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Vincent's emotional ride with Hotel Whisky One

10 October 2024

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Hotel Whisky One from the Mathew Vincent kennel. Pictures: Michael McInally.

By Jordan Gerrans

Whenever Mathew Vincent hears a race caller proclaim his home-bred chaser Hotel Whisky One is on the way to victory, he cannot help but get overwhelmed.

It is not just when the brindle dog is in a race when the Warner-based trainer gets a bit teary.

It is also when friends, family or people within the greyhound industry refer to the greyhound’s moniker.

Before turning his hand to preparing greyhounds, Vincent was previously in the Army, which he refers to as the best period of his life before his children were born.

In the Army, when Vincent would pick up the radio to speak to his colleagues, he would use the call sign to identify himself as ‘Hotel Whisky One’.

“I get really emotional about it all,” Vincent said.

He was artillery in the Army in Townsville. 

After reaching a few black-type Finals in the Sunshine State earlier in his career, Vincent’s poignantly-named chaser gets his best chance yet to nab a Group-level victory on Friday evening in the Bendigo Cup.

“I get emotional every time I hear someone say the dog’s name,” Vincent said.

Hotel Whisky One has drawn the five for the 425 metre Group 2 Final in Victoria.

He landed in the decider following a sharp heat victory in 23.54 seconds last Friday.

Hotel Whisky One
Aston Fantastic
At My Command
Augustus Finch

The ex-military man has transferred his kennel star to Group 1-winning conditioner Anthony Azzopardi for his Victorian campaign.

The dog has risen to an entirely new level since being under the care of Azzopardi at Rowsley.

In his seven starts for his new mentor, Hotel Whisky One has only been beaten once, which came at Bendigo about a month ago.

Vincent – who has been training for around seven years – still owns the dog and has watched on full of pride from his Queensland base.

“He has grown wings really,” he said.

“I did not think he could get to this level of racing but people that have been in the game long enough thought he was that kind of dog.

“It still is amazing to hear from experienced people that I have a Group-level dog. All of a sudden, everything is there.”

Hotel Whisky One is a son of multiple Group 1 champion Whiskey Riot who Azzopardi prepared throughout his career which was underscored by a Melbourne Cup triumph in 2019.

Races

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Albion Park | Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club | 10:08 PM

TAB Flying Amy Classic H

The experienced Azzopardi campaigned dogs north to Brisbane during the winter of this year and kept a close eye on Whiskey Riot’s progeny when Hotel Whisky One qualified for the Flying Amy Classic.

While Vincent’s kennel star did not figure in the finish in the Group 2 Final, Azzopardi was not deterred.

Vincent sent Hotel Whisky One's litter and kennel mates At My Command and Augustus Finch to Azzopardi to be trained before the pick of the bunch eventually followed.

“Anthony noticed traits of his dad in him and that’s why I think he really wanted the dog,” Vincent recalls.

“I heard whispers on the street that Anthony really, really, really wanted the dog anyway.

“I rang him and offered him the dog and the first thing Anthony asked was when the dog could be on a flight. I sorted it out as soon as I could.

“I do not know if he will ever come back up to Queensland but at this stage, he will be racing for the rest of the time in Melbourne.

“He is one of those sort of dogs that cannot stay at the same track for too long, he needs new opportunities.

Hotel Whisky One from the Mathew Vincent kennel. Pictures: Michael McInally.

“He appreciates the different environment and a different way of training.”

Hotel Whisky One claimed a heat of the Capalaba Young Guns and qualified for the Dave Brett Memorial Final at Listed level earlier in his career.

Vincent exited the Army in 2009 and has since found success with his home-bred Whiskey Riot and Flying September litter who Azzopardi is preparing now.

He says he screamed the house down and was in tears last week when Hotel Whisky One claimed his heat of the Bendigo Cup, so much so that his kids were laughing at him and his reaction.

The Vincent family are heading down to country Victoria this week to be there in person on Friday evening for the rich decider.

The dog will commence from the five and has an outstanding record from the alley.

From seven career starts in the yellow, Hotel Whisky One has yielded three victories and three second-placed finishes.

As of Thursday morning, Hotel Whisky One is on the second line of betting in the Final at $4.60 with bookmakers.

Aston Fantastic – who has drawn the four – is the public elect at $3.50 but as Vincent points out, Hotel Whisky One beat the favourite at Bendigo two starts back.

With all his race dogs transferred down to Azzopardi, Vincent is looking forward to his next Flying September litter to work with following her mating with Feral Franky.

Hotel Whisky One from the Mathew Vincent kennel. Pictures: Michael McInally.