Who will be the 2024/25 NZ Greyhound of the Year?
Peter Fenemor • August 19th, 2025 10:57 AM • 4 min read
The race is on to decide the 2024/25 New Zealand Greyhound of the Year (GOTY) with a nationwide Greyhound Racing NZ (GRNZ) appointed panel now deliberating and voting on their choices for the various racing categories winners and the overall NZ GOTY winner.
GRNZ’s annual awards evening will be held in Wellington on 20 September where the winners of the various racing categories cumulating in the overall 2024/25 NZ Greyhound of the Year being announced, along with the trainers’ awards and any additional special awards presented.
The panelists have decided on the racing category finalists which brings together an intriguing group of contenders, indicating an extremely closely contested decision looming for all categories.
There are four finalists named for the Sprinter of the Year (up to 449m).
Three of the sprinter finalists were prepared by firstly Dave and Jean Fahey, then from 1 January, Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie.
Jerry Cola was a sprinting sensation throughout the season, winning 21 of his 28 sprints. He broke the 295m Addington track record on the revamped track on five-occasions, finishing with his sharp current 16.42 time.
Opawa Marsh won the Gr. 1 295 Galaxy Sprint at Addington, and he went on to win a total of 15 of the 38 sprints he contested throughout the season.
Everest Sky ventured north to Manukau to stylishly win the Gr. 1 Railway Sprint over 318m. Also numbered amongst his 14 wins from his 23 sprints was his win in the recognized Mark Thompson Memorial Dunedin Cup over the 390m Ascot Park dash.
The northern based sisters Lisa and Tracey Craik mentored Lion’s Den to win the Gr. 2 Angus Wright Memorial at Cambridge over 375m, while he was also the runner-up in the Railway Sprint final. He won 16 of the 39 sprints he raced during the season.
The Middle Distance (450m-599m) category saw numerous quality performances being delivered from many classy greyhounds.
One Hot Bandit from the Fahey kennels proved to be unbeatable over 525m at the Addington Raceway remarkably winning all 15 525m races that he lined up in. He won New Zealand’s highest staked greyhound race, the $100,000 Springston Hotel New Zealand Cup while his best 525m 29.62 time was a track record when he posted that time.
One Hot Bandit placed in two other Gr 1 races, finishing second in the Spion Rose final at Hatrick, then running third in the Auckland Cup final at Manukau after winning his 527m heat. He was the second highest stake earner for the season, winning $130,949.
Jerry Cola proved to be a very versatile greyhound, and he earned his second category finalist position through his outstanding 457m races.
He won the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby at Cambridge, then he added the Gr. 2 North Island Challenge Stakes at the Manawatu Raceway to his CV. He also finished third in a pair of Ascot Park Gr. 2 finals, the Far South Challenge and the Colin Keen Memorial.
The Craig Roberts conditioned Xisco Bale was the only greyhound to win two Gr. 1 races during the season, annexing the Waterloo Cup over 527m at Manukau, then he added the Addington hosted 525m South Island Champs. He won 10 of the 27 middle-distance races he contested during the season.
He’s All Go endured issues during the season which he commenced by winning the Gr. 1 Wanganui Cup over 520m. He finished up winning 12 of the 20 middle-distance races that his trainer Lisa Cole lined him up in.
The Stayer of the Year (600m plus) sees last year’s winner of this category Chief Dribble being considered for back-to-back staying titles. During the season, his trainer Matt Roberts prepared him to win the Gr. 1 New Zealand Stayers Cup at Addington, while at the same venue he won both editions of the Gr. 2 Ray Adcock Memorial that was held during the season.
Chief Dribble finished second in the Gr, 1 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar final at Manukau, while he finished third in the recognized NZ Nationals Distance final. Seven of his 10 staying wins during the season were delivered over the Addington 732m distance.
Grande Vue Ace just kept on delivering over the staying distances for her owner and trainer Bob Pringle. She enjoyed another successful season when winning the Gr. 1 Wanganui plus the Gr. 2 Wanganui Stayers, both over the Hatrick 755m distance.
Grande Vue Ace also secured five-minor placings in Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 staying finals, while also winning the recognized Sockburn Cup and Thrilling Brat events. In total she won 10 staying races during the season.
Johnny Football was a potent force over the Cambridge 650m and Manawatu 660m distances throughout the season, winning a combined total of 20 staying races at those venues.
His conditioner Lisa Cole also prepared him to win the Gr. 2 Nancy Cobain Memorial over 720m at the Manawatu Raceway. Although not considered for this category it must be noted that Johnny Football placed third in the New Zealand Cup (525m) and won the Gr.1 Hatrick Classic (520m) at Hatrick and the $136,263 he won saw him being the highest stakes winner.
The New Zealand Bred GOTY finalists includes Jerry Cola, Opawa Marsh and Grande Vue Ace whose credentials are mentioned in their various race categories above.
Joining them is the Lisa Cole trained More Magic who was a consistent performer over the middle-distance races as seen by the 14 wins and 14 placings he secured. His biggest win came in the Gr. 1 Auckland Cup recording 30.36 for his 527m victory.
The 2024/25 racing season was unlike previous seasons where there was generally a standout greyhound. That factor adds up to an intriguing decision on just who the 2024/25 NZ Greyhound of the Year will be!