By Mick Floyd
TAB Melbourne Cup winner Aston Dee Bee has been named the Sandown Greyhound of the Year for 2017.
The 36kg son of Barcia Bale and Aston Elle graced Sandown Park on 11 occasions in 2017, winning eight times and pocketing $479,185 in prize money. His biggest win came in the world’s richest greyhound race where he defeated one of the finest Cup fields ever assembled in the event’s 61 year history. Aston Dee Bee also won the Victorian National Sprint Championship, and a Bill Collins Speed Star match where he ran the third fastest time overall. The 29.12 recorded in his heat was the fourth fastest recorded for the year.
“He’s a wonderful greyhound. Such a hard chaser and a real pleasure to train,” said trainer Seona Thompson.
“We’re really happy for (owner) Ray Borda too. He’s invested so much in the sport over such a long time, it’s great that he’s starting to see some rewards for his work. We’re really thrilled.”
Aston Dee Bee kicked off the new year by winning the group 3 Shootout at Sandown Park before going on to win the group 2 Warragul Cup. He’ll carry a nine race winning streak into Thursday night’s $22,000 listed Australian Sprint (race 8) where he will jump a short favourite from box 1. Still three months shy of his third birthday and with over $760,000 in career prize money, Aston Dee Bee is the fifth highest earning greyhound in history and looks set to move further up the list in 2018.
The Sandown Greyhound of the Year is determined by a vote of the club committee. Other greyhounds under consideration for the GOTY were Fanta Bale, Bewildering and Black Mumbo.
