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 at the Ladbrokes Racing Centre on Ladbrokes Launceston Cup Night, Launceston on Saturday January 27, 2024.
The finalists, in alphabetical order are Fast Minardi, Raider’s Guide 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:
FAST MINARDI
He is a light brindle dog whelped in March 2021 by Fernando Bale from Cheeky Vixen. He is owned by Ross Freeman and trained by Loira based Paul Hili.
Fast Minardi’s Tasmanian record for 2023 was 34 starts for 21 wins. Interstate, he had 3 starts in Victoria for 1 win and 2 placings, with his victory coming at Sandown Park in a Melbourne Cup Prelude on November 2.
Tasmanian performance highlights include:
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Ladbrokes Illingworth Classic
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Division 1 J.G. Nelson Cup
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Division 2 G.O.T.B.A.T Series
- Won the Ladbrokes Vet’s Medley Series Final at Hobart
- Won the Sires On Ice Tasmanian Derby at Launceston
- Won the Ladbrokes Tasmanian Dist. Championship at Launceston
- Established a new track record over the 600 metres at Launceston
- Ran 2nd at Launceston in the final of the Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup
In Victoria:
- Ran 2nd at The Meadows in the final of the Group 1 National Dist. Championship
- Won a Prelude of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park in a best of the night 29.10
RAIDER’S GUIDE
He is a black dog whelped in April 2021 by Zambora Brockie from Sacred Shadow. He is by Gary and Greg Fahey and trained at Mangalore by Gary Fahey.
Raider’s Guide won 17 races and ran 8 placings from 31 starts in Tasmania for 2023.
On the mainland he had 4 starts recording 1 victory in a heat of the Group 1 Hume Cup at The Meadows.
His major wins included:
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Cascade Draught Easter Plate at Hobart
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Buckle Up Wes Tasbred at Launceston
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Shane Yates Memorial Tasbred Cup at Launceston
- Won his Heat and the Final of the Tasmanian Sprint Championship at Launceston
- Won the Final of the Colonial Hotel Middle Distance Championship at Launceston
- Won the Barry Heawood Hobart Thousand Prelude at Hobart
- Won the Billy Grice Memorial at Hobart
- Established a new track record twice over the 599 metres at Hobart
- Ran 5th at Launceston in the Ladbrokes Illingworth Classic Final
- Ran 2nd at Launceston in the Steve King TAS Breeders Classic Final
- Ran 2nd at Hobart in the Ladbrokes Vet’s Medley Series Final
- Ran 2nd at Launceston in the Sires On Ice Tasmanian Derby Final
In Victoria:
- Ran 5th at The Meadows in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship Final
- Ran 2nd at The Meadows in the Group 1 Hume Cup Final
- Won his heat of the Group 1 Hume Cup at The Meadows on November 6
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.
Rojo Diamond is the previous winner of the Tasmanian Greyhound of the Year for 2022.
He won 14 races and ran 11 placings from 31 starts in 2023, all in Tasmania.
His major wins include:
- Won the Final of the Brighton Hair & Beauty Easter Cup at Hobart
- Won the Ronald McDonald Charity House Cup at Hobart
- Won the Brighton Football Club Silver Trophy at Hobart
- Won his and final of the Smithawards Tasmanian Gold Cup at Hobart
- Won his heat of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Hobart Thousand at Hobart
- Won his heat of the Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup at Launceston
- Ran 4th at Launceston in the final of the Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup
- Ran 6th at Hobart in the final of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Hobart Thousand
- Ran 2nd at Hobart in the final of the Reg & Aileen Ivory Memorial Classic
The announcement of the 2023 Greyhound of the Year will be part of the Tasmanian Annual Awards Dinner at the Ladbrokes Racing Centre on Ladbrokes Launceston Cup Night, Launceston on Friday January 27, 2024.