Tasracing, in conjunction with the Greyhound of the Year Selection Panel have announced the final three contenders for the Greyhound of the Year Award to be presented at the Tasmanian Greyhound Annual Awards & Launceston Cup Finalists Dinner at the Ladbrokes Racing Centre, Launceston on Friday February 3 2022.
The finalists, in alphabetical order are McInerney, Nail ‘Em Fencer and Rojo Diamond.
All of these greyhounds have the credentials to take out the award and the selection panel will have a difficult time determining the ultimate winner.
A summary of the achievements of the three finalists are as follows:
MCINERNEY
He is a black dog whelped in September 2019 by Fernando Bale from Born Ali. He is owned by Noel Mugavin and was trained in Tasmania by Blake Pursell at Brighton.
McInerney’s Tasmanian record for 2022 was 12 starts for 10 wins. Interstate, whilst trained by Blake, he had 7 starts in Victoria for 1 win and 2 placings, with 1 start at Wentworth Park for a third.
Tasmanian performance highlights include:
- Won the Easter Cup at Hobart
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Tasmanian Sprint Championship
- Won seven races in a row in Tasmania.
In New South Wales and Victoria:
- Won at Sandown (Melbourne) in a best of the night 29.24.
- Ran 3rd at Wentworth Park (Sydney) in the final of the Group 1 National Sprint Championship.
NAIL ‘EM FENCER
He is a black dog whelped in March 2020 by Aston Dee Bee from Hoity Toity and is owned by Kingsley Jarman and trained by Dilston based Neville Allison.
He won 21 races and ran 10 placings from 35 starts in 2022, all in Tasmania.
His major wins include:
- Heat and Final of the Tasbred Bonus Series at Launceston
- Heat and Final of the Illingworth Classic at Launceston
- Heat of the Country Derby at Launceston
- Final of the Tasmanian Derby at Launceston
- Heat and Final of the Tasmanian Gold Cup
- Heat of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Chase
ROJO DIAMOND
He is a black dog whelped in December 2019 by Fabregas from Sing The Song and is owned by the Gold Nugget Syndicate, managed and trained by Robin Grubb at St Leonards.
He won 17 races and ran 4 placings from 24 starts in 2022, all in Tasmania.
His major wins include:
- Final of the Tasmanian Country Derby Final at Launceston
- Heat of the JG Nelson Cup Division 2 at Launceston
- The Silver Trophy at Hobart
- Heat of the Tasmanian Gold Cup
- Heat and Final of the Group 3 Ladbrokes Chase
- Heat of the Group 1 Hobart Thousand before finishing third in the final.
The announcement of the 2022 Greyhound of the Year will be part of the Tasmanian Annual Awards & Launceston Cup Finalists Dinner at Ladbrokes Racing Centre, Launceston on Friday February 3, 2023.