September 2023  | Where's Poppy

Greyhound of the Month for September was Where’s Poppy for trainer Kirin Corby, who was undefeated through the Group 3 SA Oaks series claiming the aged restricted classic at Angle Park at just her 11th career start.

The locally bred daughter of Sennachie and Fabwick had three starts for the month winning two and being placed in the other. She started the month off with an all the way win in her Heat of the SA Oaks running a solid 30.96. She then stepped out in the Final and whilst drawing the pink box this didn’t deter her from using her high speed to again lead the Group 3 Classic. She raced away from her rivals in a brilliant 30.58 in winning by 3.50 lengths, she rounded the month off with a solid third in Grade 5 company at headquarters.

At the end of the month Where’s Poppy’s record stood at 12 starts for 8 wins and 4 placings and earnings around $40,000.

August 2023  | Zipping Neutron

Greyhound of the Month for August was Zipping Neutron for trainer Tim Aloisi, who continued to dominate the local staying ranks with scintillating performances.


Zipping Neutron hAd four starts for the month winning three of his local starts with his only defeat coming in the Group 1 National Distance Championship Final at the Meadows in Victoria. He started the month off with a 42.65 win at headquarters over the 730m before a strong win in the Final of the National Distance SA series recording a handy 43.22. 


He then was far from disgraced finishing 6th in the Group 1 National Final against the best stayers in the land. The son of SH Avatar and Zipping Abby returned home and didn’t miss a beat recording a 6-length win at Angle Park over the staying trip in 43.17.


At the end of the month Zipping Neutron’s record stood at 47 starts for 19 wins and 9 placings and earnings around $108,000. His record over the 730m at Angle Park is brilliant winning 9 of his 10 starts.

July 2023  | Dash Of Blue

Greyhound of the Month for July was Dash Of Blue for trainer Richard Pearce, making it back to back awards for the son of My Redeemer and Dashing Dee Dee, but this time winning in his own right.

Dash Of Blue had three s arts for the month winning all three races and going through the North V South Challenge undefeated. He started the month off with a super 30.56 win at Gawler over the 531m in round 1 of the North V South Challenge.

He won round 2 as well at Murray Bridge running 29.71 in winning by 8.50 lengths over 530m and then clean swept the series by winning the Final back at Gawler in 30.86 when he had to work hard for the win coming from just off the speed. At the end of the month Dash Of Blue’s record stood at 38 starts for 14 wins and 14 placings and earnings just under $38,000.

June 2023 (Tie) | Zipping Neutron

Greyhound of the Month for June was jointly won by Dash Of Blue for trainer Richard Pearce and Zipping Neutron for trainer Tim Aloisi, in what was a tight month of voting.  Once all the panels votes were counted both Dash Of Blue and Zipping Neutron could not be split after both had a terrific month of racing.

Zipping Neutron had four starts for the month and was undefeated in all of them, dominating the 730m journey at headquarters. The son of Sh Avatar and Zipping Abby started the month of with a handy win over the 730m at Angle Park, he then stepped out in the Heats of the Bayroad Queen Stayers Cup where he powered home to win in 42.85.

Due to the inclement weather the Final was postponed until the following week, and he didn’t show any ill effects from the delay, winning in brilliant fashion after racing up near the lead by 9 lengths in 42.85. He rounded his month off with yet another 730m win by almost 4 lengths in 43.06 on our premier track.

At the end of the month Zipping Neutron’s record stood at 39 starts for 12 wins and 9 placings and earnings just over $76,000.

June 2023 (Tie) | Dash Of Blue 

Greyhound of the Month for June was jointly won by Dash Of Blue for trainer Richard Pearce and Zipping Neutron for trainer Tim Aloisi, in what was a tight month of voting.  Once all the panels votes were counted both Dash Of Blue and Zipping Neutron could not be split after both had a terrific month of racing.

Dash Of Blue had four starts for the month with three wins and a third placing and has developed into one of the most improved chasers in the State. The son of My Redeemer and Dashing Dee Dee started the month off with a brilliant win in the prestigious Shane McQueen Final when he led throughout in the middle distance feature. He then impressed with two wins at Gawler being over the 643m and then over the 531m. He rounded his month off with an open company placing back at headquarters over the 595m.

At the end of the month Dash Of Blue’s record stood at 35 starts for 11 wins and 14 placings and earnings just over $28,000.

May 2023 | Victa Damian

Greyhound of the Month for May was Victa Damian who was undefeated for the month, winning all three of his starts with the highlight being the Group 3
Howard Ashton Final in late May.

It was great to see the son of Fernando Bale and Victa Polly back racing in SA after an Interstate campaign and he returned with a bang in the Heats of the Howard Ashton where he was brilliant in winning by 11 lengths in a blistering 29.86, equalling Wow She’s Fast track record for the 530m journey.

He then stepped out in the Semi Finals, again winning in a dominate display by 7.50 lengths in 30.04. As a short priced favourite in the Group 3 feature he didn’t let anyone down winning by 9.25 lengths in 30.21 and confirming his star status. At the end of the month Victa Damian’s record stood at 19 starts for 13 wins and 2 placings and earnings just over $221,000.

 

April 2023 | Victa Alby

Greyhound of the Month for April was Victa Alby  who had three starts for the month with two wins and the highlight being the prestigious Anniversary Cup win at Angle Park on Thursday, 27th April. 

