Caption: The Greta Thomson-trained Seaton Key … an impressive heat winner in the Young Guns series over 380m at Townsville last night (Wednesday night). Photo: Louise Partland.

MIKE HILL’s Queensland regional greyhound racing weekly wrap

“IT’s all about the box draw and where you are in the first 20 metres,” says leading North Queensland trainer Brad Belford.

He was giving an early assessment of next week’s $6500 Young Guns (380m) at Townsville.

“It’s shaping up as a really good final,” said Belford, who’ll have two runners in the feature, Showtime Joe, an impressive 21.84s heat winner last night (Wednesday night), and Showtime Holly.

The two other heat winners were the Harold Hovi-trained Cry Wolf, with a BON 21.78s, and the Greta Thomson-prepared Seaton Key (21.80s).

Belford said the draw would play a vital role in the outcome of the race and no-runner could afford to miss the start.

“The first 20 metres or so are going to be very important,” he said. “There should be early speed and you’ll need to be in the leading group.

“I was very impressed with ‘Joe’s’ win and he is one that can come from behind.”

The well-bred white and brindle dog (Sennachie-Vegas Bound) stalked early leader Free At Night before taking control on the corner.

Showtime Joe ($3.60) powered home in the straight, beating the Michael Hickmott-trained Instant Gold ($4.20) by four-and-three-quarter lengths with the Chris Scifleet-prepared Free At Night ($2.90 fav) a close third.

Gumlu trainer Harold Hovi was high in his praise for Cry Wolf’s gallant win in heat two.

The well-supported $1.45 favourite was pushed all the way in a two-dog battle by the Daniel Miles-prepared Perfect Pacific ($4.20).

Cry Wolf managed to hold out the challenger by three-quarters of a length with the Heath Ardle-trained Urana Lot ($7) six lengths back third.

“I was really pleased with his effort,” said Hovi. “He never shirked it at any stage and it was a solid run going into next week’s final.

“He was pressured all the way and he’s pulled up really well. I was happy with the time although he has gone a little quicker.”

The trainer admitted he would love Cry Wolf to draw box two in the final.

So far in his short career, the black son of Zambora Brockie and Zipping Spring hasn’t jumped from either box one or two.

Last night’s win took Cry Wolf’s record to five victories from six starts and Hovi knows he has a smart chaser on his hands.

“He is starting to settle down better before his races,” the trainer said.

“He’s a good dog in the kennels, but he was getting over-excited going from the kennels to the starting boxes on race nights.

“However, in the past few weeks he’s become a lot better.”

Meanwhile, Greta Thomson was thrilled with Seaton Key’s come-from-behind victory in the third heat.

“I’m rapt in the little fellow,” she said. “He’s not really fast out of the boxes and he’d never had box one before.

“But he musters speed quickly and it was good to see him come though along the rails in the straight.”

Seaton Key ($1.55 fav), another young dog with an impressive record (8: 5-1-0), was too strong for Showtime Holly ($3), a member of the strong Belford kennel, and Heath Ardle’s Pistols At Dawn ($19).

Thomson said a webbing injury had sidelined the Keybow-Bogie Princess sprinter for several weeks and the run would definitely top him off for the final.

“I’m not sure what box I would like, but there is certainly going to be speed in the race,” she said.

The Young Guns qualifiers: Cry Wolf, Seaton Key, Showtime Joe, Perfect Pacific, Showtime Holly, Instant Gold, Pistols At Dawn, Free At Night; Reserves – Urana Lot, Eyes On Meg.

*****

THE talented Dallas Beckett-trained Enrique Fernando has again shown he’s a hard sprinter to run down once in front.

It was a case of catch me if you can at Rockhampton on Tuesday night when the blue sprinter virtually led all-the-way in the Newsxpress Richardon Road Best 8 open sprint (407m).

Enrique Fernando, at the good odds of $6.50, clocked a BON 23.59s in beating the Steve Boody-prepared Guru Bart ($7) by one-and-a-quarter lengths with another Beckett runner Chips In ($3.10) a similar distance back third.

Beckett said Enrique Fernando needed to draw near the fence to be at his best and was hard to run down once in front.

The victory took the sprinter’s record to 10 wins and 11 placings from 39 starts and lifted his prizemoney to just under $19,000.

It was also his third success in Best 8 company.

Meanwhile, Ring Me, the Ken Boody-trained $2.40 favourite, suffered her first unplaced run in 19 starts.

The sprinter came into the race with an impressive 18: 9-6-3 record, but from box six was crowded early and then suffered a severe check.

Coincidently, in the previous race, another bubble burst when Danish Cake’s five-race winning run came to an abrupt end.

The Andrew Suli-prepared sprinter also jumped from box six and was never out of trouble finishing down the track behind Christine Pollard’s winner Tokyo Chief.

*****

ROCKHAMPTON is about to be hit with an influx of ‘visitors’ from the Bundaberg region.

With racing at Bundaberg still a month or so away, a large contingent of trainers and dogs are heading north for tomorrow’s (Friday’s) 11-race meeting at Rocky, while Townsville will also stage an 11-event program on Saturday.