Melbourne Cup winning greyhound Shanlyn Prince with trainer Darren McDonald and his family (back) wife Joanne and (front) his niece Breeanna and children Ned, Ruby and Dylan.By Brad Kingsbury
DEVON MEADOWS officially boasts the number-one greyhound trainer in the land after Darren McDonald produced Shanlyn Prince to win the $210,000 Schweppes Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park last Thursday night.
After the late withdrawal of Tasman Queen after a doping controversy, McDonald boxed three runners in the 52nd running of the sprinters’ classic, but it was the Prince that reigned supreme.
Owner Lyn Larson and her son Shannon dubbed McDonald the number-one trainer in Australia after the triumph, which was meticulously engineered by the gun mentor after the dog’s heat win the week before.
“He’s the best trainer around, without doubt,” said Shannon.
“Darren’s job with this dog has been brilliant from day one.
“He’s got the absolute best out of the dog and now he’s a Melbourne Cup winner. He covered every base.”
Shanlyn Prince defied the awkward box 6 to fly to the lead ahead of kennelmate All Caution and then run away to win by over four lengths in a stunning 29.60 seconds.
Race favourite Slater finished second and All Caution hung on to third from an unlucky Talk’s Cheap. McDonald’s third runner, Bye Bye Bones, crossed the line a gallant fifth after encountering a chequered run in the hot race.
It was McDonald’s second Melbourne Cup win, having previously tasted success with Hallucinate in 2004 and he said afterwards that it was very pleasing that the planning and work he had put in had paid the ultimate dividend.
“I had to get him out of the boxes and I did a few things differently during the week and here we are,” he said.
“He hasn’t had too many wide boxes, but I think he’s happier coming across dogs rather than the dogs coming on him.
“You never know until they cross the line, but when he was in front I didn’t think they’d get him.”
The gun mentor has 15 dogs in his kennel with about 10 in full work and said that Shanlyn Prince’s immediate future was yet to be decided.
“He’s been racing consistently for three or four months and I thought if we can get this one we can sit back and have a look. There is no set plan with him and we’ll see how the dust settles,” he said.
“You can’t flog them and you have to be fair to the dog.”
The win was Shanlyn Prince’s 20th career victory in 49 starts, taking his prizemoney to $268,215.
Earlier in the night, Anakie-trained stayer Cash Express stormed to victory in the $36,000 Group 2 Bold Trease Carnival Cup over the 715-metre course.
Boom stayer Miagi, a $1.40 race favourite, took the lead down the back, but Cash Express stalked the Sydneysider before making his move on entering the home straight and downing Fancy Penny by 1.25 lengths, with veteran Miss Brook a fast-finishing neck away third. Miagi weakened significantly and was later found to have sustained an injury.
The win capped a memorable day for trainer Jeff Britton after partner Angela Langton had given birth to their first child earlier in the day.
