Caption: Brisbane club CEO and part-owner of Adulate, Luke Gatehouse, with stand-in trainer Sharon Morris after Adulate’s win on Thursday night at Albion Park (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
By Pat McLeod
Albion Park cult hero Adulate added to his aura with a gutsy win over 520m at Albion Park on Thursday night.
The Tony Zammit-trained late bloomer had found his best distance, 600m, and a whole new wave of fans with a very successful Winter Carnival campaign.
However, Zammit, who is on holidays with wife Maree in Cairns, stepped the Zambora Brockie – Tahlia’s Way chaser back to 520m on Thursday night, with a winning result.
Adulate stalked leader Hopeful Lana (Cyndie Elson) for most of the journey before edging in front on the line in 30.04.
The dog’s 11 owners include media luminaries Jason Lincoln and Gerard Daffy, as well as several Brisbane club officials, including CEO Luke Gatehouse.
“Coming back from 600 metres, that run tonight was very impressive,” Gatehouse said.
“He has certainly found his niche at 600 metres, so over the 500 metres he needs a bit of luck and he got that early tonight with the wide draw, which allowed him to muster up and he just toughed it out.
“He is just a good dog. He is three years and three months old now and at the peak of his powers.
“There is a good reason why we leave it up to Tony (Zammit) to set the program. We didn’t believe him when he was going to put the dog up to 600 metres because we didn’t think he would ever run that distance.
“I guess that is why Tony is the Hall of Famer.
“He (Zammit) is enjoying a week off and he would have loved watching that run tonight with stand-in trainers, industry icons Barry and Sharon Morris, taking the lead for this race.
“This dog has given all 11 owners a great ride.
“The first greyhound I ever owned, Chardonnay Jack, won 16 races. Tonight Adulate brought up 17 wins.
“What’s next for Adulate? Well, we will leave that up to Tony. But, it would not be silly to talk Nationals. If he drew properly in the heat and the finals he would not be out of calculation.”
Caption: Travis Elson’s Bear’s Bullet is a comfortable winner at Albion Park on Thursday night. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Travis Elson’s Bear’s Bullet will now be aimed towards the Townsville Cup at the end of August following a sparkling run on Thursday night in a Best 8 520m.
The classy bitch pinged the lids for an all-the-way win in 29.74 with All Natural (Selena Zammit) four lengths behind in second and Hara’s Skye (Jemma Daley) third.
“That’s probably the best she has ever started,” said an elated Elson after the win.
“She is just a very good race dog. She always tries. She does her best.
“I wish she had started that well two weeks ago in the Group One final (when she ran fourth to Elite Machine in the Brisbane Cup).”
Caption: Tony Apap and connections after Baccarat Boy’s win on Thursday night. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Experienced trainer Tony Apap took out two of four quality 5th Grade 600m heats on Thursday night.
Apap saluted with Declan Monelli and then Baccarat Boy in an impressive race-to-race double.
“It is always good to get a winner, let alone two,” he said with a smile.
“Both dogs tonight worked hard across the entire 600 metres and for Baccarat Boy to run 34.84, coming from back where he was, well that was very good.
“He has been putting the runs on the board every week now for a number of weeks.”
In fact that is two wins and three seconds in his past five outings.
Apap said he would consider 700m campaigns for both dogs.
“They handle the 600m very well and pull up enormous,” he said.
The quickest of last night’s 600m heat winners was Tony Zammit’s Valpolicella, who looked very impressive in his 34.58 gallop.
Sean Galloway’s Springtime Gold was the fourth heat winner.
