Caption: Luke Whelan with Lakeview Walter. (Photo: BlueStream Pictures

By ANDREW THOMSON

A brave decision to buy five pups out of a litter has set up a potential greyhound dynasty for the East Gippsland Whelan family.
Trainer Monique’s son Harley said the family rated brood bitch She’s Bossy, who had a litter to Cosmic Rumble which included Burekup Jack.
“He could really run, but he had a few injuries. He looked like he was going to be a Group-class dog,” Harley said.
So when She’s Bossy (Where’s Pedro-Somerton Lass) went back to Cosmic Rumble, the Whelans were interested in the pups.
“We liked the line, back to Somerton Lass (Sandown winner). They threw good consistent litters,” he said.
Monique said the family went to buy three pups.
“We weren’t going to buy five, but we knew the lady (Yvonne Cassidy) did a good job and they were lovely pups,” she said.
“We took some extra cash and finished up taking five home. We didn’t have many dogs at the time.”
Harley said black dog Lakeview Peter was the standout but never raced due to injury.
Lakeview Maisey won the Sale greyhound of the year, overcoming a wide-running trait to manage a career record of 15 wins and 16 placing from 84 starts.
She broke 25 seconds twice at Sale and saluted over the 500m in a slick 29.48.
Lakeview Isla won 13 times, including a win at Sandown and a 29.57 effort at Sale.
Lakeview Grace and Lakeview Bruta also won races.
But, the potential of the bitches as breeding propositions has skyrocketed.
Lakeview Maisey went to Fernando Bale and threw Lakeview Walter – who won the Group 1  Silver Chief and Group 3 Ambrosoli (29.62 WP).
He’s won 10 of 28 starts, clocked 29.15 at Sandown and Monique has such a high opinion of him she put him in The Shootout against gun sprinters Aston Rupee and Tiggerlong Tonk.
“We bred them. When he popped out, I nursed him. He’s pretty special,” Monique said of Lakeview Walter.
“He’s had a couple of injuries but hopefully he can build up and show his best in the next couple of months. He’s getting fitter.
“He’s definitely got a lot of ability.”
Litter brother Lakeview Cruiser also ran third in the Australian Cup and second in the Group 3 Easter Gift.
Harley said Lakeview Walter and Lakeview Cruiser had always shown ability, running time at Warragul first and second look at the track.
Lakeview Walter ran 24.80 at Sale before he had started.
\”He hadn\’t done much and was running those sorts of times. He might have been around four times. They had a lot of natural ability,\” he said.
\”They were running race dog times second and third time on tracks. Cruiser put it together pretty quickly but Walter finished up being better out of the boxes.\”
Lakeview Maisey\’s second litter, by Bernardo, is about 12 months and the Whelans are looking forward to how the five bitches and one dog break in.
Maisey is due back on season and surprisingly will not head back to Fernando Bale.
Lakeview Grace\’s third litter of nine pups by Fernando Bale are about eight weeks old and will be the same bloodline as Walter and Cruiser.
Her second litter of 10 pups by Whiskey Riot are 12 months old.
Her first litter by Mr Redeemer included Lakeview Max, who has had four wins from five starts, including runs of 22.46 at Warragul, a stunning 24.59 at Sale and a 29.87 win at Sandown.
Harley said Lakeview Max had broken in two or three lengths faster than Walter, but was in the process of coming back from a back muscle injury.
And then there\’s Lakeview Isla who had one pup to Fernando Bale, a dog about nine months old.
Harley said the family had been involved in greyhound racing for about 10 years and were looking forward to about 14 pups coming through.
Maisey had an interesting trait, running wide throughout her career on the track, but Harley said that fortunately the trait hadn\’t been passed on to her pups.
\”They are great dogs in the kennel. They spend a lot of time with four legs in the air,\” he said.
\”We know we\’ve had a great run. To have dogs racing in Group races and going well, is what people dream about.
\”And we just hope that some of the pups coming through have some ability,. It\’s been pretty exciting.\”