Star Devon Meadows chaser Pure Octane with his ‘family’ Joanne, Dylan, trainer Darren and Ned McDonald.– Brad Kingsbury
DEVON Meadows trained chaser Pure Octane is one of three finalists for the 2005 Victorian Greyhound of the Year.
A seven-member GOTY panel included Pure Octane on a short list with western district dogs Sun Hero (trained by Andrea Dailly) and Trewly Special (Tina Womann) following discussions last week.
The 32nd GOTY winner will be announced during a gala evening to be held at Crown Entertainment Complex on Friday, 3 March.
This year’s winner will join an elite group that includes legendary chasers Lizrene (1973), Temlee (1974), Tempix (1979-80), Bold Trease (1987), Totally Ablaze (1998), Brett Lee (2001) and 2004 winner Whisky Assassin.
Pure Octane, whelped in January 2003 and owned by the locally based Dare To Dream syndicate, is prepared by leading trainer Darren McDonald and boasts a 2005 record of 22 starts for 13 wins, two seconds and two thirds.
He won three Group 1 events, the Australian Cup, National Sprint Championship and Paws Of Thunder and was a finalist in five other Group races.
Sun Hero had 25 starts for 11 wins and nine placings, while Trewly Special had a long campaign with 37 starts for seven wins and 17 placings.
The three finalists were selected from a field of 16 nominations throughout the year.
