Champion Victorian stayer Untapped has retired.

Her Dennington-based trainer, Dustin Drew, called time on his ‘staying sweetheart’ after she competed in the Ray Drew Memorial at Warrnambool last Saturday.

It was an apt swansong as the race is named in honour of Drew’s late father, Ray.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the perfect send off for Untapped. She finished last in the seven-dog field.

But “Izzy”, as she is affectionately known, has taken the Drew family on an emotional ‘magic carpet ride’.

It prompted Drew to say, “dad would have been proud to see her glittering career unfold” before adding with a laugh, “actually, early days, he said she was hopeless”.

Indeed, there was a time when Untapped – a ‘graduate’ from the 2019 National Greyhound Draft and raced by ‘Team Borda’ comprising around 50 part-owners – was a potential ‘applicant’ for GRV’s Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP).

“Looking back on it, she’s been a great advertisement for greyhound racing,” Drew said. “Sometimes people give up on them too early, although it never entered my mind that she’d become a champion stayer.

“But I clearly remember the day my sister, Aimee, had to get her handler’s licence. Izzy literally ‘runs into the boxes’, which made it easier on Aimee. We took her to Warrnambool, and she trialled 22.08sec over the short trip – the penny had finally dropped!”

“Looking back on it, she’s been a great advertisement for greyhound racing.”

Drew says it’s a “yes and no” whether Untapped conquered her quirks – that of being crowded early and a bit timid in a race field.

“To watch her in last month’s Sale Cup final, it was a huge run. Early in her career, she would have probably tailed off in the race.”

Drew was also ‘50 cents each-way’ whether she’d make it on the staying scene.

“I thought if she didn’t really run it out, she’d be highballing out in front, and they’d have to catch her. As her career went on, she became stronger.”

Drew admits his late dad was “always in the back of his mind” as Untapped’s career progressed and adds, “but you’ve got to move on”.

“That was how I was born into greyhound racing, through dad and mum (Jan). I had no choice; I either had a cricket bat in one hand or a dog lead in the other.”

When it comes to what made Untapped a champion stayer, Drew says “she just wasn’t a one-hit wonder”.

“I think it’s her racing longevity. She was up for a long time, and that was the most challenging part. You’ve got to have them so right, particularly in Group racing events.”

Untapped departs the racing scene with 20 wins, 14 seconds and 14 thirds from 77 starts and $426,240 in prizemoney.

Dustin Drew with Untapped after the 2022 G1 Sandown Cup 📷 Clint Anderson

Her crowning glory was victory in the 2022 G1 Sandown Cup – one of 10 G1 finals she contested. She was also runner-up in the 2023 Sale Cup and third in the 2022 Topgun Stayers, 2022 Zoom Top, 2021 Bold Trease and 2021 Sale Cup.

So, what does the future hold for Izzy?

Drew advised Untapped (Apr ’19 Aston Dee Bee x Mepunga Fame) is now destined for the ‘breeding barn’, saying “she’s got a lot on her side in terms of pedigree”.

“She’s from legendary breeder Barry Smith’s line and they continually keep throwing good dogs.

“And she was exceptionally reared at Marty Hallinan’s.”

Drew ensured Izzy would enjoy the ‘life of Riley’ as a pet once her time as a brood matron ended.

He was also keen to pay tribute to Untapped’s Sale Cup ‘sparring partner’, Jarick Bale.

“It’s incredible, they competed against each other in three consecutive Sale Cups.”

WATCH: “Untapped’s holding on… What a win!” UNTAPPED (B7) stages a battle royal with ‘old foe’ JARICK BALE (B8) in the 2022 G1 Sandown Cup.