Thursday, December 27, 2018

Last Friday’s Klaassens Contractors Open Stake (512 m) looked the ideal race for Paraphernalia to stake his claim for outright 2018 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year honours over Oh No Beta.

Here he was, the $1.80 favourite drawn out wide in box eight in a six-dog field and having to finish only in the first three.

Down the back straight, though – and even approaching the home turn – a GOTY dead-heat did look some chance as the Jeff Guy trained Paraphernalia struggled to get into the race.

But into the home straight the fawn dog shifted out, no match for the low-flying Usain Insane although able to consolidate second spot and finish with 63 points, two clear of Oh No Beta in the GOTY award.

Nicole Stanley went desperately close to winning her third successive GOTY after Old Jock and Fiorelli Rose, Oh No Beta leading the award on 36 occasions throughout the year but unable to hold off Paraphernalia’s final month finish.

Paraphernalia raced at Tara Raceway on 25 occasions during 2018 for 13 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds while Oh No Beta had 33 starts for 9 wins, 10 seconds and 5 thirds.

And following last Friday’s race, Guy announced that Paraphernalia, who overall has raced 138 times for 36 wins, 21 seconds and 13 thirds, will see out his racing career at Tara Raceway with Cape Bridgewater trainer Scott Blacksell.

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