Rojo Diamond has risen to legendary status

Caption: Loretta McShane, Robin Grubb and John Wright after Rojo Diamond’s Grand Masters Final win.

TASMANIAN NEWS with Brennan Ryan

ROJO Diamond shattered a 13-year-old record for the most wins in Hobart by clinching his 28th victory in the Grand Masters Final (461m) at Ladbrokes Park on April 26.

The previous record was held by Sultan’s Swing, trained by Ted Medhurst, with 27 wins on the U-turn track.

Trained in St Leonards by Robin Grubb for the Golden Nugget Syndicate, Rojo Diamond had his 41st career win, leading from start to finish from box three against Nail ’Em Fencer and clocking in at 25.85 seconds.

After 78 starts, the remarkable progeny of Fabregas and Sing The Song has elevated his prizemoney to $222,405, ranking him among the top 20 earners in Tasmania’s history.

Grubb, who trained and bred the four-year-old, was utterly impressed with the dog’s performance.

“It’s a tremendous achievement. The dog has been extraordinary for us, and you couldn’t ask for more,” said Grubb.

“With a clean jump at the start and having distanced ourselves from Nail ‘Em Fencer, once we rounded the first corner smoothly, I was confident he would accomplish the task. His overall time was nearly the best of the evening.”

Rojo Diamond’s victories in Hobart span both the 340m and 461m distances in his 50 starts.

Weighing just over 37kg, Rojo Diamond boasts notable wins in Hobart, including the Group 3 Ladbrokes Chase Final, Tasmanian Gold Cup Final, Easter Cup, Silver Trophy and the Ronald McDonald Cup.

Additionally, he has been a two-time finalist in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Hobart Thousand and was honored as the Tasmanian Greyhound of the Year.

The dog has had 29 victories at Hobart after his recent win in a heat of the Reg and Aileen Ivory Memorial Classic on May 7.

Supreme Leader triumphs in Ivory Classic

EXCEPTIONAL chaser Supreme Leader clinched his first elite-level Tasbred title in the Reg and Aileen Ivory Memorial Classic Final (461m) at Ladbrokes Park in Hobart on May 14

Starting from box two, Supreme Leader ($4.20) showed remarkable speed from the inside, taking a position just behind kennelmate Roxy Rocker and ultimately proving too strong, possibly delivering the best performance of his career.

Thor Danger made a late push for second, while the favourite Rojo Diamond was third.

Supreme Leader crossed the finish line five lengths ahead in 25.60s, boosting his career record to 15 wins from 52 starts for Mangalore trainer Gary Fahey, who owns the sprinter jointly with his brother Greg.

The $10,100 first prize brought his stakes to $79,655, marking Gary’s first triumph in the Tasbred feature.

“I’m delighted. The dog deserved such a big victory,” said Gary Fahey.

After minor placings in the state’s premier races, the son of El Grand Senor and Just Browsing finally overcame the ‘bridesmaid’ label.

“Reviewing his career record, racing against the likes of Raider’s Guide and Fast Minardi is a challenge,” Fahey said.

“He has finished close off them, which is impressive given the calibre of dogs he has competed against.

“Supreme Leader has earned a feature win on his own, and fortunately, it was his turn to have the spotlight.”

The win in the race honouring Reg and Aileen Ivory gave Gary and his family great joy as they were well-acquainted with these fellow Hall of Fame inductees.

Motton Millie prolongs McCulloch’s streak

ULVERSTONE trainer Lewis McCulloch and his wife Dianne have been enjoying an exhilarating streak of success in recent weeks with only two runners under their management.

Motton Lass has been the standout for Team McCulloch, with three wins in her last five races.

Her kennelmate Motton Millie stole the spotlight in Launceston recently with her inaugural win after 27 tries.

The daughter of Bearville Azza took her 74-year-old trainer by surprise, dashing clear to break her maiden over 278m and hold off Akuna Street with a slick time of 16.16s.

“I have always been pleased with her initial section splits in trials, even though she tended to run quite wide through the corners. Today’s effort marked a significant improvement from where she began,” Lewis said.

He attributed part of Motton Millie’s victory to the support and guidance of experienced trainer Morris Strickland.

Lewis, relatively new to the training scene, began his involvement in ownership with a syndicate that raced Daddy’s Blue, which won three races and sparked his profound interest in greyhounds.

“Mick Johnson, whom I knew from our local football club, got me into ownership, but it was Max Walker who persuaded me to obtain a trainer’s licence, and I’ve loved it ever since,” Lewis said.

“We really enjoy training, and the routine keeps us active. Everyone has been so kind to us. The friendship and help we receive along the way are incredibly beneficial.”

Feeney is thrilled with Hot Diggity’s performance

HOT DIGGITY’S win in the Ulverstone Pet Foods Mixed Grade 4/5 over 515m in Launceston continues to stoke the love and passion for the sport in Youngtown trainer Frank Feeney.

The daughter of Bernardo and Absolute Delight, positioned in box five, faced tougher competition after her previous two consecutive wins.

Yet, it was to be her day again, as she overcame difficulties on the first turn and powered forward to secure a two-length win over Miss Everest, clocking 30.32s for her third win in 28 starts.

Frank prepares the in-form Hot Diggity alongside his longtime friend and part-owner Daz West.

“She just keeps on improving. I can’t pinpoint the reason for this sudden improvement,” Frank said.

“Her maturity seems to improve with age. Suddenly, the penny has dropped, and it’s been amazing to witness it all unfold.”

In September 2020, Frank celebrated his inaugural victory with Tintern Abbey, heralding the start of a modest but steady string of triumphs that rejuvenated the popular trainer’s spirits.

His engagement with greyhounds has been helped him with his Parkinson’s Disease.

“She has generated more than $13,000 for us from an initial investment of just $1000,” Frank said.

“For a small kennel like ours, this is incredibly rewarding. I follow a straightforward routine that not only keeps me engaged but has also significantly enhanced my mobility and mental activity.”

What’s coming up in June and July

HOBART is gearing up for the annual Hobart Breeders Classic, set to begin on June 8.

The excitement builds up to June 13 with the four semi-finals.

Staged over 461m and taking place over three weeks, the event culminates in a final on June 20, with the winner receiving $9860 and an additional Tasbred bonus of $5780 for the breeder.

Hobart, in partnership with Greyhounds Tasmania, is set to host a second charity race night on June 27, a fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Hobart.

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