It’s no surprise that the ZIPPING prefix in greyhound racing is synonymous with success.
Tonight at Dubbo's Dawson Park, high class sprinter ZIPPING Kyrgios steps out in the Brother Fox Cup and, despite facing a mighty challenge from box eight, he's the $2.60 favourite with sponsors Ladbrokes.
In 2021, the Hallinan family has secured the National Derby and National Futurity at Wentworth Park (with siblings ZIPPING Moose and ZIPPING Sapporo) while ZIPPING Kyrgios added the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint to his resume on May 8.
“It’s been a busy but successful year to date,” Martin Hallinan said.
“The youngsters are really stepping up and we have the first of the ZIPPING Garth pups triallling well, so the next few months will be interesting for the family.”
And at their showpiece 200-acre property at Clergate, the rearing and education of greyhound pups is a family business to the core.
“It really started with my dad (Max),” Martin added.
“He passed away just over two years back yet it was his passion and connection with greyhounds which got me so heavily involved.
“[Wife] Fiona whelps our pups and looks after the youngsters while [sons] Cameron and Damien work here.
“We’re breeding up to 15 litters per year and rear others for long term clients.
“Dad was a bookmaker back in greyhound racing’s halcyon days and he also races a few handy dogs.
“We’ve been lucky to breed and rear some elite dogs ... the long days are seemingly paying off.”
And success in this Brother Fox Cup would be especially rewarding for the Hallinan family.
“We educate our own pups and, after doing the basics here at home, we trial at Bathurst and Dubbo before sending the youngsters to trainers.
“Dubbo gives us a great guide into their potential. The first trials they have from the boxes is at Bathurst over 307m before stepping up to 400m at Dubbo.”
The times pups run at Dubbo is the benchmark for their future and ‘Kygrios’ finished his education at Dawson Park.
The $40,000 to-the-winner Cup – one of five feature races on Dubbo’s biggest night of racing – boasts six greyhounds trained in the western districts.
FORBES trainer Jack Smith has Irinka Riley (box one), Midnight Flash (five) and powerhouse youngster Jungle Deuce (six) while Dennis Barnes (Cudal) prepares Nangar Gold (two) and Pam Braddon (Cowra) has Blazing Lisa starting from the four alley.
Dubbo Club President Shayne Stiff prepares Bonnie Keeping (box seven).
Box eight is far from ideal for ZIPPING Kyrgios and Martin Hallinan knows there will be no room for error.
“He won the Bob Payne from box seven and he’s a really good race dog but I just know the quality he faces,” Hallinan added.
A winner at Wentworth Park in a sizzling 29.37 seconds, ZIPPING Kyrgios qualified quickest for the Cup final registering 29.51.
