Daddy Daughter Time For Easter Egg Heroine 

WHEN Whiskey Riot was taking all before him during his stellar racing career, Paul Abela, good friend of the dog's trainer Anthony Azzopardi, would watch on in delight.

Never in Abela's wildest dreams did he think that just a few years on that Whiskey Riot would play a major role in delivering him his own racetrack superstar, recently minted Group 1 Golden Easter Egg champion Mackenna.

The talk of the greyhound racing world, Mackenna is a daughter of the former Melbourne Cup champion and Alcyone, now boasting 12 wins from 17 career starts with $409,095 in prize money.

WHISKEY RIOT AT STUD

"It's special to get a greyhound the calibre of Mackenna but being by Whiskey Riot makes it even more special," Abela said.

"He was a sensational race dog with immaculate breeding being a son of Fernando Bale and from the opportunities he's had at stud couldn't have done any more.

"His strike-rate is extremely good. Especially on the city tracks. Hopefully Mackenna is just the kick along he needs to have a big year at stud."

Upon return from her Golden Easter heroics, where in the heats she became the fastest ever female winner at Wentworth Park running 29.20, Mackenna took some time out for a few ‘happy snaps' with her famous group 1 winning father.

"It's one for the scrapbook for sure for both Anthony and I," Abela said. 

Mackenna's next assignment is in the fast approaching Group 1 Sapphire Crown (515m) at Sandown Park with heats of the $100,000-to-the-winner series slated for Thursday, May 9.

"She had a post-to-post on Sunday and went 22.82 with a 10.24 run home," Abela said.

"Nothing she runs really surprises us now but she showed she returned home great and it's all systems go."

Following the Sapphire Crown, Abela will set his sights on the Flying Amy-Brisbane Cup double during the Queensland winter carnival.