By TERRY WILSON

CON SCIACCA CAPALABA CUP (366m)
Total prizemoney $27,250
Final: Sunday, May 3 (heats Sunday, April 26)

AN unprecedented flood of interest from trainers has ensured this month’s straight track classic, the Capalaba Cup, will be the best one on the event’s 10-year history.
In fact, just before heats of the race were held late last month, club president John Catton declared that had state borders not been closed during the coronavirus pandemic, interstate dogs would have had trouble beating the home state performers.
In the lead-up to the April 26 heats, Catton said interest in the event had reached an unprecedented level – not difficult to understand given the good money ($27,250) on offer for a race last won by track champion Leeroy Rogue in 2018.
“We had a lot of good dogs there last weekend,” said Catton of Capalaba racing late last month.
“And I really believe dogs from anywhere else in Australia could not beat the Queenslanders, not on our home track.
“We have some very smart young greyhounds here at the moment.”
A number of top trainers not regulars at the bayside straight track dabbled interest in the race.
For example, Tony Brett took two of his rising youngsters there for a look at the venue.
One of them, Hara’s Clyde, ran second at its first look at the track and the trainer won with another of his young hopefuls in Hammer Down in 20.01s also at its track debut.
Another Cup hopeful, the Amber Boody trained Hollow Words, was also chasing honours. This was the runner which made it through to the National Straight Track Championship as a Queensland representative last year at Healesville in Victoria.
The Con Sciacca Cup had hit hurdle after hurdle after being transferred from a late-year date to be run early this year.
The rescheduling had to be done twice, the most recent being forced by flooding and subsequent surface damage.
Meanwhile, Catton is hoping against hope that the scheduled National Straight Track Championship can go ahead at Capalaba later this year.
The inaugural straight scamper was staged at Healesville last year, won by Paul Galo, and it is Capalaba’s turn to host the event this time.
“If we can get the borders open they we may be able to have the event so we have our fingers crossed on that one,” said Catton.
The club has already lost the Straight of Origin series as victim of the state border closures.
“I’m just grateful that we’re still racing,” said Catton.

Past winners:
2019: Not held.
2018: Leeroy Rogue (Jeff Crawford) 19.48s.
2017: Too Many Bills (Renald Attard) 19.66s.
2016: Better Than This (Kerry Hoggan) 19.62s.
2015: Burj Khalifia (Glen Monkman) 19.69s.
2014: Burj Khalifia (Glen Monkman) 19.51s.
2013: Veno (John Adams) and Are They Now (Peter Ruetschi) dead-heat in 19.76s.
2012: Text Me Daddy (Glenn Smith) 19.79s.
2011: Rylee\’s Enforcer (Greg Stella) 19.40s
2010: Hanify\’s Forte (Colin Graham) 19.79s.
2009: Mr Metz (Ron Ball) 19.92s.