The son of Fernando Bale and Victa Polly started the month off by qualifying for the Group 3 Launching Pad Final at Sandown where he ran a luckless seventh against some of the best young sprinters in the land.  He returned to SA with a brilliant win in the Heats of the Anniversary Cup where he ran a slick 30.53 for the 530m when he led throughout. 
Starting favourite in the Final he began well and used his inside draw to advantage when he pushed hard on the first turn to lead and from there he was never headed. He ran a sizzling 30.23 in winning by almost 5 lengths against our top local sprinters.At the end of the month Victa Alby’s record stood at 20 starts for 9 wins and 5 placings and earnings just over $46,000.

March 2023 | Panorama

Greyhound of the Month for March was Panorama for trainer Ben Rawlings who had three starts for the month with two wins with the highlight being the Group 3 Murray Bridge Cup final victory early in the month. 

The daughter of Fernando Bale and Panamera started the month off in the Heats of the Group 3 Murray Bridge Cup where she was able to hold off a late challenge and win in a solid 25.82 for the 455m journey. She then went to another level in the final where she led easily to the first turn and gave nothing else a chance running a slick 25.49 in winning by just under a length. 

She then headed to Mt Gambier with a $10,000 bonus on offer if she could capture the Murray Bridge/Mt Gambier double however she was luckless in her heat running fifth.

February 2023 | Victa Damian

Greyhound of the Month for February was Victa Damian making it back to back awards to start the year off. He again only had two starts for the month but made a huge impression on the National scene. 

The locally owned and bred son of Fernando Bale and Victa Polly started the month off in the Heats of the Group 1 Australian Cup at the Meadows where he won in brilliant fashion, running 29.70 over the 525m journey. He then stepped out in the Group 1 Final as one of the favourites, however, after missing the kick it looked like his race was over, but using his brilliant mid race speed he raced around the field to run an outstanding third. 

January 2023 | Victa Damian

Greyhound of the Month for January was Victa Damian who only had two starts for the month but what performances they were, winning both and claiming the Group 1 National Derby at Wentworth Park . 

The locally owned and bred son of Fernando Bale and Victa Polly started the month off in the Heats of the Group 1 National Derby where he created a huge impression winning his way through to the Final, in brilliant fashion, running 29.44 over the 520m journey demolishing his rivals by almost 8 lengths. He then stepped out in the Final as the favourite and didn’t let anyone down, landing second early and then powering home for his maiden Group 1 win by 4.25 lengths. He ran a time of 29.47 which was .03 quicker than Million Dollar Chase winner She’s A Pearl who won the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder on the same night. Victa Damian’s next event will be the Heats of the Group 1 Australian Cup at the Meadows on Saturday night, 18th February, followed by the Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park in early April.

  1. Current Members of the 2023 SA Greyhound of the Year (GOTY) Judging Panel are Todd Gray, Grant Stewart,  Josh Evans, Matthew Herrmann, Shaun Mathieson and Greg Barber.

  2. After each calendar month of racing, each panellist will be asked to vote for the SA Greyhound of the Month (GOTM) by nominating a 1st choice (4 votes), 2nd choice (2 votes) and 3rd choice (1 vote). The GOTM is to be SA Trained.
     
  3. Votes are tallied and a GOTM winner is announced. In the case of one or more greyhounds having the equal highest number of votes, they will be named equal winners for that month.
     

  4. All GOTM winners, including equal winners, will be considered when the GOTY Judging Panel selects the finalists for the GOTY. The panel may consider other greyhounds that may not have won a GOTM for the GOTY finalists. To be eligible for GOTY, a finalist must have been domiciled and trained in South Australia in the year of the award for a period of not less than 120 days.

  5. When casting votes for the GOTY, the panel is to pay particular attention to all South Australian race starts, but also take into account achievements out of the state in that year.

  6. The race records and achievements for the year of all GOTM winners and relevant other greyhounds will be sent to each member of the Judging Panel prior to the selection of GOTY Finalists. Panel members may request greyhounds to be included in the list for consideration.

  7. A meeting shall be convened of the GOTY Judging Panel at which the panel will be asked to select five finalists to be included for voting purposes to establish the GOTY. This meeting will also select Finalists for the SA Distance GOTY, SA Sprint GOTY and SA Bred GOTY.

  8. The names of the selected finalists and voting slips and envelopes will be sent to each member of the Judging Panel.

  9. Members of the Judging Panel will be asked to cast their votes by nominating a 1st choice (5 points), 2nd choice (4 points), 3rd choice (3 points), 4th choice (2 points) and 5th choice (1 point) and place the voting slip in the envelope provided and return.

  10. Once all votes have been received, the CEO of Greyhound Racing SA, Racing Manager and Integrity Manager will open the sealed envelopes and tally the votes (1st choice = 5 points, 2nd choice = 4 points, 3rd choice = 3 points, 4th choice = 2 points and 5th choice = 1 point).

  11. The greyhound with the highest number of points will be named GOTY. In the case of one or more greyhounds having the equal highest number of votes, they will be named equal winners.

  12. The GOTY winners’ name/s will be announced at a function on a date and at a venue to be determined by Greyhound Racing SA.