David Geall capped a memorable 2018/19 period when announced as the winner of the Ned Bryant “Silver Fox” Award at Friday night’s Victorian Greyhound of the Year ceremony.
The Ned Bryant “Silver Fox” Award is presented annually to a participant for showing outstanding potential in the training, breeding and promotion of greyhound racing.
“I’m shocked to receive this award tonight,” said Geall.
“I was privileged to know Ned Bryant. He was a very well-respected muscle man and chiropractor, so to win the award is fantastic.”
In recent years Lara-based David Geall and his wife Rose have enjoyed a phenomenal run in some of Australia’s biggest races and that continued during 2018/19 with homebred superstar My Redeemer.
A son of the great Fernando Bale and the Gealls’ wonderful producer Where’s Demonica, My Redeemer fulfilled a lifelong dream for David when winning the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in November 2018, having also won the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson earlier in his career.
“I think I speak for virtually every trainer in Australia when I say that winning the Melbourne Cup is the ultimate thrill in the sport,” Geall said.
During 2018/19, My Redeemer, a younger half-brother to Geall’s Golden Easter Egg and Topgun heroine Up Hill Jill, also qualified for the finals of the Group 1 Australian Cup, Group 1 Temlee, Group 3 Cranbourne Classic, Group 3 Warragul St Leger and Listed Maidment Memorial.
My Redeemer’s litter brother Emerald Rainbow was a prolific winner throughout 2018/19, qualifying for the finals of the Group 2 Geelong Cup, Group 3 Devonport Cup and Group 3 Warragul St Leger.
Geall also guided Miss Splendamiro into multiple Group 1 appearances in 2018/19.
“I believe you have to really look after your dogs to have any sort of sustained success,” Geall said.
“With regard to breeding, we generally go to a very fast stud dog and we breed with females that can run 500m.
“But the way you rear your pups is so important. It’s the simple things like giving them clean water every day, filling the holes in the runs, providing plenty of shade and plenty of handling. By doing that I reckon you give your pups a real chance.”
In addition to his on-track success, Geall is a wonderful, professional and generous ambassador for greyhound racing, both in Victoria and nationwide, and is always available to the media and promotes the sport in a positive light.
David is involved in Crocmedia’s Greyhound Bonanza promotion, which has introduced a number of sporting clubs to greyhound ownership.
David has also mentored his brother Jeff, a recent newcomer to the training ranks, who has started his career in bright fashion and looks set to continue a proud family tradition.
