Jedda Cutlack chasing sweet success at Ekka for third time

By Andrew Smith

She will be far from the new home of greyhound racing The Q, but Jedda Cutlack is still determined to claim a three-peat with one of her favourite dogs at this year’s Ekka.

The trainer will feature as part of this year’s Racing Queensland Greyhound Sweepstakes, which showcases greyhounds to the public during the annual Royal Queensland Show.

Entries for the sweepstakes are now open, and are a chance for owners, breeders and handlers of pre-racing, racing and retired greyhounds to put their purebreds on display.

Dogs will compete in six classes overall, with greyhounds divided by age and sex, with the winners of each class competing for the coveted Best of Breed.

Cutlack has taken out the top gong with She’s Sweet for the past two years and will be looking to make it three straight purple ribbons in 2025.

The conditioner was singing the praises of her champion bitch when asked the secret to She’s Sweet success.

“Honestly, I think it's just the fact that she's well put-together, she has a very pretty face and she's all black,” Cutlack said.

“There's nothing about her markings that makes her stand out but she's just a nicely put-together bitch.

“As racing people, the judges there know that we are not show dog people and that we are just sort of there for fun, but the last couple of years they still have judged the dogs as if they would at the dog show, which is great.”

The winner of each category will receive between $200 to $500 with their ribbon, and exhibitors will again be paid a $100 appearance fee, an incentive that was introduced by Racing Queensland three years ago.

Rather than just settling on one category, Cutlack said she was weighing up the number of dogs she would be entering in 2025.

“I'll probably take at least one other dog this year - I like to take younger ones just for a bit of exposure,” Cutlack said.

“I'll probably definitely take more than one, but I haven't really worked out who else to take.

“My parents might be attending with their first retired dog - I normally drag my dad along to help me so I thought ‘you can bring your own dog this year.’”

Judging will take place at 12pm on Saturday, August 9 in the Canine Pavilion, with the greyhounds available for Ekka attendees to interact with from 10-11:30am.

Cutlack said the exposure of the breed to the general public was invaluable in promoting the greyhound code away from the racetrack.

“It’ one of the most important things we do - for me personally, I am never around so many members of the public interested in our dogs anywhere else,” she said.

“Hundreds of people come through on the day and pat the dogs, and talk to us about them and so many kids come and see the dogs with their families.

“It's such good hands-on exposure, and I'm sure a lot of people read the articles or watch the videos.

“But to actually be there in person, and having the dogs that are currently racing, or have raced, or the younger dogs that haven't yet - there's probably not much better hands-on experience that the public can get with race dogs.”

Racing Queensland’s Greyhound Welfare Coordinator Nicola Hardman said the event would again be a perfect way to help kick off this year’s Ekka.

“Its great to have entries from the industry and also those that have adopted retired racers,” Hardman said.

“It’s a wonderful experience for people to come and interact with greyhounds and learn more about the breed.

“We’ve seen entries from Central Queensland and Northern New South Wales over the years and it’s great to see everyone keen to show off their amazing greys.

“I encourage everyone at the Ekka to come make some new fast friends in the Canine Pavillion.”

Representatives from the Greyhound Adoption Program will also be on hand to handle any enquiries.

The winner of each class will receive $200, with cash prizes paid down to fifth place ($40).

There are four champion categories with a top prize of $500 for the winner of Best of Breed, $400 for Best Dog and Best Bitch and $300 for Best of Breed neutered.

Rounding out the awards, a trophy, ribbon, certificate and $50 prizemoney for best Junior Handler (under 18).

Entries close on Monday, June 23.

Click here to enter.