Sandown Friday, 9.08pm

While Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley focuses on his team getting across the line against Essendon at Adelaide Oval tomorrow night he will also be hoping for another win of a much different kind.
A greyhound Hinkley is closely connected to, Cairnlea Kenny, will be racing for a first prize of $75,000 at Melbourne’s Sandown Park the Crocmedia National Sprint Championship (515m) during the half time break of Friday night’s match at 9.08pm.

Every state in Australia will have at least one representative in what is greyhound racing’s only annual state-versus-state sprint race, and Cairnlea Kenny is the sole South Australian contender.

Hinkley has been racing greyhounds for many years, chiefly with his best mate, the late Peter Hubbard, a greyhound trainer from Victoria’s Western District who passed away after a sudden heart attack in November 2016, at age 56.

Hubbard was involved in greyhound racing for 30 years. He was also involved with local football and gave Hinkley his first coaching job at the Mortlake Football Club when he retired as a Geelong player. Their friendship and involvement in greyhound racing grew from there.

Hubbard bred Cairnlea Kenny, while his wife Jan owns him.
Hinkley was at Angle Park on 9 August to watch Cairnlea Kenny win the SA Sprint Final, which secured his place in tomorrow night’s National Final.

“Greyhound racing is a real passion for me,” Hinkley said. “People tell you to find something that you can invest in and you love and that’s certainly how I am with the dogs.”
Trainer Petar Jovanovic said Cairnlea Kenny would provide Hinkley with his biggest thrill in greyhound racing if he can pull off a victory on Friday night.

“Jan owns Cairnlea Kenny but Ken is involved with him. In fact, the dog is actually named after Ken. Greyhound racing is a real outlet for Ken…he just loves it,” he said.

Jovanovic has won three National Sprint Championships and Cairnlea Kenny is a $10 chance with TAB after drawing the coveted box one tomorrow night.

“He is drawn well, he’s very professional, and when he comes out of the boxes he just accelerates. I think he’s a genuine chance of winning,” Jovanovic said.

Cairnlea Kenny has had a brilliant career so far winning 18 races from 48 starts. This includes 11 starts from box one for seven wins at an impressive strike rate of 64 per cent.

Note: TAB is offering $21 for Port Adelaide to beat Essendon at Adelaide Oval on Friday night into Cairnlea Kenny to win the National Sprint Championship. Go to //tab.com.au/Sports/Todays Specials. Gamble Responsibly.

Group 1 National Sprint Championship
Sandown Park Friday, 9.08pm
First prize $75,000

1. Cairnlea Kenny (SA) $10
2. Big Flood (VIC) $3
3. Hasten Slowly (VIC) $8.50
4. West On Augie (WA) $4.80
5. Maurice Minor (QLD) $8.50
6. Shadale (VIC) $13
7. Sky Wave (NSW) $3
8. Buckle Up Rose (TAS) $34
Reserves
9. Lila Bale (VIC) $26
10. Poke The Bear (VIC) $6

Odds supplied by tab.com.au on 20.08.2018