Caption: North Queensland trainer Brad Belford and wife Jackie (Photo: Louise Partland)
Each Wednesday Chase’s MIKE HILL will highlight trainers who have celebrated multiple winners at meetings across the nation
BRAD Belford has tightened his grip on the Townsville trainers’ premiership following a winning surge by his kennel in recent weeks.
In the past 11 days, Belford has rugged up a total of 15 winners from four meetings, including a six-win haul – his third in nine weeks – and ‘a winning quartet’ six days ago.
Based at Gumlow, an outer Townsville suburb, the well-credentialed trainer, has led in 132 winners so far this year, already topping his full season tally of 128 in 2021.
“This is by far my best year ever as a trainer,” he said.
Belford has more than doubled his nearest rivals in wins and prizemoney … his team has amassed in excess of $300,000 in the first nine months of the year and he sits inside the top 20 on the national trainers’ points table. Currently he is in 16th place.
The well-credentialed trainer, who has a big team of just over 30 dogs in work, says he is constantly turning down requests from owners to take more dogs.
“I just don’t have the kennel space,” he said.
But he added: “I am always looking for good dogs.
“I haven’t got a star sprinter at the moment, nothing outstanding, but I have a couple coming through that should progress to top grade.
Belford experienced his ‘best night ever on a race track’ at the Townsville Showgrounds complex in early August when he trained half the 12-race program.
He said it was the first time in his career he had trained six winners at a meeting.
“It’s definitely my best effort yet,” the trainer said at the time.
Belford, who has been around greyhounds most of his life, said he had rugged up five winners a handful of times over the years, but never six.
And since that milestone in August, he has repeated the feat two more times – in mid-September and again two Saturdays ago.
And the wins just keep coming for Team Belford.
The trainer led in a winning treble at Townsville last night (Tuesday night) with Midnight Image ($2.90 fav) successful in a heat of the Maiden 1000 (380m), Showtime Caesar ($5.50) winning a Fifth Grade (380m) and Flash Fever ($3 fav) proving too strong for his rivals in the 498m Fifth Grade.
But it could have been much better …. Belford also rugged up six seconds and two thirds.
Meanwhile, six trainers have led in a quartet of winners at various tracks around the country in the past week or so.
Mark Delbridge landed four at Sandown Park, Darryl McGrath was successful at Albion Park, top Victorian conditioner Andrea Dailly dominated at a Geelong meeting, Chris Halse was in the money at Mandurah, Steele Bolton rugged up four at Winnellie Park in Darwin and Tony Hinrichsen was the toast of Mount Gambier.
Also the Grenfells – Samantha and Correy – combined to lead in four winners at Sandown Park with Sam preparing three and Correy rugging up the extra, while the Delbridges did the same at Horsham with Lisa producing a winning trio and Mark the balance.
A host of trainers have produced winning trebles including:
NSW: Peter Lagogiane (at Richmond), Graham Pickering (Dubbo, Coonamble), Mark Davidson (Maitland, The Gardens), Peter Sims (Temora) and John Finn (Wentworth Park).
Victoria: Andrea Dailly (Ballarat twice), Jeff Britton (Warrnambool) and Greg Carter (Traralgon).
SA: Jason Newman (Mt Gambier), Adrien Chevalier (Murray Bridge), Daniella Madalinski (Angle Park) and Tracie Price (Mt Gambier).
Queensland: Christine Pollard (Rockhampton).
WA: Chris Halse (Mandurah), David Hobby (Cannington), Damien Crudeli (Mandurah), Peter Brown (Cannington) and Enzo Crudeli (Cannington).
Tasmania: Anthony Bullock (Launceston twice).
NT: Steele Bolton (Darwin).
