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Brothers unite for Ipswich Auction Final

11 April 2019

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By Isaac Murphy

Tamborine trainer Kevin Galloway will launch a three-pronged attack on winning his first Group race after more than 40 years in the game when brothers Galway Johann, Galway Ludwig and Rising Beyond line up in Saturday's Ipswich Auction Series Final. 

The three finalists come from the same litter by Magic Sprite out of Skie's Size. .

The veteran trainer said he’d learnt throughout the years that good fortune played a big part in winning big races and he couldn’t be more thrilled to have three genuine chances.

“They’ve all got the ability to win the race, it’s a cliché but it all really comes down to a bit of luck in running, so I’m very happy going in with three chances instead of one,” Galloway said.

“I look at the field and there isn’t one dog who is clearly a class above, I’m not worried about the other dogs, I’m safe in the knowledge that my three are all travelling well.”

Galway Johann and Galway Ludwig have had an easier time moving through the series, both winning their heats, before Johann won his semi and Ludwig finished a safe second to progress to the final.

Rising Beyond has taken the tougher path coming off a three-month spell to advance after finishing third in his heat and fourth in his semi.

Galloway said Galway Johann was unequivocally his best winning chance, given the box draws and speed mad, but didn’t rule out either of his brothers.

“Galway Johann would be my pick, if they leave him alone out of the eight box he’ll be winning, the draw suits him to a tee he likes to use a bit of the track and should get every chance from out there,” Galloway said.

“All up I’m pretty happy with their box draws, Rising Beyond should go well from the three, I would have liked Galway Ludwig (6) a little closer to the rail, but you can’t choose your boxes and he can still run a race from out there.”

Galloway is hoping Rising Beyond and Galway Ludwig’s propensity to find the fence would open a run for Galway Johann.

“If Rising Beyond and Galway Ludwig get going early they’ll be hunting the rails, which will hopefully open up a bit of room for Galway Johann to wind up and work into the race,” Galloway said.

Galloway has been racing greyhounds from his Tamborine property since 1992 and has been training dogs since the mid 70s without cracking Group success.

He said this was his best shot yet to claim a Group race and the $40,000 that comes with it.

“I think I’m more nervous than excited, this is the first time I’ve got a real shot at winning a Group race, I’ve been pinching myself,” he said.

“I’ve run places in the Vince Curry and the Auction Series before, but they’ve come with longer shots, this is by far my best chance to hopefully get one.”

The opportunity that presents itself for Galloway on Saturday night, could have easily been taken away as the trainer planned to sell a portion of the litter at last year’s Auction.

“I was going to sell a couple at the auction because we had about five in the litter and didn’t want to keep them all, but no-one wanted to buy them,” Galloway said.

“I was more than happy to bring them back home because it didn’t cost us much to buy them back, looking back on it now I’m thanking my lucky stars no-one placed a bid.

“To breed a litter yourself and have three brothers in a Group Final is beyond my wildest dreams, I couldn’t be prouder.”

Galloway paid tribute to the Ipswich club where he does the vast majority of his racing and couldn’t think of a better place to have a chance at Group glory.

“Ipswich has always been my home track, it’s much easier to get there to trial and once they get first look at the track I like to keep them there,” Galloway said.

 “Saturday is a great opportunity to finally crack a big one, it would mean the world if we could do it at Ipswich too.”