The secret behind the Ned Snow kennel's success

By Jordan Gerrans

Tanya Snow jokes that she must have been born into a whelping box.

Tanya is of course the daughter of leading Queensland greyhound trainer Ned Snow.

The Snow kennel has been flying across 2022 – with a massive few days coming up – and veteran dog man Ned has been front and centre at tracks across the country to receive the deserved plaudits.

And, behind the scenes, back at their kennel, it is his daughter Tanya (pictured) who is keeping the operation ticking along at a high level as her father chases Group 1 riches.

Tanya owns many of the star dogs, runs all the breeding of the next generation, breaks in the youngsters, as well as all the computer and book work that goes into racing greyhounds.

“I think I was born in a whelping box,” Tanya says with a laugh.

“I was bought up with Dad around the greyhounds and have taken to it more and more as the years have gone on.

“When Mum got ill, I took over the breeding side and I just love it, the breeding.”

On what looms to be a massive night for the Sunshine State at The Meadows on Saturday evening, the Snow kennel will be central to the visitors chances.

The team have three litter brothers across the card, Pocket Money in the Group 1 Hume Cup Final, Oh Oh Range in the Group 1 Topgun Stayers while Queensland State of Origin hero Shipwreck will also be on show in a free for all event.

Fellow Queensland trainer Warren Nicholls will also be shooting for elite level glory in the 730 metre distance Final, with Queensland Cup place getter Days of Thunder drawing the outside box in the Group 1.

Another Queenslander – Orchestrate – was set to contest the 525 metre Topgun event but was scratched earlier this week.

While it is set to be a big Saturday evening for the Cornubia-based kennel of the Snows, it has already been a sizeable week.

Pocket Money ran a sizzling 33.98 seconds around the 600 metre The Meadows circuit on Monday night to qualify for the Hume Cup decider.

Oh Oh Range was invited to his Group 1 race last month so the team was glad to be able to secure a second starter in a feature event.

Shipwreck – who was the Vince Curry Memorial Final winner earlier this year - also won later on the program on Monday.

Tanya owns Pocket Money and always thought the bigger track in Melbourne would suit the blue dog.

“He blew us away running that time,” Tanya said of Pocket Money.

“And, I think Shipwreck put in real well to get into the trouble and still push through.

“I think eventually Shipwreck will become an awesome 600 metre or distance dog, but at the moment we will just focus on the 520 metres.”

Oh Oh Range has drawn the red rug for Saturday’s Final, which worries Tanya, as the top stayer much prefers to race from an outside draw.

The three Snow chances on Saturday in Victoria are all from the same Out Of Range and Aussie Diamond litter.

All eight dogs who have made it to the track have won races, with more than 50 winners already produced, with likely many more to come.

As the leader of the Snow breeding operation, Tanya is proud as punch.

“I am over the moon,” Tanya said.

“This would have to be one of our best litters ever, they are going so well.

“To have so many that have proven themselves out of one litter is just amazing.

“To have four beautiful boys, they are all improving and are still young and have a lot of running to do.

“They all have potential out of that whole litter, I am very excited for the next litter coming up as well.”

As of Thursday morning, the TAB have Pocket Money listed as a $3.60 equal favourite in the Hume Cup Final – with Dookie Devil - while Oh Oh Range is rated a $13 chance in his race.

Days Of Thunder is $19 to cause an upset.

Another sibling – Come On Aussie – will tackle a heat of the Ipswich Cup on Thursday evening, which will be raced at Group 2 level.

The Snows are in the process of moving their kennel operations from Cornubia to Purga to be closer to the new Greater Brisbane Greyhound Centre when it officially opens.

Tanya was busy transferring everything between the two properties, while Ned was in Melbourne with the feature-bound chasers, on Thursday morning. 

The Tony Brett-trained Orchestrate had drawn the seven alley for Saturday night before he was scratched.

“He tore out a pin muscle some time ago and that one is now right,” breeder and owner of Orchestrate Tom Kinnear told The Greyhound Recorder.

“But, he has had a problem a couple of times with the other one that has put him out of racing.

“It is a nightmare that we should get so close to just running in a Topgun.

“Tony said the dog would be three weeks off at least to allow the pin to heal.

“He said the dog pulled up sore in the pin and was slightly lame on it after that gallop.

“He had been going fantastic in preparation for the Topgun. It is so annoying.”