In what was a dramatic late finish to rival any we have witnessed on the racetrack in recent times, Forbes-trained greyhound Jungle Deuce has been voted The People's Pup and will represent the people of NSW in the Greyhound Racing NSW slot for next month's $1.145m TAB Phoenix.
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A concerted push through local media in the Central West in the final 36 hours of voting saw the Jack Smith-trained sprinter overhaul early polling leader Bandit Ned, and clinch the slot as voting closed on Saturday.
The GRNSW TAB Phoenix slot was thrown open to a vote last Monday when a list of 10 candidates was provided for the general public.
Bandit Ned - like four other Group race winners - had secured his place on the list courtesy of his Group 1 Vic Peters Classic win in October, while Jungle Deuce was one of the five remaining dogs selected by an expert panel to complete the list.
Throughout the week Bandit Ned appeared to have the numbers to win the competition, but with almost 50 percent of the votes submitted in the final 36 hours of the competition for Jungle Deuce, he was able to snatch a last stride victory.
"I understand it was a hotly contested ballot, and regardless of the outcome we would have been well represented in Melbourne," GRNSW Chief Executive Tony Mestrov.
"But the public have spoken and selected Jungle Deuce who I know will not only proudly represent the people of NSW in the GRNSW slot, but has a realistic chance of winning."
This article was produced as part of an ACM partnership with Greyhound Racing NSW.
