The current New Zealand Greyhound of the Year Dyna Vikkers has been officially retired from racing. Trainer Craig Roberts pulled the pin on his charge’s outstanding career owing to soundness issues.
Pictured: Dyna Vikkers following his 2015 NZ Cup victory
The retirement decision has been made in the week leading into one of Dyna Vikkers best career victories which came in his stunning Plaster Board Auckland Cup win last season. “I trialled him looking towards him defending his Auckland Cup title, but he pulled up sore so I decided that was it – you’re retired now,” explained Roberts.
Dyna Vikkers was a greyhound who displayed brilliant track sense, often seen weaving his way through traffic without any hesitation or breaking stride. His tenacious chasing attitude characterized his stellar racing career. It is also a strong and desirable trait that he likely to past onto his progeny. He already has eight litters sired by him.
Right from the very first occasion that Dyna Vikkers placed his paws on the Addington track he displayed his exciting talent when winning his C1 520m assignment by 5.5 lengths in 30.39s. Six races later he had his first Group 1 title safely tucked away in his kennel when he stylishly won the 2015 New Zealand Derby, cutting out the 457m trip in a smart 25.31s.
Two races later he attained his open class status and then it was another Group 1 title he secured when annexing the 2015 New Zealand Futurity at Hatrick over 520m in 30.50s in May. The Group 2 South Island Champs then fell his way in July 2015 when he dipped under the Addington 30s 520m barrier when clocking 29.99s.
Dyna Vikkers seen here (from left) after winning the NZ Derby, NZ Futurity and South Island Championship titles
His next Group 1 title came in September at Manukau when he cruised to his Waterloo Cup victory, scoring by a 5.25 length margin, clocking 30.47s for his 527m outing. It was a win that his mentor rated right up there as a career best. “He came out of his Waterloo Cup heat (at Addington) with split webbing. We couldn’t work in between (leading into the final) as he would aggravate it. It was still dodgy when we got to Auckland therefore it was a sensational effort for him to win the race in the manner he did.”
From there it was onto the 2016 New Zealand Cup at Addington where he won his heat, semi-final and then the rich 520m final in 30.30s. “I’ll recall that race for the big buzz Vikkers gave my son Dan, as the young fella handled him during the NZ Cup series.
Dyna Vikkers then became part of a unique family double act in a feat that will probably never be matched again. It was on November 12 when Dyna Vikkers won New Zealand’s richest greyhound race, the $100,000 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Cup. On November 19 his litter brother Dyna Double One won Australia’s richest (also the world’s) greyhound race, the A$600,000 TAB Melbourne Cup.
It was a very special occasion at Melbourne’s Sandown Park where the breeder of the classy canine brothers Paul Wheeler linked up with Roberts. It was during that catch up when Wheeler stated that Dyna Vikkers will remain in New Zealand after his racing career concluded as a stud dog.
The moment after Dyna Vikker’s litter brother Dyna Double One (left) won the 2015 Melbourne Cup with breeder Paul Wheeler, wife Jan joined by Dyna Vikkers trainer Craig Roberts which completed a unique trans Tasman Cups winning double for the litter brothers
The next major target set for Dyna Vikkers was the 2016 Auckland Cup, where again he disposed of his heat and semi-final rivals. Onto the final it looked like the golden Group 1 winning run was going to end as he was back in the field and tangled up in traffic when rounding the first turn.
Let’s leave it to commentator Peter Earley’s description of what followed from that point. “Dyna Vikkers, you’re going to have to weave your magic from there,” when entering the back straight. Then during the run home the call was, “Have a look at the big boy – you’re the best.” Earley was spot on as Dyna Vikker’s displayed phenomenal track sense to nail his victory in a tidy 30.18s.
Roberts added, “His Auckland Cup win was a beauty as going into the back straight even I didn’t believe that Vikkers could win it from where he was. But then that’s Vikkers – he treated his rivals with contempt on that occasion.” His four wins on the Manukau track led to the Canterbury trained greyhound being named as the 2015/16 Auckland Greyhound of the Year.
The three Group 1 titles won by Dyna Vikkers during the 2015/16 racing season (from left): Waterloo Cup, NZ Cup and Auckland Cup
Injury then intervened with the son of Barcia Bale and Crystin Bale being sparingly raced after that, with his last race day outing being at Addington on 25 August 2016. Winning 16 races, three at Group 1 level, plus gaining ten minor placings which added up to a season high $155,365 in stake earning saw Dyna Vikkers being deservedly crowned as the 2015/16 New Zealand Greyhound of the Year.
“He was a full on kennel dog, but in saying that that he was a truly professional dog around the kennels. His tenacious racing attitude was unreal. You can also say he had a touch of arrogance as getting a touch up in his races certainly didn’t faze him whatsoever. He didn’t give a dam what the other dogs did (to him) – he just did what he had to do. Track sense was a forte for Vikkers, which allowed him to overcome most traffic issues he was faced with,” added Roberts.
“Probably my biggest disappointment was not being able to race him in 600m plus races. I reckon he would have been a super dog over that trip. I was seriously thinking about taking him over to Aussie to take on some of their big ticket 600m races. I would have loved to have a crack at the leading Aussies, but unfortunately it was a shame it wasn’t to be,” explained Roberts.
Dyna Vikkers is standing at stud for a very affordable $1,500 service fee. When summing up his super racing career and how he achieved what he did, then that represents real value. “I’m expecting a good stud career for him. He is from the Go Wild Teddy line who are naturals and they just keep on throwing strong chasers. I reckon his racing style will be left in his progeny,” Roberts advised.
Dyna Vikkers concluded his superb racing career after having contested 57 races, winning 33 of them and after adding in a further 17 minor placings saw him earning $226,925 in stakes for his owner Brendan Wheeler (Paul’s son).
A range of pics of Dyna Vikkers displaying his free flowing racing style as captured by Dave Robbie
By Peter Fenemor
