Brett Lee

Breeding: SIRE: Gun Law Osti DAM: Sobbing Sal

Whelped : 05/01/1999

Trainer : Darren McDonald

Owners : K.Johnstone & D.McDonald (Now owned by K.Pedrana)

Career Race Record : 38 starts, 30 wins, 5 placings

Career Prizemoney : $405,106

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Winner 2001 Group 1 Australian Cup
  
• Winner 2001 Group 1 Adelaide Cup
  
• Winner 2001 Group 1 Golden Easter Egg
  
• Winner 2001 Group 1 Maturity Classic
  
• Winner 2001 Group 2 Warrnambool Classic  

In 2002, the Australian greyhound racing industry was stunned when Brett Lee was sold to a consortium of New South Wales businessmen for around $800,000. Then, in late 2004, it was reported that Brett Lee had been sold to a high profile UK-based greyhound racing identity, for a staggering $3.75 million. But the deal was not clinched. Brett Lee’s stud fee had reached $8800 in 2006, and it’s believed some of his straws have even been purchased for around $12,000.

“As a sire, he certainly changed greyhound racing. Breeders were selling their pups for more money, and the export of his straws took the Australian stud scene to a new level,” McDonald said. A stud sensation, Brett Lee’s top line progeny reads like a who’s who of the greyhound world – Betty’s Angel, Bond, Cromlah Bale, Hallucinate, Leprechaun Pace, Meticulous, Miss Mini Mouse, Superman, Trewly Special and Where’s Pedro – to name just a few. “I probably won’t get the opportunity to have another greyhound like Brett Lee,” McDonald said. “His induction into the Victorian greyhound racing Hall of Fame is a real honour, and I’m very proud to have been associated with Brett Lee.”

Brett Lee had the menacing pace of his celebrated namesake – Australian Test cricketer, Brett Lee. And the canine Brett Lee was to prove just as famous in his own sporting sphere, so much so that both megastars met during the 2001 Australian Cup series for a promotional photo shoot at the MCG. Ironically, greyhound racing aficionados were constantly ‘clean bowled’ by the deeds of Brett Lee – on and off the track! His first owner, Richard Kurkowski of Point Cook, paid $3000 in 1999 for Brett Lee as a nine-month-old pup.

But after only a handful of starts – including a track record at Horsham – Brett Lee was sold for $100,000 to Darrell Johnstone, a South Australian car salesman and greyhound racing participant. Johnstone entrusted the training duties of Brett Lee to Devon Meadows mentor Darren McDonald, who prepared him for the vast majority of his brilliant career. “I thought he was a potential superstar after he won his first start at Ballarat. And when he broke the Horsham track record at only his third start, it got people talking,” McDonald said.

“I also remember driving home from Geelong one night. He had easily defeated one of my greyhounds, which made me think he was one of the best young prospects I’d seen for some time.” Dubbed the “world’s fastest greyhound”, Brett Lee won 31 races from 39 starts – including four Group 1 events and seven track records – and amassed $405,106 in stakes. “He wasn’t a magnificent looking type, but he would get up on his toes and prance around and pull out something special in front of the big crowds. He knew how good he was, and I think that’s what makes a champion,” McDonald said.

Brett Lee retired to stud just prior to being crowned 2001 Victorian Greyhound of the Year and immediately commanded a record introductory fee of $2750.