A conversation at McDonald’s led Michelle Mallia-Magri to the best female greyhound she has ever put a lead on.
That greyhound’s name is Zoom Out (pictured with John Magri) and she lines up in the final heat of the group 1 Sapphire Crown series this Thursday night. Her and litter brother Burnout were picked and purchased by Mallia-Magri from breeder Mark Filomeno.
“Between the family we wanted to go out and get a couple of pups.
“I met the litter at McDonald’s in Sunshine and they were all in the trailer. I stuck my head in and said ‘I’ll have that one and that one’ – I hadn’t even seen them gallop,” explained Mallia-Magri.
She purchased them there and then, she (and husband John Magri) reared them and did all of the work in getting the pair to the race track.
“We reared them, broke them in and pre-trained them. I’ve always bought pups off Mark Filomeno, we bought Hawkatron off him and a few others.”
Over the last six months Zoom Out has established herself as one of Victoria’s premier female sprinters. She has already won over $100,000 in prize money having claimed 18 wins from 31 career starts, including been runner-up in December’s Laurels final.
She returns to Sandown Park this Thursday for the first time in 2018.
“We’ve nursed her through the grades. I wanted to give her a go at all the Oaks series, she won them at Shepparton, Ballarat and Healesville then recently ran 2nd in the Warrnambool Cup to one of the best greyhounds in Australia (Striker Light).
“I would have to say she’s the best bitch I’ve ever put a collar on, by far.”
Zoom Out will jump from box 6 in Sapphire Crown heat 4 and is a $3.10 chance according to tab.com.au. She has breathtaking acceleration and Mallia-Magri says she’s happy with the draw.
“She definitely wants to be out there, she loves a wide draw. I think Come On Emmaline is the main danger, though if she (Zoom Out) gets room early they’ll have to run her down.”
The kennel also have Burnout in Harrison-Dawson heat 4. He is a talented greyhound in his own right having won 12 of his 32 starts, the latest a win at Sandown Park on Sunday though is a victim of racing in his sister’s shadow.
“I get so many calls and text about her (Zoom Out), they both won at different tracks on Sunday and no one acknowledged him (Burnout),” laughed Mallia-Magri.
Mallia-Magri is no stranger to group 1 success having won the 2012 Hobart Thousand with Blackalls Boss. She dedicates her success as a trainer and person to her father Charlie Mallia.
“I wouldn’t be what I am today without my dad, he’s helped John (husband) and I out so much in setting up and doing a lot of other things. He’s my role model and my rock.
“He watches every one of our races. The minute they past the post he sends a text saying well done.”
Thursday promises to be a magnificent night of greyhound racing with heats of the Sapphire Crown, Harrison-Dawson and RSN Sandown Cup. Top two runners from each heat will advance to their respective final with box draws to be held live on RSN from 10am on Saturday morning.
TAB is projecting First 4 pools of $20,000 across all 12 races this Thursday night.
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