For a second successive, a stayer has taken out the coveted Ladbrokes NSW Greyhound of the Year Award, with Valpolicella crowned at the Greyhound Racing NSW gala event in Sydney on Wednesday evening.
Owned in NSW by long-time industry participant Sandro Bechini but trained in Queensland by Tony Zammit, Valpolicella was voted the winner of the prestigious annual award ahead of fellow finalists Good Odds Cobber, Zipping Megatron and the 2023 winner Palawa King.
During 2024 Valpolicella raced on NSW racetracks on eight occasions winning five of those events including the Group 2 Summer Distance Plate, and heats of the Group 2 Sydney Cup and the Group 1 Association Cup, where she finished third in that final.
But it was her performance in the world’s richest distance race, the Ladbrokes 715 at The Gardens in Newcastle, which undoubtedly was Valpolicella’s crowning moment of 2024.
After a dominant victory in her usual racing style of coming from behind in the 715 heat, the daughter of Shima Shine and Saldana stunned even her trainer when she jumped in front and led throughout in the $500,000 Ladbrokes 715 Final.
Not only did she street her rivals but Valpolicella broke the track record with her exhilarating performance.
Valpolicella also had great success interstate in 2024 winning the Group 1 Garrard’s Gold Cup at Albion Park, the Group 1 Zoom Top at The Meadows, and the Queensland Distance Championship.
“Firstly congratulations to Sandro and Tony and of course Valpolicella on winning the 2024 Ladbrokes NSW Greyhound of the Year award,” GRNSW Acting Chief Executive Officer Wayne Billett said.
“I can vividly remember that night in May at The Gardens and the stunned silence when Valpolicella led the field on boxrise, and again the jaws dropping when the time was posted. I think we got to see her at the peak of her powers that night.
“We only saw her eight times in NSW last year, but she was outstanding every time Tony brought her to our tracks.
“I said at the time when the four finalists were announced that I was not envious of the panel having to find the winner, and that any of the quartet would be a deserved winner, and Valpolicella is just that.
“I thank the judging panel for their efforts and I think they have got this one right, but it would be remiss of me not to congratulate the other three finalists who each had amazing records and performances throughout 2024.
“I also want to congratulate all of the award winners on a night where as an industry, we were able to recognise and celebrate the exceptional performances and achievements of our greyhounds and our people over the past 12 months.”
The 2024 NSW Trainer of the Year was won by Melinda Finn whose team won 165 races and were placed another 236 times during the year. Her major win in 2024 was the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Futurity with Gets Late Early.
Jodie Lord won the 2024 Metropolitan Trainer of the Year award. The award was won in 2023 by her husband Andy, while Jodie won the title the previous three years.
In 2024 Jodie Lord won 81 races at Wentworth Park with another 114 placegetters during the year.
Both Melinda and Jodie were awarded the 100 Club Award for training over 100 NSW winners during 2024 along with Jason Magri, Peter Lagogiane, David Smith, Jamie Bush and Dana Ivers.
One of the sport’s all-time greats, the 2015 NSW Greyhound of the Year, Fernando Bale, continued his dominance at stud winning a fifth successive Sire of the Year award. In 2024, in NSW, his progeny had more than 2,100 wins and 4,000 placings, amassing $7.8 million in prizemoney.
Among Fernando Bale’s NSW feature race winners in 2024 were Dutch Riot (Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws of Thunder), Good Odds Cobber (Group 1 Ladbrokes Dapto Megastar) and Shanghai Suzie (Group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks)
Dam of the Year went to former champion stayer and 2018 Greyhound of the Year Poco Dorado.
During 2024 Poco Dorado’s progeny won 91 NSW races and amassed more than $712,000 in prizemoney. Poco Dorado’s daughter Gets Late Early was her Group 1 winner in 2024, claiming the National Futurity.
Broodbitches Magical Mia, Lilly Banner, Snazzy Ethics, Sweet City Woman and Verstappen, were each awarded Breeding Excellence Awards.
Jorja-Louise Howard took out the Young Achiever of the Year award, while Dubbo trainer Charmaine Roberts won the GRNSW Volunteer of the Year award.
The 2024 Greyhounds As Pets Volunteer of the Year went to Barbara Wright, while the Greyhounds As Pets Service Award went to Bruce and Joanne Sutton.
William Schwencke was awarded the GRNSW Distinguished Services Award for his longtime work in the industry with the Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association and particularly with the Temora Club, while owner/breeder Martin Hallinan took home the prestigious Allen Wheeler Medal.
