Melbourne Cup-winning trainer sets sights on top dogs
MELBOURNE Cup-winning greyhound trainer David Geall hopes Friday night’s Group 1 success might attract some more owners with top-flight dogs to his Lara base.
My Redeemer, a half-brother to champion Up Hill Jill, achieved star status with his second Group 1 victory over the 515m at Sandown Park, this time banking $435,000 in one of the world’s greatest greyhound races.
“We’re still floating on cloud nine because it’s the Melbourne Cup, just a massive race,” Geall said.
“It’s like the race horses. We watch the Melbourne Cup (horse race) every year and you see the owners and trainers, it’s the same in greyhounds.
“You don’t think you’re going to win it, realistically. It’s like Lotto, trying to win Lotto — very, very remote chances of winning a Melbourne Cup.”
Geall — who’s been training full-time for 10 years after a further 12 years part-time in Leopold — said the win was made all the more special because they bred My Redeemer, by champion dog Fernando Bale.
“It’s regarded as the Holy Grail of all races and it is the one that eludes most trainers — 63 years it’s been going,” he said. “It meant so much to us, it was just magical.
The win will boost both My Redeemer’s value as a future stud prospect as well as the price of Up Hill Jill’s pups, while Geall hopes the victory might attract some more star dogs to his operation.
“His half-sister (Up Hill) Jill, financially she has made it a lot easier for us,” Geall said.
“She’s retired now, but fi- nancially she’s made it a lot easier for us and our two daughters. This guy has certainly helped.
“But the exposure the dogs have had can help you in the future, it gives you a bit of a profile when you win a Melbourne Cup.
“You do hope some owners out there might like to give us a go, in the most humble way of saying it. I would hope it’s going to help us in the future.”
My Redeemer will run at Sandown on Thursday ahead of next month’s Group 1 Hobart Thousand heats on December 13.