Boolarra trainer Shane Richer graduated from the ‘school of hard knocks’ as a young Painter and Docker in the ’70s and ’80s.
Not surprisingly, Richer – who ‘cut his teeth’ in Hastings – could write a book about his experiences on the wharves at Western Port, Geelong and Port Melbourne.
A self-proclaimed “little Aussie battler”, Richer, 64, is still doing it tough.
He has a benign lump on a lung and was diagnosed with Graves’ disease (an immune system disorder that causes an overactive thyroid) two years ago.
But the aptly named Wharfie (Feb ’20 Moreira x Loud Lana) – bred and owned by Gavin Kearns of Churchill – has been a huge fillip for his ill health.
Richer was an absentee from the greyhound racing scene for around a year after losing around 12kg in weight.
However, he managed to pre-train Wharfie (aka “Dusty”) and his littermates for Kearns and was given a few of them, including Dusty, to train.
Kearns is an avid Richmond fan and Wharfie is named after Tigers champion, Dustin Martin.
Richer is as low-key as the central Gippsland township in which he resides. Boolarra (nestled in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges) is a ‘sleepy hollow’ with a population of around 1000.
But, according to Richer, Wharfie has “built up a little fan club” – particularly at the nearby Yinnar Pub where the regulars will not only raise their glasses but also the roof if he snares the $36,000 Group 3 Carlin & Gazzard Mount Gambier Cup (512m) – Race 8, 3.07pm – on Sunday afternoon.
Wharfie (Box 3) is $7 on Sportsbet to take out the $26,000 first prize. Joint $3.50 favourites are local star Aston Ziebell (Box 2) and Victorian Yahiro Bale (Box 4), which is trained by Daniel Gibbons at Avalon.
Gibbons also has Titan Blazer (Box 5 – $5.50) and Mr. Anderson (Box 7 – $8) in the final.
A former ‘Croweater’, Mr. Anderson (29.41sec) was the fastest heat winner defeating Wharfie by 2.75L.
“He (Wharfie) cracked his fibula in a Melbourne Cup Prelude and it’s taken him a few months to regain his confidence,” Richer said. “But I’ve never had a dog with this much ability.”
Richer said the 16-hour round trip to Mount Gambier for last week’s Cup heats was a “real learning curve” – for himself and Wharfie.
“I left home at 1am and got to the track too early. That was a big mistake! Dusty is a good traveller but once he sees a track, he loses the plot.
“It’ll be a big day out again on Sunday, but this time I’ll leave at 2.30am.”
Richer added Wharfie’s ‘uneven’ box draw is a bonus as 1, 3, 5 and 7 will go in first.
“He’s a dog that needs to settle in the boxes. He really stretches out if he gets some room early in a race.”
A model of consistency, Wharfie has raced on 45 occasions for 11 wins, 10 seconds and five thirds with $57,505 in prizemoney.
Richer, who has spent 20 years in the greyhound industry, is somewhat a Johnny-come-lately.
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The catalyst behind him entering the sport was his father, Max – a WA greyhound racing participant – who sent him a pup by Irish import Farloe Melody (1992 English Derby winner).
“That was the start of things for me in greyhound racing and then Ken Height became a great mentor.”
Shane Richer is, and always will be, a working-class man. He’s battled on against all odds.
No doubt, there’ll be many a ‘sentimental bloke’ cheering on the ‘underdog’ and ‘larrikin’ at Mount Gambier on the weekend.
An old wharfie with his ‘mate’ Wharfie at his side!
WATCH: WHARFIE (B2) proves too tough with a 29.27sec win at Sandown Park on March 9.
