WA champion Tommy Shelby on final sprint in Melbourne
Australian Greyhound of the Year Tommy Shelby is chasing the crowning glory of the Melbourne Cup and the Phoenix.
The Western Australian star will compete in a heat of Australian Greyhound Racing’s most prestigious event, the Melbourne Cup, at Sandown Park on Friday night.
A top performance in the heat will earn him a place in the final, where trainer Steve Withers is hoping he will notch up a win and be offered a slot for the highly coveted Phoenix.
This will be Tommy’s last race preparation before retirement. His extraordinary career encompasses 47 starts for 31 wins and 12 placings, collecting more than $1 million in prize money along the way.
Tommy has developed a cult following as ‘the people’s dog’, not only for his performance on the local greyhound racing circuit but across the nation.
“We are so proud of the phenomenal career Tommy has had.” Steve said.
“He certainly has a challenge ahead, but his trial last week was fantastic so we made the decision to go for the heats this Friday.
“To able to cap off his career with a win in the Melbourne Cup and the chance to be hand-picked for a slot in the Phoenix would be a truly rewarding finish as he moves into retirement.”
Locally, The Dogs WA Road to the Phoenix heats up this Saturday night at Cannington where Young Stars winner Momentum and the Krystal Shinners-trained duo Amplified and Destruction will be in the running.
The races across this weekend could pave the way for WA greyhound racing stars to make their mark, with the strong possibility of our local talent receiving two slots for the Phoenix.
The Phoenix is the world’s only slot race for greyhounds and will be held at The Meadows in Melbourne on Saturday, 18 December.