Wynburn Sheean
Inductee Hall of Fame 2024
Black dog, Whelped 19 October 2018, (Aston Dee Bee – She’s All Class), Owner Wynburn Racing Syndicate, Trainer Ben Englund
The mighty sprinter Wynburn Sheean enters the Hall of fame as the least raced inductee, having been cruelly cut down in his prime as a mere three-year-old. David Booth bred a litter to Aston Dee Bee with David Crosswell’s star sprinter and champion brood bitch She’s All Class (21 wins from 39 starts), in October 2018. Of the seven pups he retained just one but sold it to Tom and Ben Englund (the Wynburn Racing Syndicate) at around 14 months of age, soon after breaking in had commenced. They named the pup Wynburn Sheehan, after Tasmania’s courageous Teddy Sheean, who was eventually awarded the Victoria Cross for giving his life in such famous circumstances during World War Two. As a north-west coaster from Lower Barrington, Teddy Sheean’s epic story touched so many, none more than the Englund’s, who honoured his name with this wonderful dog.
The remaining six pups in the litter were owned and trained by Hall of Famer David Crosswell, and five of these reached lofty heights as well. They included Quick Joey Small (30 wins), Vintage Fame (25), Highland Fame (20), Highland Wonder (14) and Highland Chief (11). At careers end, they and Wynburn Sheean had amassed $455778 in stake earnings.
After a short settling in period at his new Wynyard abode, Wynburn Sheehan went to the Devonport Showgrounds track to resume his education. So fast was his first handslip, Ben Englund was convinced the timer must have clocked the lure. But when his black chaser went even quicker the next time, he realized there was a very special dog at the end of the lead. Kennel named “Boothy” this single-minded boy had two standout interests…. being fed and going to the track. He resented being checked and liked being left to his own devises.
When Wynburn Sheehan commenced official hostilities at Devonport on 4 August 2020, it was already known to many that he was a bit special. Exiting box one in third spot, he soon sped clear to beat his brother Quick Joey Small by 9 lengths in a marvellous 25.40 for the 452 metres. Some 16 days later, he ventured to Hobart and from the same prized draw, soon led and again ran a blistering 26.00 seconds neat as a prohibitive $1.33 favourite. Back to Devonport he tasted defeat at start three, when he dawdled out and had to work home from the rear in his 1 ¼ length second to the smart Pages Creek.
WYNBURN SHEEAN TAKES OUT THE 2021 IVORY MEMORIAL CLASSIC
Our boy put that blip astern at start four when he ran a $1.12 favourite in a Devonport grade 5, winning by 8 lengths in another super quick 25.42. His first feature now beckoned with the Devonport Breeders Classic. He destroyed his Qualifying opposition in an electric 25.41 and was on repeat in his 9 ¾ length Semi- Final win over Guesses in 25.58 at $1.18. However, his initial Final win would have to wait. He “blew” the start wearing pink, and despite making up ground, was still 5 ¾ lengths behind the leader and winner Recall.
Back to Hobart 16 days later, he overcame an early check to power home over the useful Pairs Six in a ripping 25.93. Rarely did novices break the 26 second barrier! The 2020 feature St. Leger for young males was up next at Hobart’s Elwick track. From a tough box 6 alley, he was always in the leading trio, but it was a rugged affair, and he came up short by just a nose in his 2nd to the enigmatic Kintyre.
WYNBURN SHEEAN TAKES OUT THE 2020 GROUP 3 DEVONPORT CHASE FINAL
Just five days later “Boothy” would start a devastating run of victories that elevated him to stardom. The 2020 Johnson Juvenile Championship saw him blitz Parkour and his Heat opposition by 6 ¼ lengths in an amazing 25.30. From box 4 in the Final he led every step of the way to beat his brother Highland Chief by 4 ¼ lengths in another sublime 25.35. Buoyed by his great success in age restricted company, Team Englund now took a huge step up to the 2020 Group Three Devonport Chase. Wynburn Sheean made light work of an early check from box 7, and a heavy track, in racing away to a 4 ½ length Heat victory over Monster Harley in 25.70. The Final was again on a heavy track and against two smart Victorians and some of Tassie’s chasers. But he was on another level that day. From the outside alley, he jumped 2nd before scorching right away to thrash the Victorian Aston Pilsner by 5 lengths with his brother Highland Chief a further 3 ½ lengths back in third. The 25.41 considering the weather conditions was top shelf.
Nine days on, he overcame early strife to easily win a Hobart Grade 4 from a middle draw in a best of night 25.73. One cannot raise the bar any higher than the 2020 Group One Hobart Thousand, but that was where Ben Englund took his glamour 26-month-old young flyer next. Since 1939 the cream of Australia’s sprinting fraternity had ventured to Hobart for their piece of greyhound history. Sheean drew the same box 8 as his Devonport Chase success in his Thousand Heat. His escalating reputation saw his start a short-priced favourite at $1.45. Despite being 6th early, he soon zoomed into second sport, before careering away to a staggering 7 ¾ length demolition of Western Creek and Lily Lola. The 2020 Final was an elite affair and despite working to a narrow lead halfway, Wynburn Sheean settled for a meritorious 4th behind the superstar Interstate duo of Tommy Shelby and Tiggerlong Tonk.
