Greyhound Miss Envy just hates losing

By Josh Spasaro 

Even when she wasn’t at her best, Miss Envy refused to be defeated in her Golden Sands heat last Thursday night.

And, this is a big reason why the three-year-old bitch has been such a consistent performer at Group-level over her career.

The 2024 National Sprint Championship and Laurels Classic victor – who finished third in that year’s Melbourne Cup – is one of the chasers to beat in the Group 1 Golden Sands Final at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

Steve Shinners, who trains her with wife Krystal at their Jarrahdale property outside Perth, oversaw his kennel star cross the line in 34.43 seconds in her heat.

From box six, she edged out Electrify for Tom Tzouvelis by a quarter of a length.

And, she did so while not at 100% fitness.

“We trialled her and she pulled up sore. But, she just hates being beaten. She’ll be a lot better this week,” Steve Shinners said.

“Hopefully she can get a clear crack at them early and put her foot down. She’s got a great turn of foot – she just keeps coming.

“No disrespect to Electrify and those dogs, but when she’s up and going she’s one of the best 600 metre dogs.”

Steve Shinners has not left a stone unturned in getting his Group 1 winner with over $613,000 in prizemoney right for this week.

Over 600 metres, the Golden Sands Final is worth $150,010.

“We’ve been down the beach with her all week,” he said. 

“We got her checked out and it’s come good. So, she’ll probably go in without a free gallop during the week. But, she’s feeling really good now.

“Hopefully she can jump and be on the fresher side this week, which is probably a benefit because she’ll have a bit more zing in her legs. And, if she can get on the bunny, it’d take a very good dog to run her down this week.”

Jay Walking ran the fastest Golden Sands heat time of 34.19 seconds for Churchable trainer Jamie Hosking.

The two-year-old Darwin Cup champion drew box seven for the Golden Sands Final, with Miss Envy to start from the five lane.

While preferring an inside box, Steve Shinners believes his brilliant bitch can hold off a field that also includes 2024 Ipswich Cup champion Autumn Storm.

“No disrespect to the other dogs, but the seven (Jay Walking) probably hasn’t faced pressure like she’ll put on it, either,” the Western Australian conditioner said.

“If she jumps, he definitely won’t get around her.”

Steve Shinners said watching Miss Envy’s rise to become one of the most consistent chasers in Australia had been an “amazing but frustrating” journey.

“She’s a great chaser, but there are only so many times you can be (drawn) out wide,” he said.

“She keeps running a place, which is a credit to her. But, put her on the inside and she runs the arms off the clock and blows them away. Dogs like that don’t come along very often. She’s a generational dog for us and a super chaser.”

If all goes to plan for the Shinners kennel on Thursday night, Miss Envy’s journey in 2026 could bring even more rewards in the elite races.

“That (600 metres) is probably her pet distance. And, after this we’ll be setting her for the Rookie Rebel at The Meadows on February 28," Steve Shinners said.

“If everything goes back to plan, she’ll go back to Kel (Greenough) and we’ll probably try to give her two or three 600 metre races. 

“And, if she can get those two or three 600 metre races in a row back over in Melbourne, she’ll race there.

“And, then she’ll probably come back and we’ll put her over 700 metres in The Galaxy (at Cannington on March 14).”

By Aston Dee Bee and out of the Shinners’ brood bitch Miss America, Steve Shinners said Miss Envy’s racing nous was exceptional.

“She’s a beautiful-natured dog. She’s almost like half-human. She knows everything, she’s so intelligent and she just knows when it’s competition time,” he said.

“Great kennel dog, good traveller. Just the perfect little dog. A good build and ferocious chaser. She’s probably one of the better chasers I’ve ever had.

“She reminds me of her great grandmother, Oh Behave. I didn’t think I’d get one as good as her.

“If Miss Envy has another good six or eight months over 600 and 700 metres, she’ll probably rate as the best dog I’ve ever had.

“I didn’t think I’d say that because Oh Behave was a six-time Group-winner and track record holder at The Meadows for nine years.

“The bloodlines are amazing.”

Miss Envy’s half-brother, Paid My Dues, finished seventh in last week’s Queensland Derby Final.

“Paid My Dues was the Hooked On Scotch litter. Paid My Dues goes good and a couple of the others go all right,” Steve Shinners said.

“Paid My Dues is going to be a nice dog.

“Miss America has retired now. She had her last lot of pups 15-16 months ago to Bernardo.

“We just finished breaking them in. I kept three. They’re going good. Very early doors yet.”

Steve Shinners said he was also excited about the breeding potential of Fortified Mack.

Fortified Mack is a five-year-old broodbitch out of Miss America and by Aussie Infrared.

“Her daughter has started. Fortified Mack was the only bitch in that litter,” he said.

“She’s got a litter to Fernando Bale, which have broken in exceptional.

“They’re only 14-15 months old now. One of them trialled up here at The Q and ran 18.2 seconds the first time. The other went 17.70 seconds. And, a couple of mine go really good at home.”