Tzouvelis named GCA Trainer of the Year

Queensland’s Tom Tzouvelis has been recognised as the Australian Trainer of the Year.

During last night’s Greyhound Clubs Australia Awards at the Princess Theatre in Brisbane, Tzouvelis’ remarkable 2024/25 campaign which included more than 220 wins and $2.5 million in prize money received an exclamation point by earning the top gong. 

Tzouvelis’ highlights included Autum Storm securing the Group 1 Ipswich Cup, Ladbrokes 715, Group 3 Dashing Corsair, and the listed Molly Campbell Silver Dollars. 

Daysea's Rory also claimed victories in the Group 3 Straight Of Origin, Group 3 Rising Stars, and the Group 3 Queensland Flame, whilst Simulate took the Group 3 Golden Chase Auction, Scarlatti won the Group 2 Townsville Cup, and Simply Express triumphed in the Group 2 Capalaba Cup.

It was a red-letter night for the Sunshine State, which will stage the 2025 Greyhound Nationals at The Q tonight, becoming the first venue to host all three features on the same evening.

Brisbane’s Angela Brown was a popular winner of the prestigious GCA Denise Fysh Award.

The long-serving Queensland participant has faced more than her fair share of challenges, overcoming cancer to retain her love, commitment and passion for the industry.

In conjunction with her her partner, Peter McBlane, Brown has been deeply involved in the code for years, and their recent success on the track came were rewarded with the Flying Fired Up x Agame litter. 

The talented group includes several standout performers, with Brimstone's victory in the Ipswich Young Guns Final in 2023 among the highlights.

In other GCA awards, Victorian chaser Explicit was named the Greyhound of the Year. 

Explicit, trained by Jason Thompson and owned by Amanda Tullio, enjoyed an incredible 2024/25 racing season including a rare Group 1 double by securing the Melbourne Cup and The Phoenix.

Explicit also triumphed in the Group 2 Ballarat Cup and reached the finals of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup, along with the Top Gun, Million Dollar Chase, The Sandgroper, and the listed Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter.

During the season, the son of Bernardo and Brueghelino raced 20 times, achieving 13 wins and three minor placings, earning $1,682,865.

With a total career prize money of $2,094,965, Explicit is currently the second-highest stakes earner in Australian greyhound history, trailing only Wow She's Fast, who has earned $2,487,870.

On Friday night, the legendary sire Fernando Bale claimed his record-breaking seventh straight GCA Australian Sire of the Year award after another stellar season. 

Known as the ‘GOAT' of greyhound racing, the 12-year-old son of Kelsos Fusileer and Chloe Allen has been retired from stud duties by Meticulous Lodge stud master Paul Westerveld, wrapping up an exceptional and dominant career in breeding.

Fernando Bale's progeny stats for 2024/25 were again mind-blowing producing 6,669 winners and over $26,569,897 in prize money earnings along with 39 Group and Listed feature race winners.

The GCA Paul Wheeler Dam of the Year award was announced, with My Ethanol taking the honours for Team Dailly and the Dailly Greyhound Farms Syndicate. 

Palawa King was awarded the GCA Australian Run of the Year for his incredible performance in winning his heat of the Group 3 Fireball (730m) at The Meadows. 

Two inductions to the GCA Australian Hall of Fame were also announced, with Fernando Bale joining the pantheon of greyhound greats. 

He enters as a 2025 inductee, leaving behind a legacy unmatched by any greyhound so far. 

Fernando Bale won a record eight Group 1 races and became the first greyhound in history to earn over $1 million in prize money for Team Dailly and the Wheeler family.

Fernando Bale, trained by Andrea Dailly and bred by the Wheeler family, enjoyed an extraordinary racing career, winning 35 of his 44 starts. 

Longtime administrator and NSW GBOTA Chairman Geoff Rose was the second inductee for 2025.

Rose dedicated more than six decades to every aspect of greyhound racing in his home state.