Nullawarre hobby greyhound trainer Trevor Steel, 67, is hoping for a ‘miracle’ when Zara’s Princess contests tonight’s $7500 to-the-winner Mepunga Oaks final (450m) at Warrnambool.
Zara’s Princess (Box 5) is the $51 outsider in the event – Race 8, 8.31pm – but it’s not the $7500 first prize that captivates Steel’s emotions.
Back in 2015, Steel and wife Elizabeth reared a litter on a pup basis and named the pup Miracles Happen – now the mother of Zara’s Princess.
Miracles Happen raced on 94 occasions for only four wins (three at Warrnambool), 12 seconds and seven thirds with $13,014 in prizemoney.
She was no superstar on the racetrack but her spiritual attachment to the Steel family is immeasurable.
Her racing moniker emotionally evolved from one of the Steels eight grandchildren, Ivy, who tragically passed away aged 10 on October 10, 2020.
Ivy suffered from philadelphia acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which she fought for eight years.
She received a bone marrow transplant from little brother Van and was in remission on four occasions.
Ivy’s ‘army’ on Facebook raised a fortune to send her to Seattle for CAR T-cell treatment and she was there for seven months. But she became allergic to the treatment and sadly couldn’t finish it.
“Ivy desperately wanted to see her pup, so we loaded up her and Van’s 10-month-old pups and took them to Hamilton to visit her two weeks before she passed away,” Elizabeth said.
However, her resilient grandparents say, “we had lots of miracles to have her for the extra time”.
The Steels reside on a 27-acre property at Nullawarre – around 35km from Warrnambool – and Trevor combines his greyhound racing passion with a job as a farm manager. He also runs a few beef cattle at home as a hobby.
Zara’s Princess – sired by dual G1 winner My Redeemer (2018 Melbourne Cup & 2018 Harrison-Dawson) – has won three races from 11 starts.
“The Mepunga Oaks final is a really good field and she’s only young,” Steel said. “But if she jumps, she’s in with a chance.
“She boxes well and will head for the rail. And if she’s in front, who knows what may happen behind us. She’s improving with each run.”
Steel has spent the past week in hospital at Epworth Geelong.
“I had a lump on the kidney and initially thought it was an infection,” Steel said. “But a biopsy revealed a lesion and fortunately it’s treatable.”
However, Steel is expected to undergo surgery within the next six months, and he says, “it’s more than likely I’ll lose a kidney”.
Ivy gets to see her pup two weeks before she passed away.
So, it would be a real panacea for Steel if Zara’s Princess could take out the Mepunga Oaks.
“It would be one of the biggest things for the family,” he said. “The grandkids would be hysterical.
I’m hoping little Ivy shines down on us… I’m hoping for a miracle.”
The Steels bred the December ’19 My Redeemer x Miracles Happen litter.
“Each of the eight grandchildren received a pup from this litter,” Steel said.
“The whole family get a kick out of this litter and the grandkids all barrack for each other’s dog. They know them all inside out.
Hayley, Iverson, Taya and Van picking out their puppy.
“It makes greyhound racing all worth it. We do it for them and we just love the thrill of seeing them so excited.”
Steel added: “My greyhounds are everything to me. It’s something I’ll never give up.”
Methinks there won’t be a ‘dry eye in the house’ if Zara’s Princess pulls off a miracle.
And if that miracle happens, they’ll lift the roof off the grandstand at ‘Wannon Park’ in Koroit Street.
Pawnote: The Mepunga Oaks winner and runner-up receive a free ‘straw’ to stud dogs Mepunga Cruzer or Mepunga Blazer, with the winning connections having first selection.
NB. Three heats of the Aston Derby (450m) will also be conducted on the program.
Zara & Chase Steel helping ‘Pop’ build the new puppy runs.
