Techno Gives Punters A Paradise Chance
21 June, 2018
Greyhound
What started out as a simple greyhound tipping service has now turned into something larger, much larger.
Avid greyhound racing fans Joseph Lannutti and Craig O’Loughlin founded the Punters HQ tipping service, which did all of the form and suggested betting strategies for their followers.
After following the sport for a significant period of time, Lannutti decided it was the right time to get involved with a sport he had a burning passion for.
“In January last year, Craig and I yelled out to our followers and asked who would be interested in buying a dog,” Lannutti said.
“We had enough interest from out followers, and in our first year we had 95 winners, including a Group 2 in New Zealand.
“It has gone gangbusters now, but it started out as just a group guys having a bit of fun.”
Recently, the Punters HQ syndicate signed up their 150th owner, and as of last night they recorded their 109th winner for the calendar year last night when Alotta Tears, the litter brother to Rippin’ Sam and Tornado Tears, won at Wentworth Park.
The syndicate have also had the thrill of having runners in Group 1 races, with the likes of Shez A Rippa, Crash Bandicoot and Zipping Inglis all performing admirably at the highest level over the past 18 months.
Lannutti said the Punters HQ syndicate took a different approach to a lot of other greyhound ownership syndicates, which could account for a successful first half of 2018.
“When we bought our first greyhound, we wanted to be different to other syndicates who buy pups,” he said.
“Generally speaking, no one buys tried greyhounds.
“We are happy to buy dogs that have proven themselves at the track and are well performed race dogs.”
Lannutti said the syndicate were intent on having greyhounds all over Australia, and giving all of their owners the chance to be able to watch them at the track.
“We are all over the country,” he said.
“For example, if one of our owners lives in Brisbane, we know that they would like to go and watch their dog at Albion Park.
“But more importantly, it’s about all of our owners getting a return for their money, so we tell them they need to be prepared for their dogs to move states if they are outclassed in the state they are racing.”
One of those greyhounds that has been moved recently is the Steve Withers-trained Techno, who has come to Western Australia after racing in New South Wales.
This Saturday night, he gets the chance to record his biggest success since moving states when he lines up in the Paradise Street Final (600m) at Cannington.
Techno was beaten six lengths by West On Augie in his heat of the feature event last Saturday night, but did enough to qualify for the final by finishing fourth.
Lannutti conceded Techno would find it hard to beat the likes of West On Augie, Quick Jagger and Moment To Jive in Saturday night’s final, but said he was excited at Techno’s long term prospects in WA.
“There has been worse 50 to one chances go around,” he said.
“We think the dog is flying, he’s chasing well.
“He was in a Group 1 final at Wentworth Park and won races there.
“He just needs to find the right race and the right box.
“We are privileged and honoured to be competing in the final.”
The Punters HQ syndicate’s relationship with Withers is strong, with Lannutti indicating they would like to start one of Withers’ star chasers Fled in the New Zealand Cup later this year.
Fled runs in a 715m Free For All at Cannington on Saturday night.
“Steve is a legend,” Lannutti said.
“He is a really good form analyst.
“It’s great for his owners outside of WA who are not across WA racing to have a guy like Steve.”
This season, Lannutti said the 36 greyhounds the syndicate have are well on track to meeting the goals he set at the start of the year.
“We wanted 150 winners this year and half a million in prizemoney,” he said.
“Some laughed at that goal.
“After our 109th winner last night, that goal looks achievable, and we have won more than $300,000 in prizemoney and we aren’t halfway through the year.”
If Techno can upstage his rivals in the Paradise Street Final on Saturday night, this lucky group of owners would certainly have made their mark on greyhound racing in WA.
In the space of 18 months, they have transformed from a group of keen greyhound racing fans, to being owners in a syndicate which is churning out winners.
Tim Walker