By Justin Robertson
KEL Greenough’s High Earner has just won it’s second Group 1 race in as many weeks, becoming Australia’s highest prize money earner, after taking out the Macro Meats Temlee at the Meadows on Saturday night.
While the Pearcedale champion trainer was rapt with the win and the accolade, he also paid tribute to Rapid Journey’s longstanding record of $530,995 in earnings.
“I’m pretty happy with the results, but it’s something you don’t aim to do,” he said.
“It’s probably unfair for dogs like Rapid Journey, as we are running for more money at the moment. That’s the hard part because if he raced on today’s prize money, he’d probably be $300,00 in front of us.”
From 64 starts, High Earner has been past the post on 32 occasions and Greenough said he was in awe over his performance at the Meadows.
“It was a thrilling race and a great effort to beat the handpicked field of best dogs in Australia,” he said.
“To come out and win that was good – it’s always good to win those races.”
Until three months ago, High Earner was being trained by owner Dave Robartson in Queensland.
Greenough explained that when racing in the Sunshine State, the greyhounds run into the lure at the end of their races, which is different to races in Victoria.
Robartson then called on Greenough’s expertise and wanted to race the 3-year-old dog in Victoria and since then he hasn’t let the Queenslander down.
“The dog got knocked around a bit, he didn’t want that to happen anymore,” Greenough said.
“He saw that racing down here was more suitable for him and so far so good.”
In the last fortnight, High Earner has picked up $200,000 in prize money taking his earnings to a record $553,795 and with scope for more with this week’s $150,000 Australian Cup up for grabs.
“You always need luck in those races, it’s a one in 20 realistic chance for a win,” Greenough said.
“It has every chance, but these races are very very hard to win.”