His Hobart Thousand 4th broke a string of six straight victories, but it was to be followed by another string of seven wins, that would include another three biggies! 32 days after Hobart, Wynburn Sheean drew an ideal box 1 and at his track debut, for a Heat of the 2021 Rising Stars at Launceston. He led and posted a devastating 29.56 for the 515 metres, leaving his brother Highland Chief 7 lengths in arrears. He drew the red again in the Final with the same result, leaving another brother in Highland Wonder a distant 6 ¾ length 2nd. The time was an even slightly quicker 29.54.
WYNBURN SHEEAN WINS HIS HEAT OF THE GROUP 1 BRISBANE CUP AT ALBION PARK
Tasmania’s only Group Two, the Launceston Cup, first run in 1936 was up next. Like the Hobart Thousand, generations of sprinters from near and far had been chasing this much vaunted national feature. On 8 February 2021, Wynburn Sheean drew box 8 in his Cup heat and ran a short priced $1.60 favourite. Despite beginning only fourth, he burst clear on the first turn and held on gamely to score from top local Fabulous Baroque, in 29.63. Despite his great brother Quick Joey Small posting a much quicker 29.38 in his Heat win, Wynburn Sheean was still send out a $2.70 favourite and from an awkward box six. Though only moderately away once more, Wynburn Sheean flew to the first turn, cleared a bad pile up and led from there on. He found plenty to stave off the classy local Sprint Gordon by a length. In securing the 2021 Group Two Launceston Cup, he ran a best of night 29.69.
After an easy Invitation win over Siberia at Hobart, Wynburn Sheean headed back to the north-west coast to contest the 2021 Reg an Ailleen Ivory Classic. His box two Heat win was a 4¼ length trouncing of his main sparring partner Sprint Gordon, whilst his all-the-way Final victory from box 6 had Fabulous Baroque seven lengths in arrears. His times in these two races were a staggering 25.24 and 25.21 respectively. He was now Tasmania’s undisputed kingpin with 13 wins on end, either side of his Hobart Thousand 4th.
WYNBURN SHEEAN TAKES OUT THE 2021 GROUP 2 LAUNCESTON CUP FINAL
A tilt at the Mainland riches now the obvious next step. Ben Englund took “Boothy” to Victoria for a tilt at the Group Two Shepparton Cup over 450 metres. Third way from box 3, he had just reached the lead mid-race only to be dragged down from behind in winding up 6th to Catch A Thief. Returning home with a minor injury, Ben next set his sights on the Illingworth Classic at Launceston. However, the ill winds persisted, and he was knocked from pillar to post in his Heat 6th to My Bro Joe. This was the first time he’d lost twice in a row, and it became three when unusually run down when an Invitation 2nd to the classy Sprint Gordon.
Order was restored when he comfortably won his Hobart Heat of the T.G.O.T.B.A. on 6 May 2021. He backed that up with a 2 ¼ lengths Final win, running a slippery 25.77 in despatching Hobart track star Fabulous Baroque.
The rich Brisbane Winter carnival was the next mission for the Tassie champ, and the Englunds sent their star to top Queensland trainer Tony Brett for five races that was be a mixture on success and despair. His Grade 4/5 Albion Park debut was a disaster. As an odds-on favourite, everything went awry, and he failed to beat a runner home. But all was back on song in the following two weeks, in which he twice scored decisively in the same Grade 4/5 company. Firstly, it was a solid 29.95 win, coming from 3rd to beat Modern Talking over the 520 metres. Then it saw him thrash Hopeful Hope by 4 ¾ lengths in a slightly quicker 29.92. These track “sighters” saw the bar raised to Group One, in the 2021 Brisbane Cup. He led in his Cup Heat from box two and defeated the extra smart Wise Thunder by 1 ½ lengths in 30.15. His opportunity at Group One glory was dashed in the run to the first turn when equal second but badly hampered. Far worse than his 7th to star sprinter Equaliser, was the fact that he badly tore the sheath of his stopper tendon.
Now right on the middle of the Covid 19 epidemic, this compounded the problem, because it was so difficult getting the great dog on a flight to top veterinary surgeon John Katakasi in Adelaide. Eventually, the operation was completed and Ben Englund, convalesced Wynburn Sheean back to full health and fitness. When he was ready to race again, it was 118 days after his Brisbane mishap. When showing all the signs that he was really back and flying once more, Ben lined him up in a Grade 1/2 at Devonport, and he was far from disgraced running 2nd to the in-form and outstanding sprinter Blackpool Flash.
As if Wynburn Sheean’s road hadn’t had been rocky enough, tragedy stuck at his next and final race start. In an Invitation at Devonport on 9 November 2021 (of all dates!), Wynburn Sheean dislocated his hock mid-race, yet even beat one runner home behind his brother Quick Joey Small. Flown to Melbourne for the hock operation, it was way beyond catastrophic for Tom and Ben Englund, that their magnificent boy failed to wake up from the anaesthetic and died. One can find no words for this loss.
Cut down at just 37 months of age, Wynburn Sheean only had 34 starts for 23 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third. A Group Two and Group Three winner, he made two Group Ones, and scored in four other feature finals. “Boothy” amassed $131,810 in stake earnings, and what he may have done further down the road is anyone’s guess. He was crowned the 2021 Tasmanian Greyhound of the Year, and all that he did achieve delivers him a berth in the Tasmanian Greyhound Hall of Fame.
View Wynburn Sheean racing record
By Greg Fahey