In what was a dramatic late finish to rival any we have witnessed on the racetrack in recent times, locally-trained greyhound Jungle Deuce has been voted The People's Pup and will represent the people of NSW in the Greyhound Racing NSW slot for next month's $1.145m TAB Phoenix.
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The GRNSW TAB Phoenix slot was thrown open to a vote last Monday when a list of 10 candidates was provided for the general public.
Jungle Deuce's trainer Raymond Smith said they're over the moon with his selection and are very excited to head down to the Meadows.
Smith said they just like to say a big thank you to family, friends and everyone who voted for Jungle Deuce to run in the TAB Phoenix.
Along with being over the moon about Deuce's selection, Smith said they will be donating $5000 to charity and be shouting the Sports Bar at The Forbes Inn for the race on December 18.
Early polling leader Bandit Ned - like four other Group race winners - had secured his place on the list courtesy of his Group 1 Vic Peters Classic win in October, while Jungle Deuce was one of the five remaining dogs selected by an expert panel to complete the list.
Throughout the week Bandit Ned appeared to have the numbers to win the competition, but with almost 50 percent of the votes submitted in the final 36 hours of the competition for Jungle Deuce, he was able to snatch a last stride victory.
While the full fields for the race were not out by Monday morning, Smith is confident that Jungle Deuce will put up a good race as he has had some success at the track previously.
"He's already won there [the Meadows] at that distance before."
Smith said they are hoping that Jungle Deuce will draw a good box to jump from.
"I understand it was a hotly contested ballot, and regardless of the outcome we would have been well represented in Melbourne," GRNSW Chief Executive Tony Mestrov said.
"But the public have spoken and selected Jungle Deuce who I know will not only proudly represent the people of NSW in the GRNSW slot, but has a realistic chance of winning."
After a win at the GRNSW Middle Distance Series hosted at Dubbo on Saturday, Smith said Jungle Deuce will be taking a break to get ready for the $1.145m TAB Phoenix on December 18.
In other recent good news for Irinka Kennels from the Wentworth Park track on Saturday night Irinka Riley won the Cash Connect Atm Plus, with Zipping Hoppo placing third in the Ladbroke IT! and Midnight Flash placing fourth in the Ladbrokes Non Graded 720m.
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