The White Wonder to go out on a Nationals high

By Jordan Gerrans

Of all the dazzling come-from-behind, eye-catching victories that Days Of Thunder amassed through her elite racing career, it is a relatively recent one that stands out most in the mind of proud owner Clinton Gill.

Dubbed the ‘White Wonder’, Days Of Thunder became one of the most popular greyhounds in Australia over the last couple of years with her stunning racing pattern.

The Group level-winning stayer would get so far back in her races and rocket home.

While it could be tough for punters to watch the top chaser get so far back in the run and look like she had little chance of getting the cash, she often delivered for her loyal followers with a barnstorming finish.

For Gill and her trainer Warren Nicholls, she is the dog of a lifetime and they have made the call to retire the star greyhound following Saturday’s National Distance Final in Melbourne.

It is Thursday, June 22 of this year that will be the most prominent memory in Gill’s mind when he reflects back on her career when she is officially retired.

It was the four-dog Super Stayers Invitational Final at Albion Park and the local hopeful was the outsider in the market of the quartet of greyhounds.

She faced a class field of: First Picked (trained by Robert Britton), Palawa King (Raymond Smith) and Zipping Orlando (John Finn).

And, in true ‘White Wonder’ fashion, she upstaged the array of Group-winning dogs with a fast-finishing effort.

“It proved to me that she was up to the best, competing against the best in the country,” the proud owner said.

“I know it was a small field but it just showed how strong she is when she has less dogs to weave through.

“If she gets the gaps in a big field, it can still happen in any race.”

Premier Queensland greyhound race caller and prominent Brisbane form analyst John ‘Bunny’ Brasch was behind the microphone on that occasion and bellowed about the daughter of Fernando Bale post-race.

“Days of Thunder – the White Wonder is back,” Brasch proclaimed.

“There is life in those old legs yet.”

She also saluted in the Group 3 Origin Distance race in 2022, won a Chairman’s Cup as well as placing in a Group 1 Queensland Cup.

It will be back-to-back Nationals’ tilts for Days Of Thunder after finishing unplaced in the distance race at Wentworth Park last year.

While Days Of Thunder is still racing on strong – having won her last two events – Gill and Nicholls have come to the conclusion that she has nothing left to prove. 

The Nationals will be her swansong before she eventually begins her life as a valuable brood bitch.

Gill works as a supervisor in the coal mining town of Moranbah, which is based inland from Mackay.

He is keen to see his star dog go out on a high and proclaimed that he did not want to be greedy and just race her on for the sake of it.

Despite the decision being made that Saturday’s Group 1 event will be her final time at the races, Gill says she is as sound as a bell and still thrives on being in work at Nicholls’ Churchable kennel.

“We do not need anything else from her, she has achieved everything we have asked for,” Gill said.

“She has not had enough of racing but we just do not expect anything more of her, she has far exceeded our expectations.

“It would be the cherry on the cake this Nationals meeting, it is like going out in a Grand Final.

“Especially that we are in this race in back-to-back years as there are seasoned trainers who don’t get this opportunity once and we get it twice. We are over the moon with what she has achieved.”

Gill will be on hand at The Meadows on Saturday night to see her final event in person.

“We would love to see her go out on a high as she deserves to," Nicholls said. 

The team of Gill and Nicholls have had dogs together for a decade and have long been discussing the future plans for their White Wonder.

Aston Rupee, Shima Shine or Hooked On Scotch are all being considered for future litters with Days Of Thunder, with Aston Rupee to be the first cab off the rank.

Gill is likely to keep the majority of her progeny and race them himself with Nicholls preparing them but that has not stopped the interest already in others keen to buy her pups.

And, following her amazing racing pattern, Gill believes there is plenty of people who are now interested in the sport because of her rare attributes.

“With her performances, a lot of friends of mine that have never owned dogs before have put their hand up and that is all depending on litter sizes if I do decide to sell,” he said.

“Her performances have brought people into dogs that did not know much about sport.

“It is not just everyday punters, her biggest fans are the people that love the roller-coaster ride and the big finishes you get in her races.

“She is only 24 kilograms, all white and has been dubbed the White Wonder, it makes it all that more exciting.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Queensland hopeful in the National distance decider is rated as a $10 chance with the bookmakers from box two. 

Gill says the leading pack in the Final will need to ‘check their rear vision mirrors’ as if Days Of Thunder is close enough in the closing stages, she will be rattling home.

“I just hope she does not get too far back and can find a slot that she can get around safely,” Gill said.

"It would be the cherry on top if she could win.

“Just being in the race is great, there is obviously some good dogs in this race.”

Travis Elson’s Bear’s Bullet will represent the Sunshine State in the sprint decider of the Nationals on Saturday night in Melbourne while Valhalla is in the National Straight Track Championship at Victoria’s Healesville on Saturday.