Time For Dyna Double One To Take His ‘HOF' Place

THE recent passing of Dyna Double One gives pause to reflect on his Hall Of Fame career, and to ponder why he is not in it.

The son of Hall of Fame sire Barcia Bale burst onto the scene in late 2012, winning his first four starts (three in best of night), including 29.55 and 29.52 victories in the Silver Chief heat and semi-final, before tasting defeat for the first time in the final.

He would become a fixture in group races across the country over the ensuing 11 months, however he would develop somewhat of a reputation as a group 1 bridesmaid as he placed in four of his next five finals at the highest level.

That all changed in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. In perhaps the greatest edition of the race dubbed ‘the world's greatest', Dyna Double One upstaged kennelmate Fernando Bale to claim the then world's richest race in race record time. 

With his group 1 hoodoo broken, Dyna Double One would go on to win the Brisbane Cup and Rookie Rebel before rounding out his career with victory in the Australian Cup, becoming just the third greyhound to win both Melbourne Club's signature sprint event. 

His 51 starts netted 31 wins and over $1.16m, in prize money – just the second greyhound to earn over $1m in prize money – and broke three track records. He qualified for 12 group 1 finals – including a final in every Australian state – and was crowned the 2015/16 Australian Greyhound Of the Year.

In 2022, his deeds were recognised by Greyhound Racing Victoria as he was elevated to the GRV Hall of Fame, where he sits alongside contemporaries Fernando Bale and Fanta Bale. 

Yet bizarrely, none of those three undisputed champions sit in the Greyhound Clubs Australia Hall Of Fame.

Elevation to the GCA Hall of Fame is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a greyhound, and only the truly exceptional should sit within it. 

According to its website, the GCA Hall of Fame criteria states; greyhounds must have won at least four Group races, at least two of which must have been at Group 1 level. Greyhounds must have officially completed their racing career prior to nomination.

It's a surprisingly low bar for such an honour, however a look through the names on the honour roll include true legends of the sport such as Temlee, Rookie Rebel, Rapid Journey, Bogie Leigh and Bold Trease which speaks to the quality required to achieve Hall of Fame status. 

In fact, just three greyhounds that have raced in the last 20 years have been inducted – Miata, Xylia Allen and Barcia Bale – with Bogie Leigh sitting right on the edge.

Miata was an undisputed champion. Barcia Bale won 13 of 14 career starts but his induction was a result of his stud career. Xylia Allen … was a very, very good greyhound. 

She won 40 of 81 career starts, broke seven track records (four of which were on provincial tracks) and retired as the sport's then highest prize money earner.

Three of her four group 1 wins came in restricted company – the Peter Mosman, Sapphire Crown, National Sprint – and her staying group 1 the Gold Cup at Albion Park.

Following her retirement in 2014, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. Interestingly, she is not in her home state's Hall Of Fame. 

Xylia Allen was a very good greyhound. However, but any measure, Dyna Double One – as well as Fernando Bale and Fanta Bale – boasts a superior record.

Almost a decade after his final race, it's time ‘Doogsy' took his place among the sport's greats.