retirement.

The semi finals went pretty much to plan with 8/11 chance All About Ted winning the first qualifier by four lengths in a smart 29.23. Singalong Sally (6/1) and Carrigen North filled the placings and, thus, a place in the decider.

Equal favourite Susie Sapphire (11/4) just held a driving Explosive Boy in the second semi to score in 29.34 while the highly regarded Jackslittlething was four lengths away, third.

All six Derby aspirants are by different sires, with All About Ted (Kinloch Brae) the sole finalist not by an Irish sire yet all have Australian pedigree  influences.

Success in the Irish Derby – and it's a deep race quality-wise – will not guarantee Explosive Boy a "Yellow Brick Road" to success Down Under but he's certainly going to turn heads if he does.

The box draw for the Irish Derby Final is: 1 Susie Sapphire (5/2), 2 Singalong Sally (12/1), 3 Carrigeen North (25/1), 4 Explosive Boy (11/4), 5 Jackslittlething (4/1), 6 All About Ted (11/4).

Interestingly, the Derby final has four inside preferred runners and two wide draw aspirants for the €125,000 ($A200,717) winner's purse.

NO GUIDE

Responsible gambling messages from corporate bookmakers are required under licence but it's wearing a bit thing for mine.

Setting deposit limits is the latest ‘go to' in advocacy but misinformation is plied on a daily basis – by many corporate bookmakers – which metaphorically thumbs the nose of regulators.

Take for example the Bet365 comment for Lunar Star's 595m outing at Sandown on Sunday.

For her 715m win at Sandown on September 2, the comment reads: "Flew the lids with a sensational early split and went on to clock 41.98 when a 0.7 lengths winner over 715m at this track. In form and expected to run well again."

For the uninitiated, most published on-line comment for greyhound racing is done via "Fuzzy Logic" – an algorithm which assesses results of races and applies mathematical logic and spits out the crud which Bet365 (and others) hope will induce a bet.

The double standard is laid bare when considering how Lunar Star won from box two at Sandown on September 2! Here's the replay:

A "sensational early split" – please!

The rarely read Terms and Conditions for all corporate entities will deny liability (for misinformation) and propose punters should not rely on the accuracy of published information.

The T's & C's, however, should not be an excuse for misleading punters. The deception is based on dollars and cents … the "Fuzzy Logic" comment is sourced at minimal cost and all that counts in the corporate bookmaking world is the bottom line.

THE THREE P'S

When it comes to sire choice, temperament is a where many start.

Pedigree and performance get close attention but who wants to put up with ‘yappy', highly strung type when calm stock will be more competitive on the track and a pleasure to work with?

Word of mouth – the old bush telegraph – works overtime which it comes to ‘ratty' temperament. Many years back, the Olympic Eagle and Security Alert stock were considered M.A.D. (read overkeen) while the Bond progeny had the capacity to be noisy and efficiently destroy kennels.

So, it's temperament which is ground zero while the third P is ‘progeny'.

Zipping Garth's first few litters to start have had an immediate impact and breeders are lining up to use the son of Zulu Zeus. His tangential pedigree will appeal for those with daughters of Fernando Bale and Barcia Bale while his quiet temperament is icing on the cake.

Next up will be reports on the Good Odds Harada and Feral Franky saplings.

Leading trainer David Smith has six of Good Odds Harada's first litter out of proven producer Red Sox Ethics and likes what he sees.

"They've broken in as good as any pup I've had and they're beautiful kennel dogs," Smith said.

"They don't bark, are very clean and easy to handle."

News thereafter will come from the USA with Konomi's first pups being readied for the track this month for the upcoming Abilene Falls National meet.

He's stamped his pups impressively and, if looks count (and they often don't), the son of SH Avatar will turn heads in 2022.

SLOTTING IN

The announcement of slot recipients for the TAB The Phoenix to be held at The Meadows on December 18 is at hand.

Just how the eight stakeholders negotiate with owners of elite sprinters for the $1.145m contest will be interesting.

The concept might be unique to greyhound racing but it's really a copy of Racing NSW's The Everest (which morphed The Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Florida ) and the ‘requirements' of slot holders in the thoroughbred world were interesting to say the least.

The owners of one, now retired stallion, were asked for part ownership of the horse (which would include stud earnings) – a demand which was declined.

While the slot holders have until December 10 to lock in their choice, negotiations with high class performers will be interesting.

Should Ray Borda secure a slot, his task is straightforward – Aston Rupee!

Wow, Good Odds Cash, Zipping Kyrgios, Koblenz and Qwara Bale are front and centre for now but there will be emerging talent.

Form is fleeting and class permanent but injury can ruin the best laid plans.

From now until December 10 the Melbourne Cup, Topgun and Shoot Out are in play so there's no time for ‘kid gloves'.

Just how many with stand up to rigors of Victoria's spring features and still be firing at 10 tenths on December 18?

Covid-19 travel restrictions may also be in play in December. Interesting times indeed.

IN THE CHAIR

There's been little hoopla surrounding his tenure, yet NSW participants should be celebrating the appointment of former Senator John "Wacka" Williams as GRNSW Chairman.

The South Australian-born former shearer and sheep farmer has deep roots with greyhound racing and was a staunch advocate of the code when Mike Baird and Troy Grant went out on a limb to ban greyhound racing in 2016.

Williams' grandfather Eric Williams built the first enclosed greyhound track on his family farm at Yongala near Jamestown in 1932.

So ahead of its time and important to the region, South Australian Governor Major General Winston Dugan opened the track which, uniquely, later had lighting for night racing.

While sheep grazing was important to the Williams family, greyhound racing and bookmaking, was a way of life, an enduring passion.

"I remember days working with my father as a bookie … he'd go to Port Augusta for the horses but I preferred the dogs and went to the famous Mintaro coursing," Williams said.

"There were tracks at Kenderleigh – between Balaklava and Mallala – at Hartley and, of course Minataro up our way.

"I've always had keen interest in greyhounds and, now I'm out of Parliament, I've got the time to spend on something I'm really passionate about."

Williams' tenure is in an acting capacity for the moment but he's certainly the right person for a permanent appointment.

Having such a great man as John Williams on board gives genuine comfort to NSW participants.

From the darkest of times, Minister Kevin Anderson has been a breath of fresh air and his close association with Williams will ensure the GRNSW Board is fully focussed.

Good people are making good decisions in NSW and, once Covid constraints are eased, exiting times won't be far away.

Welcome aboard "Wacka", a passionate advocate for greyhound racing – a man in the right place at the right time.

KEEPING SAFE

In the coming weeks, greyhound racing's administrators (and all workplaces?) will formalise a policy regarding Covid-19 vaccinations and the ‘eligibility' of patrons to attend race meetings.

The responsibility around these decisions lies not with those who are vaccinated, but keeping those who are not vaccinated safe.

Being vaccinated does not inhibit the capacity for anyone to carry the Covid-19 virus and a litigation minefield is created if someone attends a workplace and falls ill.

Vaccination passports might be a new concept but it's likely to be the new normal in 2021 and beyond.