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Veteran greyhounds fight out Ekka Sweepstakes glory

8 August 2022

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By Darren Cartwright

Ultra-consistent sprinter Petite Fox retired six years ago with 10 victories and has now bowed out of public life altogether a winner after claiming the esteemed Ekka Greyhound Sweepstakes as Best of Breed Entire.  

It was a major coup for Petite Fox who was shown to an adoring public in the Sushi Hub Canine Pavilion under her pet name Squishy by excited handler Tahlia Freier.  

Tahlia had already celebrated her 11-year-old red-fawn greyhound winning Best Entire Bitch and in the Final on on Sunday, Petitie Fox was up against Sidney Goodwin’s classy Master Corsair who was Best Entire Dog.

After walking away with the coveted Best of Breed title and winner’s rug with a beaming smile, Tahlia said Petite Fox, who is also a therapy dog, would go out on top and retire from Ekka Sweepstakes.   

“She’s 11, so this is her last show, and I’m very proud,” Tahlia said. 

Petite Fox's Handler Tahlia Frier (middle) with Racing Queensland director Dale Cartwright (left) and judge Patrice Johansen.

It was also Tahlia’s first greyhound to win Best of Breed. 

She said showing her dogs at the Ekka Sweepstakes was not about rugs and sashes but promoting the breed and educating the public about what a wonderful pet greyhounds make.  

“It’s amazing to get them out there to show people that they’re not an aggressive breed just because they wear a muzzle,” Tahlia said.  

“To see so many people walking through patting them and seeing how kind and lovely they are.”  

Master Corsair had been a previous Best of Breed winner twice and Best Entire twice before Sunday’s competition, said Sidney.  

He said there was no shortage of questions from curious showgoers about the breed and it's why the Sweepstakes was a must-attend date on his greyhound racing calendar.  

“The Sweepstakes is very important, and the public has a different perception of greyhounds because of this event,” Sidney said.  

“We get to explain greyhounds on a whole different level, from birth to career to retirement, and the public are getting a better perception of the trainers.”  

Dubbed 'The Horse', General Rose gets a huge cuddle before competition.

In all, there were more than 60 entries for the Sweepstakes with a strong show of support from some of the state’s leading trainers, such as Jedda Cutlack, Bianca Whitford and Travis Elson.  

It was Bianca’s first time as an exhibitor at the Ekka and her 44kg giant General Rose, known as ‘The Horse’, was a popular among showgoers.

“It’s great to be able to show the public the other side of greyhounds and he has been very popular,” Bianca said.   

For Jedda (pictured with Stitch), it was her second time as an exhibitor.  

Her entry was nine-month-old Stitch, who has yet to receive a racing name and Jedda said she was pleased to see so many showgoers taking their time to pat and meet the greyhounds.  

“It’s good for public exposure and the number of children we have had cuddles with today with the dogs has been amazing,” she said.  

“Often you will suggest a greyhound as a pet to someone and they say, ‘I don’t think so’, but when they meet the dogs and see how well tempered, they are, it instantly changes their minds.  

“There are heaps of people coming through, especially young children, and you hope everyone who walked through today and saw a different side of them, thinks the same.”  

While the Ekka Sweepstakes was a one-day event, the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) stand at the Ekka is running the distance. 

Set up near Stockman’s Rest, a greyhound lead’s throw from the twice-daily Queensland Off-The-Track “Horsing Around Show”. 

GAP is offering children a chance to get to better know and understand greyhounds while those on display are available for adoption and fostering. 

GAP Operations Manager Leah Kellaway said their greyhounds are getting a lot of attention and countless pats. 

“The dogs love it and the Ekka visitors do too, it really is just days of joy for us, to see the crowd enjoying our dogs and they just lap it up. 

“For some Ekka visitors this is their first chance to meet a greyhound, so that is always great for us to introduce the breed to a new convert.” 

The stand (pictured) will be manned daily between 9am to 5pm.  

EKKA SWEEPSTAKES 2022 - RESULTS 

Best of Breed - Entire 

Dog: Master Corsair 

Bitch: Squishy 

Overall: Squishy

  

Best of Breed Neutered 

Dog: Hoss 

Bitch: Isla 

Overall: Isla 

 

CATEGORIES 

Dogs 

Puppy (6-18 months): Neo (Unnamed - racing name), Robynne Black (exhibitor)  

Intermediate (18m-4yrs): Cesar (Horsborgh), Stephen Rolph 

Open (4-6yrs): Norman (Blazing Penske), William and Nicole Dorsamy 

Veteran (6yrs and over): T-Rex (Master Corsair), Sidney Goodwin 

Neutered (any Age): Hoss (Dougie’s Regret), Louise Amey 

 

Bitches: 

Puppy (6-18 months): Mishka (unnamed), Wayne Bridges  

Intermediate (18m-4yrs): Jocie (Not Bad Chuck), Samantha Bloomfield 

Open (4-6yrs): Pennypee (Aria Maria), Wayne Bridges 

Veteran (6yrs and over): Squishy (Petite Fox), Jason Bloomfield 

Neutered (any age): Isla (Mad Invite), Samantha Bloomfield 

Junior Handler 

Hayden – Rufus (Chase A Lot)