Familiar face celebrates first win as owner

By Alex Nolan

Respected greyhound photographer Michael McInally is usually the man taking the winners’ pictures.

On Wednesday, he found himself on the other side of the lens for the very first time.  

After years of patiently waiting to purchase the right greyhound (at the right price), then patiently waiting for that greyhound to mature, McInally can now call himself a winning owner.

The greyhound was Aperture, a son of Fernando Bale purchased at the Ipswich Puppy Auction for $3000, and originally trained by McInally’s partner Sarah Johnson.

Now in the care of Brassall trainer Matthew Evans, Aperture returned from a six-month racing hiatus to score his maiden win the first race of the day at Capalaba in a respectable 20.26 seconds. 

“He finally pulled his finger out and did what we thought he could today,” a chuffed McInally said.

Aperture was his own worst enemy when going under as a $1.50 favourite in a maiden on November 7 last year to complete a string of four consecutive minor placings.

At a loss with what to do with the troublesome pup, McInally said it was a stroke of luck that Evans approached him to take him on.

“Funnily enough, Matt came in to order a photo off me and asked what I was doing with the dog,” McInally said.

“We had no idea what to do with him and when he said he would take him on, we almost choked.

“A lot of kudos has to go to Matt for getting the best out of him.

"He’s got a motor and if he just focuses he can do anything, which he did today."

McInally has wanted to be a greyhound owner ever since he can remember but budgetary constraints and finding the right greyhound had been limiting factors.

“Finding the right one is easier said than done,” McInally said.

“That is my first ever greyhound and my first ever winner. It feels pretty bloody good.”

Named after a camera opening through which light travels, McInally couldn’t think of a more fitting name.

“Normally a fast Aperture is pretty good,” he said.