Boom times for Mackay and Select Moment

By Alex Nolan

Gary Mackay might be a real estate agent by profession but he makes no secret about where his true passion lies.

“I’m not into real estate, I’m into greyhounds,” Mackay said.

The passion is as strong as ever at the minute thanks to his most recent winner Select Moment, who he hopes can continue a promising start to her career when she lines up at Ipswich on Saturday.

The 21-month-old bitch, by Sennachie out of Paua To Admit, is closely related to Mackay’s top prize money earner Paua To Launch and after being hit with the bad luck stick at her first two starts, is now a winner of three from six.

Her most impressive performance came at her latest outing when she showed nice early toe to win a Thursday night Novice over 520 metres at Ipswich in a best of night 30.47 seconds. 

Other winners on the night included Deck Fifty Two, Sunshine Delight and Sunburst.

She now faces what appears to be her toughest test to date when she exits box eight in a Fifth Grade heat over 520 metres on Saturday, which will be race eight on the program. 

There she will face the likes of Spring Sonic, who drops in grade from the Ipswich 40^th Anniversary Trophy last weekend, and Cosmic Boom for Leanne Hall, a former NSW chaser having his second start in Queensland.

“They tell me Cosmic Boom trialled in 30.45 seconds recently so she will have her work cut out from box eight but she’s as fit as I can get her and she’s come through the last couple of weeks pretty well,” Mackay said.

“To run best of night on two occasions is a pretty big thing so early in her career.

"One was a maiden and the other was a novice.

“I think there’s still going to be improvement to come.”

Select Moment is one of two bitches Mackay purchased off Wagga Wagga breeder David Jones from a litter by Paua To Admit, a daughter of Paua To Terrify, who threw Mackay’s winner of more than $30,000 in Paua To Launch.

“I have a good association with David, who breeds that line,” Mackay said.

“It’s a good bitch line and all his bitches seem to produce, so every time he’s got a litter I always contact him to see if there are any for sale. I tried to by a dog off him this time, but he wouldn’t sell.

“He selected them for me … so he’s done a good job.”

Mackay said Select Moment’s sister was still immature but would need more time to develop.

“She’s not as good as Select Moment but she’ll win races,” he said.

Mackay has been involved in the industry for more than 50 years as both a participant and official, including a term as president of the former Beenleigh Club.

Mackay founded Beenleigh City Real Estate in 1992 and continues to work full-time as South East Queensland experiences, what he calls, an unprecedented property boom.

That has ensured he keeps just three greyhounds in work, those being the two bitches and Queensland Derby Heat place-getter Fernando Grand.

“I’ve been in real estate for 40 years and I’ve never seen the market like this … I’m not sure when or whether it will end,” he said.