Racing: Big Sam out to extend dominance

High-profile New South Wales greyhound trainer Jason Mackay will have a welcome distraction from what has been a tumultuous time when the Auckland Cup is run at Manukau tonight.

Although the 36-year-old won't be in New Zealand to see Big Sam Junior, a dog he broke in and part owns, he will be able to watch the race live on Sky Channel from his base near Cessnock in the Hunter Valley.

A third group one win in the season for the greyhound trained by Waikato mentor Denis Schofield would be an upward spike in a bizarre fortnight for Mackay who has just handed over the collar and lead of Australia's cult canine Texas Gold to Victorian trainer Darren McDonald.

On February 18, Mackay was unable to satisfactorily explain a woeful performance by the staying star at Wentworth Park and, on finding no injury to the dog, stewards suspended him from racing at Sydney's premier track for 28 days.

One week later Mackay accepted the prestigious award for New South Wales Greyhound of the Year (2005) on behalf of the greyhound and his owner Helen Ivers.

Comments he made during his speech at the gala function will be the subject of a further enquiry to be held later this week.

Texas Gold has won $200,000 in 10 months under Mackay's guidance and bagged the National Distance title in track record time for 720 metres at Wentworth Park in September.

He is one of three finalists for the overall Australian Greyhound of the Year award that will be announced this weekend.

"It's a very hard thing to do to send Texas Gold away from here but if he does something wrong in Sydney again then his career could be in jeopardy," Mackay told the Herald.

"As soon as he trials satisfactorily for Darren in Melbourne he'll be able to race there.

"If things don't work out there'd be a faint chance he could be sent to New Zealand."

Mackay's mood instantly picked up when asked about Big Sam Junior, who has become the first greyhound to earn $100,000 in a season in this country with wins in the New Zealand and Wellington Cups.

He is a certainty to be named the New Zealand Greyhound of the Year for 2005/06 regardless of whether he is successful tonight.

"He's a hard nut of a dog who was always going to be something special.

"But he had to be placed well and being able to pull up on the big fluffy toy [lure] which he can't do here meant that New Zealand is the right place for him," said Mackay.

He shares the ownership with his uncle Barry Gibbons and Daniel Brewer who helps Mackay work his small but select team of dogs.

Brewer will make the trip to Auckland for tonight's $25,000 feature in which Schofield will line up a remarkable five finalists.

Although Big Sam Junior is entitled to fixed odds favouritism his kennelmate Freddy Magic is the subject of strong support.

Freddy Magic clocked a fractionally faster time in the heats on Friday night.

Schofield also prepared Big Bad Stefano and Moem Down to win in the qualifying round and Charlston State finished second.

Big Sam Junior (box two) and Freddy Magic (box three) have drawn next to each other which should ensure a cracking contest over 527m.

If the Schofield dominance is to be broken, which seems unlikely, then it could come down to the Auckland Derby winner Micki, the only South Island-trained runner to make the cut.

Schofield also has three finalists in the group two Railway Sprint on what will be the strongest card of greyhound racing in New Zealand this season.