Garrison to defend state pride in Origin series

By Jordan Gerrans

When it comes to state allegiances for Thursday evening’s Origin Greyhound Series, the team behind Queensland distance runner Garrison are a little torn. 

The son of Tommy Shelby is raced by Grafton gallops trainer Tony Newing and his close mate Michael Williams.

Newing was born at Roma in regional Queensland and was educated through high school just outside Toowoomba.

He attended primary school in regional New South Wales and has called the Northern Rivers home in recent years as he prepares his team of around 13 horses.

Williams was born at Gosford in NSW but is a proud Maroons supporter, even sporting a tattoo on his shoulder in the state’s colours.

Garrison is prepared by trainer Chris Brydon who bases his kennel at Churchable.

Brydon was born and raised in the Western NSW town of Coonamble before relocating to the Sunshine State to expand his greyhound team.

Regardless of where Newing, Brydon and Williams hail from – they will be representing the locals proudly on Thursday evening as the series is run at Q2 Parklands for the first time.

Newing is the first to admit that their chaser has not been at his best in his last handful of starts, winning on just one occasion and being unplaced in three other races.

But, as Garrison’s $1.50 quote in the recent QGOLD Stayers Final shows, the black dog is a quality animal. 

“Bloody oath we were excited to be selected,” Newing said.

“To be fair, I have to give credit to the selectors and how they have gone about their business. They would have had a hard task selecting him because of his recent runs.

“He got beat in the QGOLD race at a short price at his last start and he ran into all sorts of trouble.

“To the selectors credit, they have taken him on his overall ability as opposed to his recent runs – they have seen through his bad luck in recent starts.

“They will be rewarded for that as they have stuck by a dog in a sense, it is fantastic.

“He is always thereabouts with the better class of dogs, but he has never gone over the top of them due to bad luck.”

Garrison has been in the mix for Origin selection in recent years and finally got the nod in 2025. 

From 62 attempts, Garrison is a 16-time winner and has been placed on 21 more occasions for a career stakes of almost $140,000.

The dog is one of the best that Brydon has ever taken to the races.

A few years back Newing and Williams connected with Brydon and the pair told the trainer they were keen to race a chaser with his team.

It took around 18 months for the Churchable dog man to come back to them but in hindsight, Newing says the wait was more than worth it as the conditioner delivered them a smart animal. 

The ownership team have made regular trips to the Sunshine State to watch their dog, highlighted by an evening at Albion Park where he won 13.25 lengths from the inside draw.

They will be in town on Thursday when Garrison jumps from the five alley in the Origin Distance event over 710 metres.

The Distance race is just one leg of the Origin Greyhound Series alongside the Sprint over 520 metres and the Match Race.

Garrison has been a special chaser for Newing and Williams and they are hopeful he can finally put it all together on the big stage.

Garrison has qualified for a number of Group 3 and Listed Finals but he is yet to land a major prize.

“It has been fantastic, Chris has done a great job,” Newing said of the ride they have been on with the chaser. 

“We paid nothing for him and they have done all the work.

“We knew he ability from day one but he doesn’t always put it all together, if there is trouble to be races be found – he finds it.

“When luck goes his way, he is a big talent.”

The locals are looking to win back the Origin Greyhound shield after NSW claimed the prize in 2024. 

Of his galloping team, Newing was pleased with the run of Flee With Me on Monday at Grafton with the filly finishing second in a maiden and the trainer noting she will not take long to nab her first victory. 

It will be a big day on Thursday for Newing as he has three gallopers accepted to go around at Lismore before heading north to Q2 Parklands.

Newing is keen to get more of his thoroughbred circle involved in greyhound racing.