Victorian greyhound racing great Up Hill Jill has passed away at the age of 11 following a battle with a stomach tumour.

Owner, trainer and breeder David Geall said he and wife Rose spent time with Jill in her final moments.

“Rose and I spent about 20 minutes with her before she passed, telling her how much we loved her and talking through all the memories she shared with us,” Geall said.

“When I look back at all her wins, the Easter Egg just edges out the Topgun.”

Jill didn’t just leave a lasting mark on the track. She also helped shape the future of Victorian greyhound racing through her progeny, producing the likes of Melbourne Cup winner Koblenz, Horsham Cup winner Jungle Panther and Launceston Cup winner Hill Top Jack.

From the outside looking in, Jill and the Geall family embodied what it means to persevere in a sport that can test even the most dedicated participants.

David and Rose Geall spent many years striving to produce a greyhound like Up Hill Jill from their kennel. While many people in the sport deserve success, it doesn’t always come.

For the Geall’s, Jill changed everything.

She paved the way not only for success throughout her racing career, but also opened doors for David to train other greyhounds, bringing further success to the kennel.

Jill represented hope.

“Jill made our lives a little more financially free, but more importantly she has made our daughters’ and their children’s lives that little bit easier too – her impact is generational,” Geall said.

In her retirement, Jill lived out her final years inside the family home with David and Rose, becoming part of everyday life and family gatherings that will forever remain etched in the Geall family’s history.

Up Hill Jill passed away as a Hall of Famer, two-time Group 1 winner, mother and cherished family member.

Rest easy, Jilly