They were the leading performers on NSW tracks in 2024 and Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has today announced the four finalists for the annual Ladbrokes Greyhound of the Year award.
In alphabetical order the quartet are: Good Odds Cobber, Palawa King, Valpolicella, and Zipping Megatron. The winner will be decided by a secret ballot of greyhound racing experts and will be announced at the Greyhound of the Year ceremony on February 19.
Between them in 2024, the four finalists won five Group 1 events, 11 Group races (plus the Ladbrokes 715), and a combined 32 races on NSW tracks throughout the year.
“The quartet chosen as finalists by the panel were standouts last year, and each compiled very impressive records during 2024,” GRNSW Acting Chief Executive Wayne Billett said.
“Competition at the elite level for Group 1 racing has never been more competitive, so for our four Greyhound of the Year finalists to have won five Group 1 events - as well as the world’s richest distance event, the Ladbrokes 715 - speaks volume for the quality of these NSW-owned greyhounds.
“The panel have done a fantastic job to whittle it down to four finalists, and I thank them for their efforts, but I don’t envy them now having to pick one of the four to be the next NSW Greyhound of the Year. Each of the four finalists would be a deserving winner of the title.”
Owned by Tracey Hurst and trained by her husband Frank, Good Odds Cobber won 16 races from 27 starts on NSW tracks in 2024.
The highlight for Good Odds Cobber arrived in September when he raced away to win the Group1 Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar. The son of Fernando Bale and Good Odds Meghan also won the Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup and the Group 3 New Sensation at Wentworth Park during the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg carnival.
Good Odds Cobber was also a finalist in the 2024 editions of the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase, the Group 1 National Derby, the Group 1 Topgun, the Group 2 Black Top, the Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup, and was third in the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.
Having won the Greyhound of the Year award in 2023, Palawa King is attempting to become the first greyhound in almost 30 years to win back-to-back titles.
The feat has only been achieved four times in the history of the award, with the most recent back-to-back winner being Tenthill Doll who won the title in 1995 and 1996.
Other champions to win the Greyhound of the Year award in consecutive years were Zoom Top in 1968 and 1969, Winifred Bale in 1982 and 1983 and superstar stayer National Lass who was crowned in1984 and 1985.
The Errol Hughes-owned, Jack Smith trained staying star added a few more pages to his resume with his 2024 performances.
Palawa King won four Group events during the year including two at the highest level, the Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers and the Group 1 Association Cup. He also won the Group 2 Super Stayers Invitational and the Group 3 Origin Distance event.
Palawa King raced just 10 times on NSW tracks in 2024 winning four events and being placed in another four.
He was also second in the Ladbrokes Country Classic final at Dubbo, and was third in the Group 1 Zoom Top in Melbourne.
Trained in Queensland by Tony Zammit, but owned in NSW by Sandro Bechini, Valpolicella was a regular visitor to the State in 2024 and more often than not would leave with the major prize.
Valpolicella raced in NSW eight times in 2024, winning five events and being placed twice.
In May at Ladbrokes Gardens in Newcastle, she stunned everyone by leading throughout and smashing the track record in winning the Ladbrokes 715.
She also won the Group 1 Garrard’s Gold Cup at Albion Park, the Group 1 Zoom Top at The Meadows, the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park, and the Queensland Distance Championship.
Valpolicella was third in the Group 1 Association Cup, third in the Group 1 Sandown Cup, third in the Group 3 Origin Distance event, and was a finalist in the Group 1 Topgun Stayers, and the Group 2 Sydney Cup.
The fourth finalist is the Martin and Fiona Hallinan-owned, Jason Magri-trained Zipping Megatron.
Zipping Megatron started 14 times on NSW tracks in 2024 and registered seven wins, four seconds and a third.
His only Group success came in the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint at Wentworth Park in May, but his performances in feature races were very impressive, coming close to achieving what would have been a remarkable double.
The son of Superior Panama and Zipping Mitzy was second, just ¾ length behind Blue Kermaro in the Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase final in October, and second 1¼ lengths behind Mackenna in the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg in April.
He also finished third in the Group 1 Topgun in Melbourne and was a finalist in the Group 1 Brisbane Cup, and the Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup.
As well as the major award, GRNSW will also recognise the Metropolitan Trainer of the Year, the NSW Trainer of the Year, the Sire of the Year, the Dam of the Year, the Young Achiever of the Year, the Greyhounds as Pets and GRNSW Volunteers of the Year, the Distinguished Services Award, and the prestigious Allen Wheeler Medal for outstanding service to the industry.