Numbers are half the story for Corrigan’s speedster

By Pat McLeod

The numbers are starting to add up for sprinter Uno Nangar, but it is the value outside the ‘stats sheet’ that brings veteran industry figure John Corrigan close to tears.

On Thursday night at Albion Park the promising Primo Uno and Nangar Diva bitch will contest one of six quality Rising Stars heats over 520 metres.

Corrigan, a long-time president of the Grafton greyhound club, has reason for confidence in the age-restricted series with his chaser so far tallying eight wins, four placings and just over $60,000 from her 14 starts.

However, it’s not those numbers he first talks about when discussing ‘the best dog I’ve had in 60 years’.

“This little girl hasn’t been life-changing for just me, she has changed our whole family’s lives,” Corrigan says.

“She is very special - 60 years is a long time to wait for something that can gallop.

“I can tell you it is a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning these days.”

Corrigan then goes onto to explain how Uno Nangar’s performances have highlighted the real friendships he and wife Joan have in the industry, especially with Dennis and Ann Barnes, who bred the dog.

“Dennis is in touch with me, usually twice a week, asking about the dog,” Corrigan said.

“He is just so happy that the dog is going well. He will ask about how she is going or what am I doing with her trialling-wise. He is genuinely excited.

“When she won the Futurity at Ipswich he rang and told me that it was a wonder that I hadn't heard him and the family cheering all the way from where they live at Cudal (in the NSW Central West).

“Dennis is a genuine friend. It is so great to have somebody in the industry who is genuinely happy for you when you do well.”

Corrigan said neither he nor the dog were fazed when the Rising Stars heats were called off last week because of storms.

“It didn't help, but it wasn’t a major drama,” Corrigan said.

“That’s life and you just have to grin and bear it. It meant that she had to have a trial instead of a race.

“But, she is a very easy dog to train. She enjoys galloping. She is ready to go this week, just the same as last week.”

Uno Nangar will jump from box two on Thursday night and Corrigan predicts the biggest threats will come from Big Boy Bentley (trained by Ray Burman), out of box five, and Mossy Boots (John McCarthy) out of box one.

“Those two especially will be hard to beat, but the positive for my girl is that she has beaten them both in the past,” he said.

“Whether that is the case on Thursday night, who knows, because luck is a fortune.

“A wise old man told me a long time ago that success in greyhound racing was five per cent the dog and 95 per cent luck.

“I have already seen that in races with her. I expected her to win, but then the unexpected happened. You put them in the box and hope for the best.

“The only thing that you really want is for them to arrive home safely.

“There is room for a little bit of confidence on Thursday night. As long as she begins well and has some luck going around that first corner. It all comes back to that word, luck.”