Pup’s winning streak brings fondest memories of trainer's Dad

BILLY’S Shadow holds a soft spot in Dianne Hannon’s heart.

SALUTE: Dianne Hannon with her winning dog in race one, Billy’s Shadow. Photo: Adam Hourigan

BILLY'S Shadow holds a soft spot in Dianne Hannon's heart.

Not just because the pup has won all his four starts to date for the Gold Coast hinterland trainer.

Whenever Billy's Shadow salutes - as he did in fine fashion yesterday at Grafton - he brings back the fondest memories of Hannon's father.

"My father, Bill, was an avid greyhound trainer," Hannon said.

"When he died two years ago, my daughter bought a bottle of wine with the picture of a man in an Akubra leading a dog.

"It was called Billy's Shadow. I breed, rear and train all my dogs and I vowed to call my next good one Billy's Shadow."

He's good all right.

The 17.56 second effort from the two box to win the Clarence Valley Sheds Stakes made it four wins from four starts in his young career.

Glen Northfield's Terra Rising ($19.10) got the jump from the four. But Billy's Shadow ($2.40fav) needed just half the 305m journey to find the front and powered home to win by more than two lengths. Pepi Catona ($5.80) just caught Hot Charm ($25.50) for third.

"He's quite a nice dog," Hannon said.

"He doesn't ping the lids, but when he hits the ground he's got determination to get to the front.

"Hopefully he'll step up to a longer distance now."

The performance of Billy's Shadow was just an appetiser for Hannon.

Her kennels claimed a trifecta in the Carters Canine Capers Maiden over the 305m distance.

Regalo ($1.70) smashed its siblings to win by 7.5 lengths in 17.77s, followed by Taranis ($16.80) and Dress Code ($7.40).

The pace was on the inside, with the three placegetters jumping from the one, three and two boxes, respectively.

Meanwhile, Hannon's Beau Jillem ($5) ran second in the Westlawn Finance 5th Grade Stakes.

As expected, He's Imposing ($1.70fav) was untroubled to score the win for Dave Irwin.

Originally published as Pup’s winning streak brings fondest memories of trainer's Dad