Sky Racing BRISBANE CUP

Group 1, 520m

Albion Pk

Heats: June 25

Final: July 2

Prizemoney $85,000

By DAVID BRASCH

VICTORIAN builder Mark Alder has some advice for those targeting Albion Park\’s up-coming Sky Racing Group 1 Brisbane Cup.

\”It will be one of the greatest things that will ever happen to you if you happen to win a Group 1,\” said Mark.

Back in 2007, Mark landed the Brisbane Cup with Uno Joel (Primo Uno-Stumbler\’s Lass), a dog he bred himself … and the very last greyhound he has ever owned.

\”I don\’t know why I got out of the dogs, but it just happened. Yes, he is the last greyhound I\’ve had.\”

But memories of that Group 1 victory come flooding back every single day at the Adler\’s Victorian home.

\”I\’ve kept the trophy, the rug and have pictures of the victory in my home to remember such a wonderful time,\” said Mark. \”My family and I stayed in Brisbane for a few days and really celebrated the win.

\”They are memories for life and I will have the trophy and everything else forever.\”

Uno Joel was bred by Mark and trained by Jason Thompson.

Mark had bought the dam, Stumbler\’s Lass (Awesome Assassin-Pride Of Dalmore), as a pup. She raced at 37kgs during her career. Mark claims she was the biggest bitch in Australia at the time.

Mark had to talk Jason Thompson into taking Uno Joel because the trainer\’s kennels were full at the time.

Uno Joel would eventually hold on to win that Group 1 Brisbane Cup narrowly, but beating a fabulous field that also included Mandagery Man, Hot To Rumble, Anarchy, Super Hornet, Inastare, Gozo Smile and the great El Galo.

He had been a finalist in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup as well.

Uno Joel was to be part of a Robbie Britton onslaught to the US for the Derby Lane Millions.

\”Robbie had approached us about taking Uno Joel with him early in 2008,\” said Mark.

\”But, for some reason the race was not run. But, Uno Joel would not have been going anyway.

\”Jason took him to Perth for the Cup and he was injured. He advised me to retire the dog.

\”I asked about standing him at stud and Jason\’s advice was not to. I then decided he should come home to me as a house pet. Jason advised that would be fraught with danger as well because the dog was such a fabulous chaser.\”

So, Uno Joel was left in limbo for a short while until Mark was approached to send the dog to the US for stud duties.

\”Somebody at Bendigo contacted me about sending him there,\” said Mark. \”I can\’t even remember the guy’s name now, Trevor something. I signed Uno Joel over to him and off he went to the States for stud.\”

Uno Joel had a few matings in the US and some were successful including Aussie Lassie. But, semen for him ended up in the UK where he mated a bitch called Ms Deltafire, a daughter of Brett Lee, and it produced a high class litter of prolific winners.

Uno Joel was from the same direct female family as Brett Lee.

In all, Uno Joel raced 51 times for 14 wins and 22 placings earning $113,000 for Mark Alder and the Thompson kennel.

Mark\’s father Jim had been a farrier and harness driver for decades and horses were in Mark\’s blood.

\”I got out of greyhounds for no reason,\” said Mark. \”I\’ve thought for a while I should have got back in, but never did.

\”I\’ve got shares in three racehorses with Ray Clever, a trainer at Cranbourne. The horses are all battlers.\”

Mark\’s two sons took over his heating and air conditioning business and he and a mate started Liberty Homes.

\”It\’s a pretty good business and keeps me busy,\” said Mark, 61.

Come Brisbane Cup time this year, it\’s doubtful Uno Joel will be remembered at all by those chasing Group 1 glory at Albion Park.

Not so down in Victoria where Mark Alder still cherishes his only Group 1 fame. He\’s got all the trophies and photos to prove it.