Six-year-old former racetrack sensation Shima Bar has quickly been snapped up as a pet just days after graduating through the Greyhound Adoption Program.
Winner of the prestigious 2017 Group 1 Paws of Thunder in Sydney, Shima Bar (Barcia Bale x Shimaguni) had his career cut short due to injury after just 21 starts, robbing him of the chance to race in his prime.
The ‘Shima’ bloodline has become synonymous with greyhound racing in recent years, with Shima Bar’s nephew, Shima Shine, crowned the Victorian Greyhound of the Year in the past fortnight.
“Shima Bar was a brilliant race dog, and whoever adopts him will be lucky to get him,” breeder Bob Cummings told Victoria Shaw.
SHIMA BAR
Trainer: Andrea Dailly
Breeder/owner: Davrob Syndicate (David Gleeson & Robert Cummings)
Race record: 21 starts; 12 wins & 4 minor placings
Prize money: $126,740
Feature races: Group 1 Paws of Thunder (1st)
“He’s a beautiful dog. I’d keep him myself except I’ve got his half sister here as a pet.”
Shima Bar did stand at stud for a period, and despite limited opportunities he managed to produce Shima Mist, who currently holds the 660m track record at Ballarat.
Away from the racetrack, Shima Bar goes by name of ‘Bar’ or ‘Richo’, the latter name being in honour of former Richmond AFL superstar, Matthew Richardson.
“(Part-owner) Dave (Gleeson) is a mad Richmond supporter,” Cummings quipped.
Based on acreage in Koo Wee Rup, Cummings said Shima Bar possessed several magnificent traits.
“They (greyhounds) are a beautiful animal, and whoever adopts Shima Bar is getting a great dog and a placid dog who will add to the family,” he said.
Cummings mentioned that while pups on his property spend their days playing in paddocks, they are brought into racing kennels at night from a very early age.
WATCH: Retired superstar Shima Bar during his recent stint at the Greyhound Adoption Program.
The human handling that comes with such a routine helps prepare the young ‘Shima’ pups for their future racing careers and, beyond that, for life as a pet.
Although Cummings said Shima Bar was relatively shy as a young puppy, GAP manager, Larissa Darragh said it was obvious that, upon arrival at GAP, the former star had experienced plenty of human interaction which had readied him for pet life.
“Shima Bar was already desexed when he got here and didn’t lack any confidence when he came to us,” Larissa said.
WATCH: Shima Bar (1) wins the 2017 Group 1 Paws of Thunder at Wentworth Park in Sydney.
“There is a perception that great race dogs don’t always make great pets, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“We’ve had many outstanding performers on the track who have easily made the transition into life as a pet, and Shima Bar is yet another example of this.”
“We’re thrilled that he’ll be going to a good home.”
Here’s a snapshot of Shima Bar’s race career.
Shima Bar with his prized Paws of Thunder trophy.
