Injury Curtails Oh Mickey's Grand Career

RAGING 2020 Queensland greyhound of the year favourite Oh Mickey has been forced into retirement on the eve of the anniversary of his greatest triumph, the Group 1 National Derby.

The son of Fernando Bale and Iona Champion, pride and joy of Queensland breeder and owner Clint Kratzmann, has a crack in a stopper bone and vet advice is that he will not stand another preparation.

It is a blow to the training combination of Mick and Selena Zammit who have openly declared the dog easily the best they have ever prepared.

Oh Mickey retires with the record of 33 starts for 18 wins and seven placings earning $215,000 in stakes. 

He was the ultimate group performer and a dog possessed of unbelievable speed, running 29.45 at Albion Park, the fourth fastest dog ever at the track, and 30.00 at Ipswich the second fastest time there as well.

He won the Derby at only his seventh race start, then followed that with victory just four starts later in the Group 2 Richmond Derby.

“It was an incredible time for us all,” said Kratzmann. “Unbelievable is probably an understatement.”

But Oh Mickey's credentials, and the reason why he is a certainty to win Queensland greyhound of the year honours for 2020, are much more than just his two group victories.

He also won the Listed Winter Sprint, a Young Guns at Albion Park, won at FFA level there at just his 12th race start, and was a finalist in the Group 1 Topgun, Group 1 Brisbane Cup, Group 2 Lismore Gold Cup, Group 3 Townsville Cup and was second in a Young Guns at Ipswich.

He is only the second dog to ever win both the National Derby and Richmond Derby (beating group 1 winner King Cratos).

The 29.45 Oh Mickey ran at Albion Park, while the fourth fastest ever at the track, is the fastest ever by a Queensland-based dog.

In 18 starts at Albion Park, Oh Mickey broke the magical 30-seconds on 11 occasions. Four times he went 29.60 or better.

In 21 of his 33 starts he raced at Group level or in FFA class.

“I feel blessed to own such a wonderful little dog and to have enjoyed his success with some great people Mick and Selena Zammit who have done a wonderful job with Mickey,” said Clint. 

“And so much credit needs to go to the late Troy Donaldson who set him on his path to glory winning the National Derby.

“The fact his very last race was in the invitation only Topgun is a credit to how good this dog was on the racetrack. Just to be invited to the Topgun proves what a remarkable race dog he has been for us all."

Unfortunately, Oh Mickey is not able to go to stud.

A greyhound of the year title will be worthy compensation for a wonderful career.