Anti Venom may be the catalyst to Newing’s conversion

By Pat McLeod

Anti Venom may be the catalyst to Tony Newing’s complete conversion to greyhound racing.

Newing recently retired from thoroughbred training to focus on his cattle property near Grafton and also a growing interest in greyhounds.

One of those ‘interests’ is ownership of the Chris Brydon-trained youngster Anti Venom, who will contest one of six heats of the historic Eric Thomson Memorial series on the Q1 Lakeside on Saturday night.

Victory in this $24,000 feature would be a key step towards one of Newing’s immediate goals, a breeding barn future for the regally-bred Anti Venom (from a Collision and Solar Siyan mating) and a possible greyhound training gig for himself.

“She is a very, very well-bred bitch that we bought more for her breeding potential later on,” Newing explains.

“We are hoping she can win a city race of some sort to boost her breeding credentials and so far, so good.”

Such is Newing’s belief in Anti Venom’s breeding potential that he is considering taking up the collar and lead based on her progeny.

“We stopped thoroughbred training (late last year) and although we still own a few horses, we bought a property at Grafton and we run 50 head of cattle there and concentrate on them," he said. 

“To be honest, we have taken a leaning towards the greyhounds and we have a few dogs now and are on the lookout for a couple more (Tommy Shelby pups).

“We are getting right into it. We have a lot of clients from over 20 years of training horses and a lot of those are interested in the dogs.

“They were paying big training fees for horses and the dogs of course are a lot cheaper and if you can get a good one you can earn just as much money."

Newing thinks a future in greyhound racing is an option. 

“These clients are coming over and enjoying the dogs as opposed to big bills every month, which you don't get with the greyhounds," Newing said. 

“A lot of people have asked me if I am going to train greyhounds and it is something that I have thought about a little bit.

“If I was going to chance my arm and train a dog it will probably be an Anti Venom pup if I was to do it at all.

“So, this dog could be the one that gets me going (as a greyhound trainer).

“What is attractive about that is we will breed them, then rear them and then train them. If I am going to do it, I will do it from scratch.

“Then I will learn as I work my way through. I have got good friends in greyhound racing and I am sure the help is there.”

Newing said Brydon had proven to be an outstanding calling card for the greyhound industry.

“Chris is absolutely fantastic,” he said.

“The people that I have got involved in greyhound racing that have come across from thoroughbreds, they rely hugely on communication.

“Chris’s pre and post-race communication is spot on.

“He will tell you exactly how it is. If he is disappointed, he will tell you. If he is happy, he will let you know.

“He is direct and that is what we are looking for in the dogs that we are syndicating.

“We burned our fingers many years ago with a couple of trainers and we did not involve ourselves in greyhounds for a lot of years.

“But, the fact that Chris Brydon is so transparent and direct, well that is what I look for and that is why we deal with him.”

Newing said Saturday night’s Eric Thomson heats would no doubt reveal a little more about Anti Venom’s racing future.

“She has speed and she can be quick out, however she has been a bit hit and miss,” he said.

“We are still to find out how far she will run, one week she appears strong and then last week she appeared weak over the final 50 metres.

“We just hope she continues to mature and gets stronger.”