By Andrew Copley
THERE is plenty of excitement surrounding a young greyhound named Haiyan ahead of Sunday’s Group 2 Healesville Cup, because he is a greyhound that locals have adopted as their own.
Haiyan has only raced seven times – all at Healesville – where he has won five times including an impressive victory in a heat of the Healesville Cup last Sunday.
It is rare for a greyhound to make a group race final so early on in his career and it is a huge feather in the cap of his trainer Tanju Salih, who is now preparing for the biggest race of his life.
Salih lives in Springvale, almost an hour from Healesville, yet few greyhound trainers have frequented the Yarra Valley more in recent months.
“I only train two greyhounds and they are both better suited to racing up the straight than on traditional circle tracks, so it is great to have Healesville fairly close by as it is Victoria’s only straight track for greyhounds. I’ve been here so often that it’s become my home away from home,” he said.
Boasting $67,000 in prizemoney – including a $47,000 first prize, the Healesville Cup is Victoria’s richest straight greyhound race.
“To have a finalist in the Healesville Cup is a dream come true, and it’s something I never really imagined myself achieving,” he said.
Salih, 46, took up training greyhounds five years ago with Haiyan’s mother, Miss Elegant.
“I had always had an interest in greyhound racing as a punter and then bought my first greyhound, which was Miss Elegant.
“One day her trainer said he didn’t want to train her anymore, so I decided to get my trainer’s licence and I haven’t looked back.
“She raced four times for me and won her last two races, which was a huge thrill. Then she came on season so we retired her.”
Salih said that training greyhounds has helped fill a massive void in his life.
“I’m a pretty competitive person and I played local footy for many years at Oakleigh (Under 19s), then at the Sandown footy club and then at Doncaster East before returning to Sandown,” he said.
“I retired in my mid 30s and I really needed a hobby.
“I couldn’t go and watch local footy as I am so passionate and always wanted to go out and play, so I really needed something else to fulfil my competitive streak,” he said.
Salih said he thrives on the challenge that training greyhounds presents.
“I see a lot of similarities between preparing to play football and preparing a greyhound to race,” he said.
“For instance, I’ll take my dogs to the beach as part of their recovery, just as a lot of footballers go to the beach the day after a game.
“After every race I take my dogs to a greyhound chiropractor who lives all the way in Traralgon, which is an hour and a half from home.
“So it’s a big commitment but training greyhounds is something I take very seriously, just as I used to take my footy seriously when I was playing.
“I’m lucky that work allows me to do that. I work in a casual role, three or four days a week for an agency. Having that flexibility allows me to train my greyhounds.”
Haiyan will be the least experienced greyhound in Sunday’s Healesville Cup, but Salih refuses to write off his chances, even though he is drawn awkwardly in box four.
“He weighs 36 kilograms and is a really big, physically strong greyhound,” he said.
“He overcame a little bit of interference to win his heat, but if he can somehow get a clear run in the final then who knows what he can do?
“I’m just rapt to be part of it all.
“It’s scary, but I’m not nervous, I’m just really excited and I feel like I’ve got nothing to lose.
“I’ll probably be nervous on the day though. I played footy for 18 years before I played in my first grand final, which was when I was in my thirties and playing for Doncaster East.
“We won that game, so hopefully I can win the first group race I compete in as well.”
The Healesville Cup will be held on Sunday, 11 September, noon until 4pm, at the Healesville Sporting Complex, Don Road, Healesville. Cost is $6 Adult, $4 Concession and children free. There will be a Children’s Carnival and live music on the green. The Healesville greyhound racetrack is located just two minutes from the town centre.
More information at healesville.grv.org.au.
