Professor Snitch's career comes full circle

By Jordan Gerrans

After scorching the track on debut in South East Queensland, the journey of high-level bitch Professor Snitch appears to be ready to come full circle in the prized Golden Ticket series.

Professor Snitch is raced by first-time owners in the mother and daughter team of Arlene Roy and Vanessa Heather.

The daughter of Sennachie set tongues wagging with a dazzling debut performance at Ipswich in the first month of last year, romping in by 12.75 lengths over 431 metres as she lowered the maiden class record at the track to 24.67 seconds.

Professor Snitch then won on debut at Albion Park on February 16 before being sent south to trainer Steve White, who prepared super sire Sennachie in his special racing days.

With Roy and Heather regularly on track cheering on,  Professor Snitch is now back in the Sunshine State almost 12 months on from her stunning debut as she aims to climb the Group 1 mountain.

She faces a heat of the Golden Ticket series on Thursday evening with Gold Bullion ambitions later in the carnival.

Top Victorian trainer White thinks if the fawn bitch is serious about winning at the elite level, Thursday’s heat should be a simple task.

“If she is a chance to win the Gold Bullion then she will need to beat this field,” he said.

“It is a massive plus to win this Golden Ticket on a number of fronts. The format should suit her, as well.”

White has just returned from a Canadian holiday and has sent the dog north to Trevor Lindsay – who trains out of Tanjil South – for the early stages of the summer carnival.

If Professor Snitch was to land in the Gold Bullion decider in February, White is likely to come up and put the finishing touches on her campaign.

Lindsay also prepares Professor Sirius who is a litter mate to Professor Snitch.

The Roy and Heather team also own Sirius.

Professor Sirius began his career impressively and was sent to White after three stylish runs in SEQ.

The black dog has not reached the heights of his flying litter sister and returned to Queensland where he has raced consistently in recent weeks.

Roy and Heather are enjoying a dream run with their Professor chasers as they are debutant owners in the code.

“We are still so rapt. This is the best thing that we have ever done. We love the industry. It just has been awesome,” Heather said last year.

Professor Snitch returned to Albion Park in a heat of the Flying Amy Classic in June of last year but after running fifth, she headed back to Victoria.

She has already tasted black-type glory, claiming the 2023 Group 3 St Leger Final at Warragul as well as being competitive in other high-level events. 

The Mount Samson-based mother and daughter cherish their dogs.

“This is only their first venture into dogs and there are fortunate because not many people get a really nice dog first-up when they buy one,” White said.

“They have and they have another four pups that are getting broken in at this stage. They are good to train for and they love their dogs.”

Regarded as one of Australia's most decorated greyhound trainers, White provided Lindsay with a program with how he prepares Professor Snitch in Victoria and it is all going to plan.

Professor Snitch posted a 29.72 second victory over 520 metres last Thursday evening as a tune-up for the Golden Ticket heats.

Watching the replay after he got off the plane from Canada, White was pleased with what he was viewing.

“She jumped a lot better the other night, which is good, and got a nice clear run,” the trainer said.

“It was a good thing for her confidence as she has not been getting a clear run in her last few starts in Melbourne.

“It should do her the world of good and her confidence should still grow. It is a confidence thing with her and this kind of format with four dogs should only help that.”

Retired champion Sennachie claimed the inaugural Gold Bullion crown back in 2020 in 29.41 seconds.

The great Sennachie just loved racing in Queensland and White can see similarities between the stud dog and his daughter.

“She has the same ability as Sennachie but she just does not have the box manners that he had,” the top trainer said of Professor Snitch.

“She has the second split there, which Sennachie had, and she is pretty close to him as a run home dog.

“He was very strong, all his sectionals were great. There was no flaws in him and she has one flaw and that is out of the boxes.

“She has the same ability as him but she will not be as good as him, I doubt any one will be as good as him.”

The heats of the Golden Ticket are conducted as four-dog shoot-outs on Thursday, with the Final run as four two-dog match races the following week – with the winner determined by the fastest time.

The fastest greyhound on the clock will be awarded the elusive Golden Ticket and receives an automatic berth in the Group 1 $375,000 Gold Bullion on February 1.

Albion Park track record holder Jay Is Jay – who is also a progeny of Sennachie – is tipped to take out the 2024 Golden Ticket.
White thinks the format will suit Jay Is Jay down to the ground and he is keen to avoid the local star next Thursday with Professor Snitch.