Dyna Double One is the AGRA Greyhound of the Year
At a gala AGRA Awards night held at the InterContinental Hotel in Adelaide, South Australia the Australian Greyhound Racing Association last Friday night announced Dyna Double One the winner of the 2015-2016 AGRA Australian Greyhound of the Year.
It was a night of nights on the National scene with Delegates and club members coming together from all over Australia to celebrate the AGRA Awards night.
It was the second time Greyhound Racing SA, has hosted the Awards night. The last was back in March 2011. This year led by CEO Matt Corby and his extremely competent team, GRSA hosted the Awards night in the beautiful InterContinental Ballroom. The Awards night now takes place with the National Championships in August each year. It was another night to remember and a glittering affair. Each State that has staged the event since 2006, have gone to great lengths to put on an outstanding show, with GRSA no exception.
New South Wales owned & Victorian trained sprint sensation Dyna Double One won the Greyhound the Year. He defeated four other finalists - Fernando Bale (last year’s winner), No Donuts, Dalgetty and Zambora Brockie.
The winner was selected by panel of judges consisting of administrators and media representatives from each state. The panel was asked to allocate votes 3, 2 and 1 to the three finalists in order of each judge’s preference in a secret vote.
Accepting the award from GRSA’s Chairman Michael Fabbro, Paul & Jan Wheeler accepted the award on behalf of their son Brendan, the owner of Dyna Double One. They remarked on what a fantastic experience it had been for the Wheeler family following the fortunes of Dyna Double One throughout the year. His battles with kennelmate Fernando Bale had been sensational, with Dyna Double One taking the upper hand in the Melbourne Cup final followed by more Group 1 wins with his famous kennelmate on the sidelines and retired. DDO had travelled far and wide competing in many major group events throughout the year thrilling crowds where ever he racing and had truly become the sports pin up dog with enormous popularity particularly in his home state of Victoria where he did most of his racing.
Listed below are Dyna Double One’s achievements during 2015-2016.
Dyna Double One
(March 2013 Black Dog (Barcia Bale – Crystin Bale) Race starts: 2015-2016: 30 – 18 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds. Owner: Brendan Wheeler. Trainer: Andrea Dailly (Corio, Victoria) Winner: Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Group 1 Brisbane Cup, Group 1 Australian Cup, and Group 1 Rookie Rebel. Finalist: Group 1 Maturity Classic (2nd); Group 1 Top Gun (3rd); Group 1 Winter Cup (2nd); Group 1 Hobart 1000 (6th); Group 2 Shoot Out (3rd); Group 3 Cranbourne Puppy Classic (3rd). Total Career Prizemoney: $1,160,316 .
The previous winners of the AGRA Australian Greyhound of the Year are 2002 Boomeroo, 2003 Bombastic Shiraz, 2004 Whisky Assassin, 2005 Pure Octane, 2006 Betty’s Angel, 2007 Flashing Floods, 2008 El Galo, 2009 Cindeen Shelby, 2010 El Grand Senor, 2011 Dyna Tron, 2012 Miata, 2012-2013 Miata, 2013-2014 Xylia Allen and 2014-2015 Fernando Bale.
Earlier in the night under the sterling guidance of MC Catching Pen host and Sky’s very own Mark Duclos the AGRA announced the other award winners in the following categories.
2015-2016 Brood Bitch of the Year was Chloe Allen
Jan Wheeler accepted the award on behalf of the family. Chloe Allen won with 56 points from Crystin Bale 47, Light Fantastic 31, Mrs Trickett 29, West On Bluebird 27 and Teddy’s Jackpot 23.
2015-2016 Sire of the Year was Kinloch Brae
Neil Brown on behalf of Irish Studmaster Michael Dunn accepted the award. The trophy is to be delivered back to Ireland by GRSA guest Dolores Ruth.
Kinloch Brae won with 935 points from Magic Sprite 870, Fabregas 856, Barcia Bale 830, Kelsos Fusileer 580 and Collision 447.
2015-2016 Run of the Year went to Bourbski Fever for her outstanding performance coming from a hopeless position in the Group 1 Bold Trease. She ran down a top field of stayers in the home straight to win the Group 1 at Sandown Park in December.
The award was accepted by a very excited part owners Jason Lyne and Ross Davidson from Bathurst in New South Wales.
The Run Of the Year was determined from the 12 runs of the month, then by a vast panel of judges from each state. This year some 25 people cast their opinion in the nationwide poll deciding a clear cut victory to the performance of Bourbski Fever while a special mention were given to the efforts of Unlawful Entry.
2015-2016 Trainer of the Year was Anthony Azzopardi
Anthony was on hand to accept the award. It was clearly acknowledged what an extraordinary year Anthony Azzopardi had had in 2015-2016. He trained the following Group winners. Group 1 Vic Peters (Zambora Brockie), Paws Of Thunder (Asa Flying Spur), Zoom Top (No Donuts). Group 2 winners Black Top (Uno Suzie), Dapto Puppy Classic (France Soir), Summer Plate (No Donuts), Warrnambool Cup and Horsham Cup (Zambora Brockie). Anthony also trained the Group 3 Canberra Cup winner Uno Suzie and the Group 3 Casino Cup winner Jack Kade. Anthony has been one of the nation’s top trainers for many years and made the successful move to Victoria at the start of 2016.
The trainer of year is determined after nominations are put forward to the AGRA CEO’s who cast votes at a meeting held in July.
The panel takes into account a number of different aspects of the training side of things it included. Group wins, and finalists, State city wins, number of runners and dogs in work, percentage per runners ect.
The Hall of Fame Inductees were as follows:
Stud Dog – Tumble Bug - Legendary Race dog and Sire in the USA of the 50’s.
27 starts 18 wins and 5 placings
Winner 1948 Easter Cup.
2nd 1947 Hobart 1000
Inducted into the USA Hall of Fame 1985.
The Award was accepted by Tasmanian Historian and custodian of the Tasmanian Greyhound Hall of Fame Greg Fahey. Greg together with New South Wales breeding expert Dennis Wyndham were instrumental in providing information and awareness to the deeds of Tumble Bug to the AGRA Committee.
Race Dog – Miata - Legendary Western Australian Race dog.
Race Record 51 starts 42 wins 6 placings. Held all three Cannington track Records until it closed.
Won Group 1 Galaxy 2012 and 2013, 2012 Group 1 Association Cup, 2012 Group 1 National Distance Championship, 2012 Group 1 Bold Trease and 2012 Group 2 Zoom Top.
3rd 2012 and 2013 Sandown Cups. 3rd 2012 Albion Park Gold Cup.
2012 WA Greyhound of the Year, 2012 and the 2012-2013 AGRA Greyhound of the Year.
The Award was accepted by Miata’s part owner and trainer Paul Stuart.
Breeder – Paul Wheeler - Legendary New South Wales breeder.
Iconic national breeder Paul Wheeler joined his late father Allen as the only father and son inductees in the AGRA Hall of Fame. Allen who was inducted in 2009 together with their families have left a 70 year legacy to the Australian industry. Rewriting the record books on every aspect of the sport Paul Wheeler has produced some of the best greyhounds ever to race in Australia and he is a highly respected industry figure worldwide.
Paul was on hand to accept his induction into the AGRA Hall of Fame.
It concluded a fantastic night which is sure to be repeated next year in August, in Brisbane for the 2017 version of AGRA’s National Championships, Greyhound of the Year, Annual meeting and Conference.