Brother Fox Adding To The Sporting Excitement In Dubbo

Interest in Dubbo’s May 22 heat of the rich BROTHER FOX is reaching fever pitch.

The heats coincide with a massive weekend at Dubbo, with the NRL clash between South Sydney and PENRITH played at Apex Oval the following day, with the BROTHER FOX Final on May 28.

Offering $40,000 to the winner, the 516m heat and final series conducted in the same week as the 318m Zipping Garth heats and 400m Feral Franky series is one of the richest regional events in NSW.

And at Dawson Park on Saturday, a number of Carnival aspirants will ply their craft.

“We’re expecting some of the best dogs in the country to be here in the next few weeks,” Dubbo GRC President Shayne Stiff said.

“There have been inquiries from as far afield as Rockhampton … it’s out Field Of Dreams!

“We will also be running the Bill & Peg Miller Cup, with $10,000 to the winner.”

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said Dubbo will be hosting visitors from right across the state on the weekend of the heats.

“Dubbo will be a hive of activity over that weekend in May, with the first NRL game ever played in the city being the main attraction on Sunday,” Mr Saunders said.

“But there are a range of other activities, including this special meeting at the greyhound track on the Saturday night, and I’m encouraging visitors and locals to be part of the action.”

The BROTHER FOX Carnival celebrates an icon of greyhound racing. 

Reared in Dubbo by owner Steve Kavanagh, BROTHER FOX is a former Harold Park 457m track record holder and the grand sire of Head Honcho, Brett Lee, Flying Amy and Jessica Casey to name but a few and his mark on the world stage is indelible.

“BROTHER FOX was a champion, and drew thousands to the track including an exhibition race in 1985 where they were 10 deep along the fence at Dawson Park to see him," Stiff said.

Such is his influence on pedigrees, BROTHER FOX is the paternal great-great grandsire of the talented Bonnie Keeping.

The September 2019 youngster steps out for only the third time at Dubbo on Saturday. On debut, she dazzled at Dubbo when an all-the-way winner from the rails alley in a slick 29.65 seconds.

Seven days later, Bonnie Keeping was unable to get across from box eight, was checked at the first turn but rallied to finish a closing second to Swift Kevin in 30.32 secs.

A gritty win from box 4 (over 527m) at Gunnedah on April 19 followed and, while must better suited by an inside alley, she’s the one to beat in the Choice’s Flooring Stake (Race Four).

Standing in her way is kennelmate Cup Keeping. A daughter of boom American sire Superior Panama, Cup Keeping – at start two – led from box two to register a 30.06 secs win at Dubbo on April 17 and has plenty of upside.

She is handily positioned in box three but will need to be on her mettle should Bonnie Keeping be lurking with 100m to run.

The busy 12-race card kicks off with a maiden over  318m at 6.38pm.

Caption: Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club president Shayne Stiff (right) and secretary Courtney Norbury (left) with Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders (centre) at the Dubbo track this week.