Award Winning Zipping Kyrgios

Zipping Kyrgios, fastest qualifier for Friday night's Black Top final at LADBROKES GARDENS, has been named September's Greyhound of the Month in the prestigious Greyhound Clubs Australia awards.

Zipping Kyrgios follows Jungle Deuce and Wow as previous NSW-based dogs to receive this recognition over the past 12 months.

While he won the Group 3 Bob Payne Sprint and was a finalist in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg and Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup, Zipping Kyrgios has really excelled in recent weeks.

Before posting his near record 29.24 Black Top heat win last Friday, the John Finn-trained dog had reeled off scorching wins over the Richmond 535m trip in 30.26, 30.38 and 30.41.

Fire On Ice, one of the most consistent top graders over the past two years, has been retired and will be mated with Shima Shine.

Shima Shine was named Australian Greyhound of the Year at the recent GCA awards, televised on Sky's The Catching Pen.

Fire On Ice qualified for a string of group finals, including the Golden Easter Egg, Peter Mosman Opal, Woy Woy Poultry Gold Cup at Gosford, Maitland Gold Cup, Bathurst Cup, Richmond Oaks and Black Top along with the Wauchope Cup.

Not only was she a wonderful big race contestant, Fire On Ice put time on the board by clocking 29.64 at Wentworth Park, 29.61 at Bathurst, and 29.27 at both Gosford and LADBROKES GARDENS.

Fire On Ice's owner-trainer Mark Moroney explained: "A couple of months back I put her on a farm to spell with the intention of bringing her back for the up-coming heats of the Lismore Cup.

"While on the farm she came in season so I elected to retire her and put her to Shima Shine.

"I know how good he was because Fire On Ice's litter brother Fire Legend saw the back of Shima Shine in a couple of big races.

"I recently sold some pups by Flying Ricciardo from Fire On Ice and Fire Legend's mother Tick Away Fire for $12,000 each so intend asking $9000 for any pups Fire On Ice might have to Shima Shine.'' 

Nixon Bale is set to be stepped up in distance despite notching his third successive short course win at Nowra on Monday.

The former Victorian, now in Simon Rhodes' kennel, followed slick Nowra 365m and Dapto 297m victories with a fast 20.68 win on Monday.

"I recently changed a couple of things around and my dogs are all firing a bit better for it,'' Rhodes said.

"According to his Victorian form Nixon Bale can run 500m so I am going to start working him up to have a crack at that distance.

"He is a handy dog but my kennel favourite is undoubtedly Veridis Bale, who has won nine races including one at Wenty since I got him 12 months ago.''