A rare video from 1992 with Hall of Fame icon the late Ned Bryant on how to train stayers. Ned’s list of achievements is too numinous to list here, he prepared Group 1 winning sprinters and stayers. He also bred the immortal Bold Trease. In the video watch for appearances from Darren McDonald and Plugger Lockett. Plus a story I wrote for Behind The Boxes on Sprinters and Stayers.
Petra Marek – Great man
Gary Smith- An absolute legend, who was only too willing to help newcomers .
A true gentleman and a friend still miss him 😢 💖👍
Ian Kurzke– The Greatest never be one like Him….Absolute Gentleman also.!!!
Shane Gordon– George was a very astute dog trainer always there to help anyone that would listen
Michael Holgate– Lee Codd you watched this
Marg Long-Champion trainer and champion bloke. An icon in the industry
Peter Giles– Ned was not only a great trainer he was a. Great bloke as well
“HOW MANY SPRINTERS BECOME TOP STAYERS, MORE TO THE POINT HOW MANY MAKE THE TOP BRACKET REGARDLESS OF THE DISTANCE?”
By Neil Brown
With the recent outstanding win of Isa Brown’s in this year’s Australian Cup, the question of just how many greyhounds can do both sprint and stay was suddenly being asked in greyhound circles. Trainer Rob Britton claims Isa Brown is primarily a strong 600 dog that can stick on and run the extra ground to 700 plus. The decision on whether to start her in the Australian Cup or the Sandown cup was actually left up to owner Geoff Collins, Britton was not fazed either way but felt she had gained some much-needed confidence being able to lead clearly, in distant races in the lead up to the Cup heats.
Another interesting aspect to Isa Brown is her breeding by imported American sire Fortified Speed who would represent the strength and toughness needed to race in the states. Her dam Goddess Of Fire is another story; she only had seven starts for no wins but did compete over 600 at Geelong and 630 at Sale.
More importantly she is a litter sister to Awesome Assassin a champion sprinter and holder of eight track records. Trainer Jason Thompson told me during Awesome Assassin’s brilliant career he would have made a freak stayer as in trials he recorded under the record, at the tracks he tried him on. We were about to see him in action when injury robbed us of that much awaited experience.
Thompson put the polish on another superstar dual distance performer in Hotshow Vintage, in a star-studded career she raced 80 times for 43 wins and 15 placing’s collecting $148.175. Not only was she a top-class sprinter, Hotshow Vintage won over 550,600,630 and 660. Plus, when raced over the distance she recorded wins over 715 at Sandown, 725 at the Meadows and was triumphant at Albion Park in last year’s Group One Albion Park Gold Cup over 710 metres. The race Isa Brown is being set for this month, it is certainly an interesting question of how many greyhounds have made the transition from one distance to the another with great success over the years.
It’s fair to say there has not been many, in Victoria I can go back to champion chaser Lizrene. She ran third in a Melbourne Cup before becoming one of the most brilliant stayers of all time.
Others that come to mind would be San Remo a Silverchief winner and track record holder over the distance. Others included Tonight’s Wish, Modern Express, National Star, Leaders Jester, Rapid Hiker and City Blitz.
In Sydney there are a number that quickly come to mind, we remember the great National Lass a dual Greyhound Of The Year and multi group winner of both distance’s. Others of note would be Kirsty’s Charity, Just Like Jack, Let’s Be Frank and of recent times Nimuay, who I think might be the only greyhound in history to record under 30 and 43 seconds at Wentworth Park. From Queensland another brilliant greyhound was Worthy Reward who won group races a sprinter and a Sydney Cup as a stayer.
One of my favourites over the years would be the 1986 Victorian Greyhound Of The Year Pharaoh’s Mask.
Raced by Barry Lee and trained throughout his illustrious career by Daryl Connor he must rank as one of the best.
The “Devon Meadows Destroyer” was one of the most publicised greyhounds of the last two decades.
He was the subject of some very large offers in his prime, one from America rumoured to be $500,000 and one by a prominent Victorian studmaster of $200,000.
Some of his sprint highlights included the ’86 Maturity, a finalist in two Cranbourne Cup’s 86,87, third in the ’86 Adelaide Cup and second in the ’86 Gawler Cup.
In all he scored 21 wins and six placing’s as a sprinter from 34 starts.
It was as a stayer that we really saw the best of Pharaoh’s Mask. Transferred to distance racing on the July 17,1986, he quickly rose to the status of Australia’s best stayer.
From 12 distance starts Pharaoh’s Mask scored 11 victories seven at Olympic Park, three at Sandown and one at Cranbourne.
In fact, the only time he was defeated over the long journey occurred in a Sandown Park Invitation where he finished fourth after tearing a monkey muscle during the event.
Undoubtedly, his highlight as a stayer was his track record shattering effort over 732 metres at Olympic Park on November 24,1986.
The superstar registered a sensational 43.09, which eclipsed National Star time standard of 43.43 established in May 1985.
One of the most significant occurrences at the time were the battles during the latter part of 1986 between Pharaoh’s Mask and staying superstar of that era Bold Trease.
Their clashes enthralled greyhound fans with the “Mask” proving to be Bold Trease’s nemesis, and never in any clash did he lowering his colourers to the “Warrnambool Warrior.”
On that point having mentioned the mighty Bold Trease, in an interview I did with trainer Norm McCullagh he told me Bold Trease would lower the Warrnambool sprint distance record anytime he trailed the champ at the track.
Back to Pharaoh’s Mask he retired in February 1987 due to injuries suffered in a fall during the running of the ’87 Cranbourne Cup final.
He stood at stud with limited success for the late Fred Booth at his Lyndhurst property.
The March ’84 fawn dog by Roy Trease from Forever Eaton raced 46 times for 32 wins, six placing’s and stake earnings of $43,980.
He would be hard to top when ranking the best sprinter-stayers of all time, perhaps Isa Brown might be the one to take the crown, we’ll watch with anticipation the rest of her career unfold.