Emotional Greyhound Victory Honors Late Trainers in NSW Racing News
In a deeply moving moment at Wentworth Park last Saturday night, April 11, the greyhound racing community witnessed a heartfelt triumph as Late In Winter secured victory in the Group Three Ultra Sense Final. The win was particularly poignant, coming just days after the passing of trainer Pauline Moran, whose husband Steve Moran, a former racing manager at the Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association, had also died in November last year.
Their daughter, Nicole Wallace, who bravely took over training duties after her mother's sudden death, fought back tears as she reflected on the emotional win. "I've got no words," Nicole said. "I just wish they were here to see it. They lived for this. This is what they wanted. They have to be here somewhere, I'm sure they are." In a hotly-contested race, Late In Winter led from start to finish, delivering a brilliant performance that left barely a dry eye among spectators.
Magpie Hector's Association Cup Success
Adding to the excitement of the night, Magpie Hector, owned and trained in Forbes, claimed his third Group One victory with a come-from-behind win in the Association Cup Final. This marks his first major success in his home state of New South Wales, following earlier wins in the Zoom Top and Fanta Bale Super Stayers events in Melbourne earlier this year.
Trainer Jack Smith celebrated his second Association Cup victory in three years, having previously won with Palawa King in 2024. Magpie Hector is now set to target the world's richest distance event, the Ladbrokes 715 at The Gardens in Newcastle, with heats scheduled for April 24 and the Final on May 1.
Other Feature Race Highlights
The action-packed evening at Wentworth Park also featured several other notable winners:
- Pound Keeping, trained by Todd Barnes, triumphed in the Magic Maiden.
- Overflow Beau, under Craig Chappelow, won the GRNSW Masters.
- In the consolation race of the Golden Easter Egg, Cumbria Jack, trained by Steve Fitch, delivered one of the standout performances of the year in The Ambrosoli.
Regional Racing: Taree Cup Recap
In regional news, the Ladbrokes Taree Cup on April 8 saw a repeat victory as Kiarni Phoenix defeated Weffalee Lee Lee in a tight finish to claim the $10,000 first prizemoney. This mirrored their previous encounter a week earlier in a heat of the same event, where Kiarni Phoenix also emerged victorious.
This article was produced as part of a partnership with Greyhound Racing NSW, highlighting the latest developments and emotional stories from the sport across New South Wales.
