Caption: The Late Troy Donaldson (front) and Clint Kratzmann after Oh Mickey had won the Group 1 National Derby

By TERRY WILSON

THE late greyhound man Troy Donaldson would have been rapt to have been around to see a dog he bred being named as Racing Queensland Greyhound Of The Year for 2020.

Close industry and personal friend Jim Pateman said there is no doubt that Donaldson would have been over the moon to see Oh Mickey, the son of Fernando Bale and Iona Champion, land the prestigious honour.

This award came in March this year, although Donaldson tragically passed away suddenly from a heart attack in August last year.

He was aged just 38.

Oh Mickey had won the Group 1 National Derby after owner Clint Kratzmann sent the dog south to be prepared by Donaldson for the big Wentworth Park event.

After that Oh Mickey was taken south by Kratzmann for the G2 Richmond Derby, a win that almost made a certainty of being named Queensland GOTY.

Oh Mickey was subsequently handed over to leading Queensland training pair Mick and Selena Zammit, taking over training duties of the fawn flyer until the dog broke down and was retired.

In August, at the time of Donaldson’s passing, Pateman was there that fateful morning of the heart attack.

He had gone over to pick up his mate to take some pups to Taree for trials and performed resuscitation before an ambulance arrived.

“But unfortunately when the ambulance got him to hospital he had passed away,” said Pateman.

The greyhound industry was in shock that such a young personality would no longer be around.

Donaldson had a big part of the rise of Oh Mickey from the time the dog’s mother Iona Champion had been bought from him by Kratzmann.

“He would have loved the fact Oh Mickey won Greyhound Of The Year,” said Pateman.

“He would have been stoked that it was one of his breed and understandably we were all shattered that the man died at such a young age.

“Troy had trained a winner, Bones McCoy, to victory at The Gardens the night before he died.”

Pateman said that Donaldson’s wife Chrystal and children Jet and Scarlett had emerged from dark times strongly after receiving widespread support from those in the industry.

“It has been hard, it was very hard for Chrystal but help came from everywhere,” added Pateman

“She has kept going with the training, has had a lot of support around her and she has had a few winners.”