Four outstanding dogs - with more than $2 million in prizemoney between them - have been named as finalists in the NSW Greyhound of the Year, with the winner to be announced at a gala event next month.
The quartet - Jungle Deuce, Stanley Road, Wow and Zipping Kyrgios - won a combined 11 Group races and a total of 65 races over the course of 2021.
"They were the standout performers of the year in NSW, and any of these brilliant greyhounds would be a worthy winner," said a spokesperson for the judging panel, which comprised GRNSW and industry experts.
While the recently retired Jack Smith-trained Jungle Deuce collected his two career Group 1 victories - the Paws of Thunder and the Gold Bullion - in first five weeks of 2022, his performances in 2021 were exceptional.
Jungle Deuce won the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic at Albion Park, the Group 3 New Sensation at Wentworth Park, the Listed Brother Fox Cup at Dubbo and the Listed State of Origin Match Race Challenge, again in Brisbane. Jungle Deuce was also a finalist in the Group 1 Topgun at The Meadows and was the People's Choice representative in the inaugural running of the slot race, The Phoenix.
Like Jungle Deuce, Wow has now retired, but his record and achievements in 2021 make him a worthy finalist for the Greyhound of the Year title.
Wow began the year with victory in the Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup, then went to Melbourne and took out the Group 1 Temlee at The Meadows, and would later in the year defend his Group 3 Goulburn Cup title. As well as the victories Wow was gallant in finishing second to Tommy Shelby in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg as well as contesting the Topgun Final.
The sole stayer of the quartet is the Mark Gatt-trained Stanley Road. In 2021 Stanley Road was considered of one of the country's best stayers. He began the year with success in the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park, before winning the Group 1 Super Stayers at The Meadows.
Stanley Road returned to Sydney to win the Group 1 Association Cup and would later in the year win the Group 3 Distance Cheer, again at Wentworth Park.
Stanley Road contested another five Group finals during 2021, including finishing second in the Group 1 Zoom Top behind Houdini Boy and second in the Group 1 Sandown Cup behind Zipping Rambo.
The fourth of the Greyhound of the Year finalists is the John Finn-trained Zipping Kyrgios who continues to race at an elite level, finishing second in the Million Dollar Chase just last month.
In 2021 Zipping Kyrgios won the Group 2 Black Top at The Gardens, and the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint at Wentworth Park. In an incredible year Zipping Kyrgios also contested three Group 1 finals - the Golden Easter Egg Final, the Topgun Final and the Megastar Final at Dapto.
The NSW Greyhound of the Year awards were revived in 2021 after an absence of seven years, with the winners from 2014 through to 2020 receiving their awards at a gala function in November last year. The brilliant Flying Ricciardo was crowned the latest Greyhound of the Year at that ceremony.
"It was tremendous to be able to reintroduce the Greyhound Of The Year awards in 2021 after an absence of several years," GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Rob Macaulay said. "It is imperative that each year we are able to celebrate the outstanding achievements of those in our sport, and recognise and honour our magnificent animals.
"I want to offer my congratulations to the four finalists and their connections, and I eagerly await our gala function when we see which of the quartet will join some of the sport's greats on the honour roll as NSW Greyhound of the Year."
Apart from the major honour, GRNSW will also recognise with awards the Metropolitan Trainer of the Year, the NSW Trainer of the Year, the Sire of the Year, the Dam of the Year, and present the prestigious Allan Wheeler Medal for outstanding service to the industry.
