Filthy Phantom continues to amaze
Most people are happy to see their Greyhound race 25 times during their career, some get the pleasure of watching them race 50 times, and for some very lucky ones they can hit the 100 mark. For trainer Tony Hinrichsen, he has had the pleasure of watching his homegrown warrior, Filthy Phantom, grace the track for 267 starts, a figure which is still going up. Not only has he been able to amass an unbelievable amount of starts, but he has also been no slouch having won 30 races and been placed another 95 times. The black dog which was born in April, 2016, was a product of Tony’s own breeding intention.
“I bred him, I bought the mother with the idea of breeding from her. She had one litter which was his. He failed GAP 2 years ago and I thought, well, I’ll just keep him racing and look at what's happened.” - Tony Hinchrinsen
Such has been the amazing longevity of the Phantom, Tony has decided to breed from him. He served his first two litters in November, with Rusty Fury (4 dogs, 2 bitches) and Spring Leesa (1 dog, 1 bitch) the outcomes.
“I just thought he deserved to have a go, he's a dog that’s had 267 starts so he’s obviously sound and I’m just hoping to put that into a couple of the pups really. He matched up with the bitches, David Brasch said it all matched up nicely.”
“As far as I know he holds the Australian record (for number of race starts), their was a dog called Galloping Graham and he had 250 starts in Victoria.”
Filthy Phantom has been able to maintain a freakish ability to stay on the track and continue racing week to week, which could be partly due to the dogs laid back nature.
“He’s pretty quiet and laid back, when somethings going on he wants to be part of it sort of thing, but that's like most dogs.”
“He's had no injuries! Nothing, he’s just so sound and goes around week after week. I'm not sure what it is! He just loves it. His sister was pretty sound as well, she had 100 starts.”
“He pulls up the next day and you wouldn’t even know he’s had a race. When he raced at Mount Gambier, I put him in the ice bath and three minutes later he’s not even puffing!”
Filthy Phantom will make it start 268 on Wednesday when he lines up for a masters race at Gawler, in an attempt to make it four wins in a row. Where the road ends for the Phantom is unknown, but one thing is for sure, he’s an absolute warrior!
“The way he’s going at the moment, I would like to think he could get to 300!”
Photo: A few happy snaps of Filthy Phantom and Tony Hinrichsen over the last few months
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography