Caption: Fernando Bale – winner of the 2015 Topgun.

Group 1 Topgun (525m)

Best 8 by invitation.

November 11, The Meadows.

$150,000 to the winner.

By DAVID BRASCH

WHEN the 30th running of the now time-honoured Group 1 Topgun is decided at The Meadows in November, Victorian dog man George Farrugia will be among those peering hard to see who joins the illustrious line-up of winners.

Yes, this year’s running will be the 30th in Topgun history, and what a history it has been, right back to when Worth Backing and Golden Currency dead-heated in the first.

Farrugia, 43 this year, is as devoted a dog man as there is.

He works these days for radio station RSN, but had an eight-year stint living the dream working for National Greyhound News.

“I’ve seen every Topgun, either on track, or on TV as a teenager,” said George.

“Yep, seen them all. All the greats and watched some defining moments in greyhound racing.”

That’s because, like the Cox Plate in thoroughbreds, the Topgun is the best race. The invitation-only, best eight sprinters of their time.

“And, generally, the best wins it.”

George was happy to reel off his top three all-time Topgun stars.

“There’s three in recent memory that stand out for me,” said George.

“The ding-dong battle between Fernando Bale and Kayda Shae in 2015 was incredible.

“Both greyhounds at the top of their game, and it took every last ounce of Fernando’s greatness to hold on to win yet another Group 1.

“We always associate Fernando Bale with sheer speed and brilliance (which is clearly warranted), but he also had an incredible will to win.”

Poke The Bear, the Darren Puleio and Seona Thompson star, rates second for George.

“I loved the dominant display of Poke The Bear in the 2018 version,” said George.

“He won the Silver Bullet the same year and really had to guts out that win, but there was no such worries in the Topgun.

“What I loved about him was he was able to overcome some seriously poor box draws in big races.

“It is still one of the game’s biggest shames that he wasn’t able to be a stud dog.

“His half brother Hooked On Scotch is showing how potent his blood would have been.”

While the fans were kept away from The Meadows in 2020, George was still in awe of Shima Shine’s win for Team Dailly. 

“There may not have been a crowd on track due to covid restrictions in Victoria, but Shima Shine’s Topgun victory in 2020 was brilliant,” said George.

“A year earlier he was half a length from crossing the field and winning the 2019 version, and he sustained a serious hip injury from that race that took a long time to get right.

“To get back and defeat a superstar like Simon Told Helen, in a fast 29.67, was one of his career highlights.”

George Farrugia has had great success breeding greyhounds, but admits he ‘likes an occasional punt’.

“I was on a dog that Greg Board had called Spring Secret in the 2003 Topgun,” he said.

“I fancied that he could lead and get away with it.

“But, a dog called Bombastic Shiraz got too close to him early and was able to run him down and win by three-quarters of a length.

“Bombastic Shiraz was never flashy, but he always got the job done.

“What a champion he was.

“And, a champion called Bogie Leigh was third in that Topgun.”

George looks over the list of Topgun greats and harks back to stars like Whiskey Assassin, Jason Thompson’s champ.

“He was so dominant at that time,” said George. “But, he did draw the right boxes for his run through the big races.

“But, that’s racing.”

Much has been written, often by George himself, about Topgun greats.

Legends of the sport like Rapid Journey, Placard, Cindeen Shelby, El Grand Senor, Up Hill Jill, Aston Rupee … the list goes on and on.

The Wheeler family has been dominant with wins by Fernando Bale, Dyna Nalin, David Bale, Allen Harper.

Then there are the ‘little guys’ who land a dream come true with Photo Man, Get It Gizmo, Regal Thyme, Jaimandy Coops, Wylie Boy … it’s what makes the Topgun the race everyone wants to win.