Considering his close ties with Port Adelaide Football Club, it will come as no surprise if youngster Max Power has ‘the power to win and the power to rule’ when he makes his city debut at The Meadows on Wednesday night.
Trained by Dustin Drew, Max Power, which has drawn Box 1 in Race 1 at 6.35pm, is raced by The Future Syndicate, which includes Port coach Ken Hinkley and reigning Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines.
Also involved in the ownership group are current players Darcy Byrne-Jones and Tom Clurey, former players Tom Rockliff and John Butcher and General Manager Chris Davies.
Runner-up at his two career starts, Max Power is TAB’s $1.85 favourite to follow the ‘true Port Adelaide tradition’.
“Ray (Borda) is a big Port supporter and for him to give us two dogs to get the boys involved is really exciting.” – Ken Hinkley
“Absolutely, we’ll be tuning in!” said Ken Hinkley.
Max Power and unraced Bella Infrared x Aston Selena litter brother Purple Pear – whose kennel names are fittingly Kenny and Ollie – were gifted to the syndicate by levitation breeder Ray Borda – “a mad Port man”, according to Drew.
“What Ray is trying to do is grow greyhound racing and promote it as an exciting sport to be involved in,” Hinkley said.
“Ray is a big Port supporter as well and for him to give us two dogs to get the boys involved is really exciting.
“Greyhound racing has been a big part of my life, and this is a fantastic opportunity for the boys to race dogs from Ray’s breed – which is obviously high class.
WATCH: Debutant MAX POWER (B2) caught the eye with a strong-finishing second at Ballarat on June 1, for trainer Dustin Drew and a host of high profile Port Power AFL identities.
“Having the Brownlow Medallist involved is a great thing for greyhound racing!
“The boys have always had an interest in the dogs that I’ve raced and had one or two themselves along the journey.
“We’re obviously sportspeople and we’re involved in winning and losing and racing seems to bring that same adrenalin.
“We’re always talking about connection, and this is a way for the boys to connect away from football.”
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Hinkley has enjoyed a long association with greyhound racing, sharing his passion with best mate Peter Hubbard, who passed away suddenly in 2016.
“I haven’t really bred many since Peter passed away, but Peter’s son, Jack, is following in his dad’s footsteps, so there will be a few opportunities there,” Hinkley explained.
It was through Hubbard that Hinkley got to know the late Ray Drew and that association will now continue with Ray’s Group 1-winning son Dustin.
“I knew Ray (Drew) really well,” Hinkley explained.
“As a matter of fact, I spoke to him just before he passed away. He was a Carlton man and I organised tickets for him to come over to watch a couple of games.
“Dustin seems to be really happy with the two dogs and there’s some optimism about what they can and can’t do. But I’ve been involved in greyhound racing for a long time and the proof will always be in the pudding!”
