Nine months after being told Dewana Payout would never race again, the one-time retired greyhound defied the odds, postponing his career on the couch to return a winner at Sandown Park on Monday.
His career started in February last year and he quickly looked like a promising staying prospect. He finished on the podium in 15 of his 24 starts before injury put a halt to his untapped future.
“Dad had x-rays done on him after a heat of the Bold Trease (in November), it showed an issue with his spine and we were told he’ll never race again,” said co-trainer, owner and breeder Matt Dewan.
So with the guidance of his dad Brendan, Dewan began to get ‘Payout’ ready for the next stage of his life.
“We got him desexed and I gave him to one of my mates. After a few weeks it wasn’t working out, he was a bit too energetic around kids so we got him back.”
After months of not doing much at the property, Brendan took him to trial with the purpose of it being basically a fun run.
“He was at home for a few months which must have helped him a lot. Dad was going to trial other dogs, he took him along purely as a hit out for him and he went really well.”
After that plans changed. They flicked the switch on racing mode and he was back in work with ambition to return to the track.
“He’s loving it, he’s really happy. Now we’re looking at getting him back racing over ‘700’ metres where he’s suited best.”
It was a memorable day for the Dewans for more reasons than Dewana Payout’s win. It was Matt’s birthday. In the morning they welcomed six puppies into the world and also had a winner on the apple isle.
“His sister (Dewana Sensation) had pups in the morning and their brother Dewana Daicos won at Launceston, so it was a special day and night for us.”
The Dewans are a popular family who work hard and consistently get positive results from all of their generations of greyhounds.
“I look after the dogs in the morning and dad does it in the afternoon. We have our ups and downs, we clash but it’s so rewarding for us.”
Dewana Payout heads to Geelong this Friday in Race 6 and meets boom stayer Ella’s Babe.
