Geall Hoping Meteor Hit Motivation on Homefront

Premier trainer David Geall has called on Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) to use the success of the Masters Meteor as motivation to increase its own opportunities for veteran-class greyhounds.

On Friday, Geall will journey from Lara to Wentworth Park for the second week running to contest the $100,000-to-the-winner Masters Meteor (520m) with grand campaigners Hill Top Jack and Stout Monelli.

The Masters Meteor – open to Masters grade greyhounds beyond four years-of-age – has proven a runaway success and forms an integral component in a star-studded Million Dollar Chase program.

And it's the event's ongoing success and popularity which Geall hopes GRV can identify to broaden and expand opportunities for Masters (veterans) grade racing in his home state. 

"It probably really hasn't been until I've sat back and looked at this race series that I've noticed just how important it is," Geall said.

"At home, the only opportunities really available for these dogs is going around in top grade and Free For All events each week in town.

"Sure they can, at times, be competitive but we really need better opportunities for dogs like this that have been warriors for such a long time and still want to race.

"The divide between the two states at the moment is significant with racing for masters eligible greyhounds."

Between them, Geall's Masters Meteor hopefuls have amassed 72 race wins and $605,234 in prize money. 

Despite being on the other side of four years of age, both continue to demonstrate a real zest for racing but are forced to contest top grade events against their younger up and coming counterparts in Victoria from week to week.

"Here at home, we have veterans races but they are generally over 400m and at the lower end meetings," Geall said.

“Opportunities are there for the middle of the road greyhounds but there's nothing really for the higher class veteran.

"You look in Sydney and each week they are catering for the older dogs in town for metropolitan racing – and it's really competitive racing as well.

"Isn't that the aim of the game now? They want us racing our dogs for longer so it's really important the systems are in place to do that. Even if we had one city masters race programmed each fortnight it would be a start.

"I can't tell you how many calls I've had with people wanting to train these dogs interstate because of the opportunities but they are part of the family here. When they're finished racing they've already got their homes here as pets." 

There's perhaps no better advertisement for NSW Masters racing than fellow Masters Meteor hopeful Aston Ulysses.

The Ray Borda-owned powerhouse forged a formidable career in Victoria before finding a new lease of life during his time doing the more lucrative Masters racing programming in NSW.

On Friday night, nearing five-years-of-age and with 103 starts, he will step out racing for $100,000, potentially the biggest payday of his career.