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The Australian Greyhound of the Year was introduced in 2002 and is now recognised as the ultimate achievement in individual greyhound racing success.
The Australian Greyhound of the Year is selected by a media and administration panel from all over Australia. The Award was presented on special editions of the Sky Channel weekly greyhound programme, The Catching Pen, from 2002 to 2006. The 2006 Award (presented in 2007) was hosted at The Meadows by the Melbourne Greyhound Racing Association and the 2007 Award (persented in 2008) was hosted at Sandown by the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club.
The Australian Greyhound Racing Association then determined that the Greyhound Of The Year Award was to become a premier presentation night and a focal point for recognition of excellence from a National perspective.
The 2008 Australian Greyhound of the Year was presented in April 2009 at a gala function at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney, NSW. The 2009 Australian Greyhound of the Year was hosted On March 12, 2010 by the Western Australian Greyhound Assocation (WAGRA) at Cannington and the 2010 Australian Greyhound of the Year will be hosted in 2011 by Greyhound Racing South Australia in Adelaide.
The inaugural Australian Greyhound of the Year was Boomeroo. His success was followed by Bombastic Shiraz 2003, Whisky Assassin 2004,Pure Octane 2005, Betty's Angel 2006,Flashing Floods 2007, El Galo in 2008 and Cindeen Shelby in 2009.
The achievements of each of the Australian Greyhound of the Year winners are listed below.
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2002 Australian Greyhound of the Year
Boomeroo (World Title x Pali Gap)
Whelped October 1999
Owner-Trainer: Michael Edwards
Group wins: National Distance Championship (1),
McKenna Memorial (2), Dandenong Dry Cleaners (2), Gold Collar (2)
Picture: Robert Kennedy 2002 AGRA President with Boomeroo.
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2003 Australian Greyhound of the Year
Bombastic Shiraz (Black Shiraz x Bombastic Blonde)
Whelped April 2000
Owner-Trainer: Darren Cairns
Group wins: Australian Cup (1), Melbourne Cup (1),
TOPGUN (1).
Picture: Owner-Trainer Darren Cairns with Bombastic Shiraz following the 2003 Melbourne Cup.
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2004 Australian Greyhound of the Year
Whisky Assassin (Awesome Assassin x Princess Whisky)
Whelped January 2002
Owner: Terrence Hines
Trainer: Jason Thompson
Group Race wins: Topgun (1), Geelong Cup (2), Shepparton Cup (2), Ballarat Cup (2), Shoutout (3)
Picture - Whisky Assassin winning the 2004 TOPGUN
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2005 Australian Greyhound of the Year
Pure Octane (Token Prince x Elusive Rebel)
Whelped January 2003
Owners: Dare To Dream Syndicate
Trainer: Darren McDonald
Group Race wins: 2005 National Sprint Championship (1),
Paws of Thunder (1), Australian Cup (1)
Picture - Pure Octane following the 2005 National Sprint Championship
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2006 Australian Greyhound of the Year
Betty's Angel
(Brett Lee-Leprechaun Yap)
Whelped November 2004
Race starts: 17 - 12 wins, 1 second, 1 third
Owner: Diane Bartolo
Trainer: Paul Bartolo
Group Race wins: Group 1 Melbourne Cup;
Group 1 Sapphire Crown Classic
Finalist: Group 2 South Australian Oaks (7th )
Prizemoney 2006: $250,050.
Picture - Betty's Angel winning the 2006 Melbourne Cup.
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2007 Australian Greyhound of the Year
Flashing Floods
(Bombastic Shiraz x Floodfawn)
Whelped April 2004
Race starts: 36 - 21 wins, 7 seconds, 3 thirds.
Owner-Trainer: Gerry Cunnold
Group Race wins: Group 1 - Gleeson & Tonta, National Distance Championship, Perth Galaxy. Group 3 - New Year's Cup, Easter Chase, Chairman's Cup.
Total Career Prizemoney: $354,190
Picture - Flashing Floods winning the 2007 National Distance Championship.
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2008 Australian Greyhound of the Year
El Galo
(Where's Pedro x Roxy Reason)
Whelped November 2005
Race Starts: 34 - 23 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds.
Owner: Seona Hood
Trainer: Jason Thompson
Group Race Wins: Group 1: Brisbane Cup. Group 2: Bendigo Cup, Warrnambol Cup, Gold Coast Cup. Group 3: Bulli Cup.
Total Career Prizemoney (at time of nomination) $386,095
Picuture - El Galo winning at Sandown Park March 19, 2009.
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2009 Australian Greyhound of the Year
Cindeen Shelby
(Bombastic Shiraz x Proper Shelby)
Whelped August 2006
Race Starts (at the timeof nomination): 46 - 27 wins - 8 seconds, 2 thirds.
Owner: Ray Parkinson
Trainer: Kel Greenhough
Group Race Wins: Group 1: Paws of Thunder, Crown Classic, Top Gun. Group 2: Black Top.
Total Career Prizemoney (at the time of nomination) $383,250
Picture - Cindeen Shelby following the 2009 Paws of Thunder win at Wentworth Park.
2010 Australian Greyhound of the Year
El Grand Senor
April 2008 Black Dog Where’s Pedro- Elgrando Gold)
Race starts: 31 – 24 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third
Owner-Trainer-Breeder: Carolyn Jones (Sale, Victoria)
Winner: Group 1 Maturity Classic; Group 1 Topgun; Group 1 Melbourne Cup;
Finalist: Group 2 Ballarat Cup (3rd)
Total Career Prizemoney: $581,335. 2nd On the AGRA all time list.
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