Caption: Mick Edwards, right, his son Richie, left, and part-owner Bill Welch with Witch Earner.
By DAVID BRASCH
Each month Chase puts the spotlight on a person and/or their ‘best friend’ – a story that gives an insight into the true heart of greyhound racing. It showcases all that is good in this sport and is a monthly tribute to much-loved greyhound identity Daryl ‘Albert’ Gleeson.
BACK a couple of years ago, Mick Edwards, his son Richard, and a few friends decided to buy a bitch that had raced almost 40 times for just four wins.
Her name was Witch Earner, a daughter of Fernando Bale-Magic Earner who had been bred by Andy Lord and raced by the Punters HQ Syndicate.
Richard has been a part of that syndicate for some time.
“Right from the moment we got her, we all fell in love with Witch Earner,” said Mick, of Greta Main, just south of Cessnock in NSW.
Fast forward to the present day and Witch Earner has now won 19 races and earned $44,000 and is on the comeback trail, winning already at Gosford, after having produced a litter of two dogs and five bitches by Aston Rupee back in January.
“We loved this bitch from the word go,” said Mick.
“And, she has been a terrific money spinner for us. Her body is holding up after having the litter of pups.”
Mick and his fellow owners always had a plan to breed with Witch Earner because she is from the famed Paris Match damline and her littermates can all run.
“She’s a sister to Bandit Jane (15 wins, $117,000), Grim Madara (11 wins, $82,000) and What About That (9 wins, $42,000), but she’s different to most of them who can stay,” said Mick.
Bandit Jane was second in the Group 1 Association Cup and Grim Madara has been a multiple feature race finalist. Both were in the Country Classic final at Dubbo in 2023.
What About That was a finalist in the Group 1 Vic Peters in 2023.
“The bitch comes on every 12 months, and did that not long after we got her,” said Mick.
“So, when it came to November last year, we were aware she would be on season and we planned the mating to Aston Rupee.
“They are all fawn like her and lovely pups. I defy anyone to tell them apart.”
Mick said he always had every intention of bringing Witch Earner back to racing and she will keep going again until November this year when she will be mated again.
“She seems a bit different since she had the litter, a bit more mature,” said Mick.
“But, I can’t fault her. She is racing as good as ever but needed a bit more time to bring her to her top.”
Mick Edwards, 69, retired three years ago from his trade as an electrician and always planned to hone his greyhound racing skills.
“I trained my first winner, a bitch called Stratford Miss at Taree, when I was 16,” he said. “She was given to me by a mate, but of course in those days I was too young to get a license.
“I’ve had dogs on and off ever since.”
He and Richard got Wynlock On Top from Punters HQ Syndicate and won the Taree Cup with him two years ago, and also won at Wentworth Park with the former Group 1 performer.
“I’ve still got him as a pet around home,” said Mick.
While Witch Earner, who turned four in April, is giving Mick, Richard and their part-owners further thrills, the proven Group producing Racing Boots also has a litter of three by Whiskey Riot being reared on the property.
He is the dam of Midnight Spritz, the winner recently of the G3 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park.
While her littermates might be stayers, Witch Earner is best over short courses. Her wins have come at Goulburn, Dapto, Wentworth Park, Richmond, Gosford, The Gardens, Taree.
While she has won to 500m, Mick is the first to admit that distance does test her.
