A master and an apprentice flex muscle at Greyhound of the Year Awards

By Andrew Smith

One trainer has won it all and the other is a star on the rise.

Tony Brett enjoyed a night to remember on Friday, with Orchestrate crowned the Greyhound of the Year and his former bitch Queen Lauryn inducted into the Hall of Fame.

At the other end of the scale, Joshua Priest proved he is one to watch, taking out the Young Achiever Award after a stellar 2022 season.

For Brett, the top gong was the icing on the cake for Orchestrate who had posted 10 wins from 20 starts in the 2022 campaign, including the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.

“To win Greyhound of the Year, it’s just something that’s really special – we’ve got a lot of great greyhounds in Queensland so to be named as the best for the whole year, it’s special,” Brett said after the win.

“He won the biggest race in Queensland but he also won the New Year’s Gift on January 9, and was named in the Top Gun in October – he’s been a great greyhound all year.

“His prize money in the Group 1 this year put him up as the second highest earner I’ve ever had, over half a million dollars.

“That’s pretty special to start with but he’s just such a likeable dog around the place, he’s got a personality of his own and we’ve just had great fun.”

Brett is now eyeing off the $1 million Brisbane Cup in the Winter Carnival as a return to racing for Orchestrate, and is confident the veteran can match it with his younger competition.

“He turned four a few days ago and he’s getting on a bit now, so we are trying to bring him back,” he said.

“Hopefully come July with the $1 million race in Queensland, we’d love to have a crack with him.

“Whether he’s got the legs to match it with the younger dogs these days...he feels good.

“I think he can, he’s got a great racing style that can put him up into these sorts of races so we’ll give him another try.”

Brett said he was also over the moon to see Queen Lauryn recognised for her efforts, with the five-time Group-winning former Greyhound of the Year inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“It blew me away actually, I didn’t realise she was going to be in the Hall of Fame,” he said.

“We had Bogie Leigh put into the Hall of Fame so for Queen Lauryn to be recognised, and up as one of the best not only for the year, but in history in your state, is just very special.

“We had great fun with Steve Hawkins and his family and the ride she took us on from Lismore to Darwin and Sydney and Melbourne.

“We went everywhere with her and we had a ball and she was a super little bitch.”

The next generation of trainers will be headlined by Joshua Priest, who was crowned the Young Achiever for 2022.

The 21-year-old firmly moved out of his father Terry’s shadow with six wins and 14 placings from 37 starts.

“It means a lot to me…it’s been my dream for many, many years now since I’ve actually got into training,” Priest said.

“It started with Samona - she actually took my training to the next level, she won me a feature and plenty of races and that’s put a lot of excitement in rather than being my dad’s kennel hand which I have been for years.

“I’ve been training dogs for him but it’s nice to see my name up on the board as well.

“My Dad has been training for 40 years and he’s proven himself and I’m just glad I’m starting to now too.”

Samona will head to be a brood bitch with Fernando Bale and Priest is hoping to reap the rewards from that litter and advance his career.

“I’m keen to train a few more winners and help Dad out and have a few on me own,” he said.

“We’re a father and son team, we’ll do it forever so hopefully a few more features there in the future but for now just keep doing what we’re doing.

“I’d love to win a Group 1 – that’s a big challenge.

"But if you’ve got the right dog and willing to put the work in, anything’s possible and I’m hoping with Samona’s pups that could be the case.”