Brett Nye, take a bow.
Just 13 months after taking up training greyhounds, the 29-year-old Little River mentor prepared his first group winner tonight when Last Hurrah claimed the $75,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Hume Cup (600m).
In fact, Last Hurrah made it seven straight wins in start number 70 in tonight’s main event at The Meadows, leading from box rise and winning by 3.5 lengths to Christo Bale and Zero Cool in 34.23sec.
It is an incredibly long winning streak for a greyhound so seasoned and racing at the top level, with Nye rightfully saying his superstar deserves all the plaudits that come his way.
“He’s just a super dog. I was just so happy to see him get to the front early and run away with the win,” Nye told Jason Bonnington post race.
“I feel he really deserves this. He has been competing at the top level since February last year, and tonight is just so good for him – so good for the dog.”
A February 2017 son of Where’s Pedro and Quick Succession, Last Hurrah goes by the kennel name of Syrup, and tonight’s victory couldn’t have been much sweeter, with Nye admitting to shedding a tear.
A middle-distance marvel, Last Hurrah made it 33 wins from 70 starts, with his winnings spiralling beyond $242,000.
Last Hurrah was runner-up to Christo Bale in the G2 McKenna Memorial (595m) at Sandown Park in July after making the final of the G1 Australian Cup (525m) at The Meadows in March.
“He’s really relishing those bend starts. I was a little nervous down the back straight tonight with Christo Bale sitting behind him, as he ran him down in the McKenna Memorial and he’s such a strong dog.”
“But once Last Hurrah gets on the rail you can’t move him.”
Nye is a grandson of veteran greyhound breeder and trainer Jim Psaila.
“I moved in with my grandfather to look after him but I never intended on training dogs.”
“Now I train 16 greyhounds and it’s pretty hard to believe that I’ve now trained my first Group 1 winner.”
A greyhound with strong Geelong roots, Last Hurrah was bred by Amanda Honan (Lara) and is owned by John Maple (Newcomb).
The Hume Cup was held on the opening night of the 2020 Metropolitan Festival of Racing, which is running across five nights during November and will see almost $2 million distributed in prize money.
The Group 3 RSN Silver Bullet was also held on the night, with Hard Style Rico victorious in a stunning 29.46sec.
WATCH: Last Hurrah got off to a dream start and was never headed in the Group 1 Hume Cup defeating Christo Bale (8) and Zero Cool (1).
