Caption: Trainer Renald Attard and handler Tayla Chardon with Mrs. Musgrave after her heat win at Ipswich last week. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
Weekly wrap of racing at Ipswich with MIKE HILL
RENALD Attard is looking for a possible winning double with last-start winners Mighty River and Mrs. Musgrave at Ipswich on Saturday night.
“I think I’ve got a good chance of landing a pair,” said Attard, who admits it’s been a good season so far.
“The team is going really well.
“We’ve had a good run in the past three-to-four weeks.
“My two, our only runners at Ipswich on Saturday night, will just need some luck coming out of the boxes.”
Attard, based at Fairney View in the Somerset region, west of Brisbane, has worked in close partnership with his older brother Martin in the dogs for almost 50 years.
Unfortunately, Martin has had some serious health issues which led to the amputation of his right leg below the knee 12 months ago.
“He helped me with everything associated with the dogs, but he’s been limited in what he can do since the operation,” said Renald.
“However, he’s determined to get fully mobile again and his goal is to handle a dog at the new track at Purga once it opens.”
And Renald, 68 next week, agreed a winning double on Saturday night would be a huge tonic for his brother.
He said Mrs. Musgrave was well boxed for her assignment in the $6200 4th/5th Grade Final (520m).
“She’s drawn eight and that will suit her,” the trainer said.
Attard said Mrs. Musgrave (Superior Panama-Mitchie Madam) had always shown ability.
“She’s a pretty good dog, however, she did lose a bit of confidence when she fell at Albion Park a couple of months ago,” he said.
“Since then she hasn’t liked it when she’s been drawn in.
“But the eight will suit her.
“She’s broken 30s at Albion Park and her heat win (30.70s) last week was strong.”
But she faces stiff opposition from the fastest heat winner, the Michael Vaughan-trained Big Chief Size, racing in super form and ideally drawn on the fence.
Big Chief Size was highly impressive last week winning in a slick 30.29s (BON), while Andrew Webb’s Lippy Kid (30.55s), the other heat winner, jumps from box two.
Attard’s other runner, Mighty River, is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the 4th/5th Grade (431m).
Mighty River, from a smart Noel Evans-bred litter (Shima Shine-Miss Fernando), clocked a best-of-night 25.39s in winning at Ipswich earlier in the month.
It followed an impressive 19.87s victory over 366m at Capalaba in late May.
Attard said Mighty River was racing in exceptionally good form with three wins from his past four starts.
And his brother Black Chrome won at Capalaba on Wednesday.
The trainer bought the litter’s four boys – Mighty River, Black Chrome, Shimmering Light and Cyclone Ranger – from Evans last November and hasn’t been disappointed.
“They’ve all won and well and truly paid for themselves,” Attard said.
IPSWICH’S greyhound of the month for May is the Peter O’Reilly owned and trained sprinter Tarawi Lee.
The well-bred black daughter of Superior Panama and Exciting (Magic Sprite-Shelly Shelby) collected three wins and a second from her only four outings at the track during the month.
It follows success by the Pauline Byers-trained Spring Travis in April.
Other monthly winners so far in 2024 are Bundy Prize (January), Be Desired (February) and Kia Kaha (March).
Meanwhile, the Shane Topping-trained Bundy Prize is leading the club’s Greyhound of the Year award.
*****
THE Queensland Greyhound Racing Club (QGRC) wishes to advise participants of operational changes at the Ipswich venue from the week starting June 24 as follows:
Monday 24 June: Medium Power Harrow of track surface, no public trial session.
Tuesday 25 June: Afternoon race meeting.
Wednesday 26 June: Night race meeting, no public trial session.
Thursday 27 June: Public trial session from 10:00am, trial bookings open on Tuesday 25 June at 9:00am.
Friday 28 June: Afternoon race meeting.
Saturday 29 June: Night race meeting.
For any further information, please contact the Club office during business hours.
IPSWICH is gearing up for a series of feature events in July.
The $18,500 Ipswich Grand Prix (732m) – an open event for the best eight stayers – will be run on July 13.
Previous winners include Mullaway for Joanne Price in 2016, Jalapeno (Tony Apap 2018), Velocity Bettina (Kevin Ellis 2020), Sir Truculent (Wally Harkins 2021), Days Of Thunder (Warren Nicholls 2022) and Select Moment for Gary Mackay last year, while 2014 winner Wag Tail (Christina Harman) holds the race and track record of 43.56s.
Meanwhile, the finals of both the $45,000 Young Guns (520m) and the $7700 Past Members (288m) will be staged on Saturday, July 20.
Heats for the Past Members are scheduled for July 11, while the Young Guns heats will be run on July 13.
