How Close Dart Went To Selling Cups King Sammy

EARLY in 2021, the Dart family was approached about selling promising young bitch Pay Call, but were keener to sell a young sprinter called Typhoon Sammy.

Fast forward to October 2022 and John Dart, his wife Glenda and their son Sam, are riding a Cups-winning high they could not believe.

Typhoon Sammy (Aston Dee Bee-Zabaleta) on Friday night led throughout to win the G2 Bendigo Cup.

In the process he picked up a $50,000 bonus for having won three country cups in Victoria in the one year.

“I had $80,000 on the dog but the buyers believed he might not run 500 metres,” said John.

“He doesn't have to now.”

Country cups king ?

TYPHOON SAMMY had to cool off after burning up the track in the $78,795 Group 2 #BendigoCup Final. ???#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/4V0EUiQBuW

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) October 14, 2022

The Bendigo Cup victory brought Typhoon Sammy's career to 61 starts for 38 wins, 14 placings and $289,000 in stakes. He has also won the G2 Horsham and Traralgon Cups and last year set the Bendigo track record.

Immediate plans for Typhoon Sammy will now concentrate on the G1 Melbourne Cup for which he automatically qualified for the heats after Friday night's win.

“I have always wanted him to run in the Melbourne Cup and I spoke to Jason (Thompson, the dog's trainer) about making this our target,” said John.

“We would not look at the Topgun even if he was likely to get a call up.

“But, down the track is the Hobart 1000 and if he happened to make that final, Glenda and I would head down there for a few days to be there.”

Dart admitted Typhoon Sammy's career had been a lifetime high for he and his family.

“Yes, we win a lot of races with dogs in our own kennels,” he said. “But there is something special for us about when this dog races.

“You should have seen us here last night when he won. Glenda even starts screaming ‘Go Sammy' when the lure starts up.”

Reared in Toowoomba by Dart's mate Phil Muller, Typhoon Sammy has a stud career looming as well.

“He's the best natured dog,” said John. “When he gets to the races he is full on, but at home he is a gentleman. He's the best we've had.

“I was thinking of standing him at stud myself, but I believe he deserves to be with someone like Jason if that is his future.

“Gee, we've had some fun with this dog.

“That's what it is all about.”