Expect No Mercy From Scullys’ Rising Star
Hunter Valley trainer Raymond Scully has burst into the spotlight in recent times, with the aptly named; Expect No Mercy. Setting the Maitland circuit alight at his past two outings, the son of Cosmic Rumble and Grace Lightning has recorded some electrifying times including a 22.19 (0.08 outside the track record) personal best with a low-flying run home sectional of 6.51.
As with every feel-good story, Scully stumbled across the dog better known as ‘Ty' whilst winning his maiden at Appin in a respectable 16.14 for owner/trainer Simon Gafa. As Scully explains, from the moment he saw the promising youngster, he wanted to secure his future at the sales reps' Weston kennels.
‘I was really impressed with what I saw at Appin. I said to Simon, can I take him home? He thought about it and then agreed to let me take him. As you do with most dogs he had a few niggling injuries along the way and once I put some more weight on him, his racing so consistent now'
As expected, Scully is delighted with the time standard his charge is setting, with the prospect of a two turn debut just around the corner.
‘He never broke 23.30 in a trial but his improved out of sight with every run and it's definitely showing now. I honestly thought he run around 22.5 the other week and when they put up 22.19 it was an unbelievable feeling!' said an elated Scully.
Expect No Mercy will line up again this week at Maitland in the Lochinvar Pet Motel Final over the 400m. Coming up with what can be an awkward draw for some, Scully has full faith in his brilliant sprinter to make it three on the trot and notch up his 5th win from what will be just his 10th start.
‘He's only drawn inside box four once in ten starts. Box seven won't worry him at all, especially with the way his beginning it couldn't be more pleasing. His got a beautiful personality; he just wants to lick you all the time it shows how happy he is and it shows on the track' added Scully.
Scully's other greyhound Feel The Chill, cracked his maiden victory at Unibet Gardens last Friday in a solid run of 22.97 over the 400m. Daughter Jessica was elated to have boxed her first winner for her dad, with the replay having been repeated many times already on the household television.
Scully and his family have two exciting up-and-comers in their kennels with two pups by Aston Galilee out of Larkhill Lee, whose dam Sensation Lee is responsible for ;2010 Group One Paws of Thunder winner and current boom sire Lochinvar Marlow, 2010 Group Two Wentworth Park Gold Cup winner Lochinvar Vogue and 2012 Group One Silver Chief hero Godsend. Both are progressing with glowing reports and may continue the dynasty that Expect No Mercy has established for this greatly respected family.
As with every great man, behind him is a great woman and Scully attributes much of his success to wife Jenny and their two doting children; Jessica and Jy, who is a popular kennel hand around the Hunter Valley area and is soon to follow in his dads' footsteps by attaining his owner/trainer licence in the near future.
Silver Cassie, who ran third in the 1994 Golden Easter Egg final, is the greyhound that Scully regards as his best to date and rightly so, with a magnificent race record of 25 wins from just 50 starts that includes a spectacular 12 best of the night efforts.
The daughter of Curryhill Brute and Silver Slipper comes from an extremely gifted bloodline that produced 1993 Melbourne Cup hero Silver Chisel, who went on to be a huge success at stud during the 90's, producing; Winged Runner (1999 Group One Nutrience Cup winner and 2000 Queensland Greyhound of the Year) and Bolt Of Silver (2000 Group Three Christmas Gift Final).
Silver Cassie was no slouch in adding an array of trophies from across New South Wales to the mantelpiece with superb victories in claiming the Richmond Oaks, Nowra Cup and Maitland Easter Cup, along with being a record holder at the old Newcastle track, famously known as Beaumont Park.
‘She was incredible. Her speed was amazing and she has been my best dog by far. She led in the Easter Egg and unfortunately got run down by the favourite but it was my biggest highlight in racing to be a placegetter in a race like that.' Said a proud Scully, with his voice radiating the sentiment that this little greyhound brought himself and his family.
For Ray and his family, who have always been battlers of the greyhound racing game, working by day to keep their kennel in operation, it makes you wish that one day in the near future, a group race victory can be bestowed upon them.
Greyhound racing needs its battlers and hobbyists, for the colour and blend of both young and old personalities who flourish, gives optimism to anyone that they can achieve their dream no matter where they come from and the obstacles they may encounter.