The path to the 2025 Ladbrokes Country Classic title has been set by GRNSW.
The $100,000 middle distance feature, which is entering its fourth year, kicks off with the opening regional heat at Nowra on Monday, March 3 before the preliminaries move to Gosford, Richmond, Casino (which doubles as ‘The Richmond’ final), Dapto, The Gardens, Dubbo and Temora.
The first four across the line in each heat qualify for the semi-finals at Dubbo on March 15, with the final to be held a week later on March 22, also at Dubbo.
Shayne Stiff is the president of the Dubbo Greyhound Club and he’s hopeful the best middle-distance dogs in the country arrive at his club for a tilt at the riches on offer.
“If I could make a list right now of who I’d love to see out here, Zipping Chaplin and Nangar Gyspy would be the first two. Zipping Chaplin would be my early pick for the series and I know Minnie and Courtney are already planning for the race and owners Marty and Cam Hallinan would love to win it again,” Stiff said.
“I know they’ve had a big offer in the last week for the dog and they knocked it back so if I had an early selection for the race, it’d be Zipping Chaplin for sure.”
“But don’t forget Nangar Gypsy was broken in out here at Dubbo and she’s coming off a Group 1 win over the middle-distance at Albion Park so I’m sure Dennis [Barnes] has his eyes on this race as well and she’d be hard to beat on current form.”
Nangar Gypsy with Dennis Barnes after taking out the Group 1 Golden Sands last week at Albion Park
“And then the other two I’d love to see involved would be Tim Zoo and Bezzecchi. Jason [Thompson] gave Tim Zoo a 600m in Melbourne late last year and he ate it up. And Bezzecchi ran a great 600 at Cannington on Saturday night.”
“I’m going to Ireland with Pauly Stuart (trainer of Bezzechi) in a few weeks so I might get in his ear because it’d be a real treat if we could get them all out to Dubbo for the Country Classic.”
The race, which was first introduced in 2022, will give middle distance greyhounds from all over the country an opportunity to join the short but illustrious list of former winners.
In the inaugural edition of the event, Zipping Kyrgios claimed an emotional win for John and Minnie Finn, as well as prominent owners, the Hallinan family. The night was a deemed a rousing success with hundreds of patrons trackside to experience the carnival atmosphere.
The 2023 edition of the race was run and won by the John and Julie Smart-trained Showman Jack.
The second favourite for the final jumped from Box 1 and made the most of the prized alley to avoid some early traffic problems and mow down early leader Ailee Bale in the home straight.
The final time was 34.48 with the margin 2.25 lengths to Ailee Bale, with fellow Victorian Jackpot Joan running third for Glenn Dainton.
And in 2024, the Jack and Maree Smith-trained Bella Una speared out of a seemingly unsuitable Box 8 draw and led from go to woah in a bold front running performance.
The time of 34.72 a new personal best as she beat home kennelmate Palawa King by 2.5 lengths, with Might Have Been finishing third for Minnie Finn.
For more details on the Ladbrokes Country Classic, please head to The Dogs features page.
