The 2025 chasing season is upon us and we've picked out eight rising stars of the NSW racing scene we think can go to great heights in the next 12-months.
Great Terms | Mick Ivers | Goodesy x Empress Tears
Dog | Whelped 10-3-2023
Another potential freak off the Ivers production line and this guy has already busted the clock in a 29.26 demolition at Wentworth Park in just start number two.
He’s a son of Empress Tears who was a Group 3 finalist over 725m at The Meadows, and he’s a half-brother to fellow Ivers stars Trooper Tears (Group 1 Sale Cup winner), Trapper Tears (11 wins) and Like Wildfire (dual middle-distance track record holder in NSW).
He’s also out of the same ‘Tears’ line that produced million-dollar earner Tornado Tears and Hall Of Famer Trojan Tears.
Ivers had already gone on record to say Great Terms can break Dalwhinnie’s track record of 29.03 in time and who could doubt him after what we’ve seen so far.
Gold Force | Denice Warren | Aussie Infrared x Silver Scissors
Dog | Whelped 7-8-2022
The oldest dog on this list but he’s still only had six race starts for Denice Warren and his first four were stellar unbeaten efforts at Goulburn (three in a row) and then Wenty Park.
His only race defeat came at the hands of Zipping Serrano two back, but it was his most recent win at headquarters that really showed his potential, stopping the clock in a time of 29.42.
He’s not the fastest dog away but his pickup speed once he gets off the mat is electric and he’s certainly got a motor. Word on the street is he cost a bomb but if he can continue to produce in town, feature race glory is on the agenda.
May be better suited in time to middle distance racing considering he’s nearly 39kg and has an average first section at Wenty of 5.52.
Trio Of Clowns | Sam Sultana | Aussie Infrared x Nikolina
Dog | Whelped 30-10-2022
From a handy litter who have won 36 races from 124 starts at 29% to start their career but this guy looks like the best of them.
Will be supported in the heats of the National Derby this weekend after his last two runs at Wentworth Park of 29.64 and 29.57, and was well spotted by Sam Sultana and connections racing around Temora and Wagga Wagga towards the back end of last year for Rod Oakman.
Very consistent beginner with first sections of 5.46, 5.47 and 5.48 in his three Wenty Park runs to date and is owned by a man who knows a quality greyhound in Brad Canty.
Jungle Johnny | Mark Gatt | Jungle Deuce x Springvale Carla
Dog | Whelped 25-2-2023
The trainer change from John Maroun to Mark Gatt can’t be denied and that’s not a crack at Maroun, just a pump up for the Gatt team.
Only the Lord kennel (94) and Minnie Finn (63) won more races in town than the Gatt’s (41) in 2024 and if Jungle Johnny is to reach his enormous potential, you’d be hard pressed to find better mentors than Mark and Daniel Gatt.
He is already a runner-up in the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase (MDC) Maiden to the talented Shaula, and in his first start with the new kennel on January 4, Jungle Johnny ran a Wenty Park PB of 29.46 to stamp his claims as a Derby fancy.
Zig Zag Man | Sydney Swain | Fernando Bale x Julia Mulwee
Dog | Whelped 8-2-2023
Another MDC Maiden finalist who sadly fell in the final along with Dalwhinnie after drawing Box 1.
Came into that series with a big spruik and after running 29.77 in his first race start during the heats, many thought it was his final to lose.
Has bounced back from the spill in fine fashion with five starts at Wenty Park since for three wins and two minors, with electric times of 29.37, 29.49, 29.53 and 29.55 and 29.84.
Another National Derby hopeful who will have to successfully navigate the squeeze box in his heat for the first time if he wants to advance to the time-honoured classic final.
Sooty Keeping | Charmaine Roberts | Feral Franky x Rema’s Jade
Bitch | Whelped 8-1-2023
The first bitch on this list and she’s a ripper.
Already has a feature win in ‘The Collerson’ (G1 Paul Wheeler Consolation race) under her belt and was a flying winner at Gosford last start to the tune of 29.05.
Has more experience that nearly all on this list with 18 race starts, has a Wenty Park PB of 29.40, and has worked her way around half a dozen different tracks as part of her education under Charmaine Roberts.
Drawn Box 1 in the National Futurity heats but the only chink in her armour is consistency at box rise…get that right and she will fly into another feature final.
Uno Nangar | John Corrigan | Primo Uno x Nangar Diva
Bitch | Whelped 9-11-2022
The flying Northener is owned and trained by Grafton royal John Corrigan but she’s done most of her racing in QLD so far.
Her first two starts came at Grafton back in July of last year but since then, she’s won 11 out of 18 starts at both Albion Park and Ipswich, and made two Group final appearances in the Bogie Leigh Futurity and Rising Stars series. She also took out the $30,000 Ipswich Futurity in October.
She’s run 29.80 twice at Albion Park, is a half-sister to 28-time winner Nangar Larry, and is the progeny of Nangar Diva who was a Group 1 placegetter and multiple feature finalist for Dennis Barnes.
Zipping Grinch | Jason Magri | Aston Rupee x Zipping Lena
Dog | Whelped 27-10-2022
A son of Zipping Lena who has run some great times in his nine career starts but sadly run into some of the dogs mentioned above.
On December 12 he went 29.64 at Wenty Park but could only manage third behind Gold Force and Zig Zag Man, then he backed it up with another super effort of 29.45 on December 21 but found Zig Zag Man a bit too good once again.
He ran within two lengths of Power And Glory’s Bulli track record over the 472m in November last year (25.90) and is drawn well to produce a good Derby heat run on Saturday night.
Did I mention he’s trained by Jason Magri who is arguably the best trainer in NSW at the moment.
