Caption: Lowood trainer Gerald Corrigan and partner Robyn with smart chaser Zephyr, a QGold series heat hopeful at Ipswich on Saturday night. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
Weekly wrap of racing at Ipswich with MIKE HILL
“THEY’LL give it their best shot, I know that for sure,” said Lowood-based trainer Gerald Corrigan.
He was referring to the only two dogs he has in work – litter brothers Zephyr and Kilkenny Blue.
Both blue dogs, they are last-start winners at Ipswich – Zephyr over 520m and Kilkenny Blue over 431m – and Corrigan is hoping success continues.
Members of a nice Tommy Shelby-Flying Yuna litter, the brothers face one of their strongest tests so far in heats of the $15,400 QGold 5th Grade series (520m) at Ipswich on Saturday night.
They are both in tough heats – Zephyr faces the likes of last-start winners Celtic Goddess (Shane Ellis) and Cash Cloud (Darren Russell) and the seasoned performer Gone Walkabout (Tom Tzouvelis) in heat one, while Kilkenny Blue is up against sprinters the calibre of Gold Sequani (Shane Ellis) and Hara’s Buddy (Jemma Daley) in heat two.
The third heat looks an open race although the Warren Nicholls-trained Blackjack Cal was a runaway winner in a slick 30.40s last Saturday.
“These are harder races than normal for them,” Corrigan said during the week, but added, “the dogs don’t know they’re up against better opposition.
“They’ll give their best.”
Zephyr was highly impressive in winning a $6200 4th/5th Grade Final (520m) at Ipswich last weekend. (Originally first reserve, the sprinter gained a start following a scratching.)
He jumped well from box 5, but was kept three wide for the entire trip.
Despite the tough run, he showed strength to grab the lead on straightening and kicked away in the straight, beating the Andrew Webb-trained Lippy Kid by a length in a smart 30.60s. Renald Attard’s Mrs. Musgrave finished two-and-a-half lengths away third.
“It was a nice win,” his trainer said.
“I thought he had a chance once he got a start.
“He’s been getting better with every run and he’s gone quicker each time he’s won.”
Zephyr’s current record stands at three wins – all over the Ipswich 520m trip – and five placings from just 12 starts.
Kilkenny Blue, on the other hand, is having his first outing over the journey, although he has a 12: 5-3-1 record.
“He suffered acidosis after his first trial back in January and I have had to slowly bring him back,” Corrigan said.
“Both dogs have ability, but because of his setback Kilkenny Blue didn’t have the stamina for the longer trips early.
“That’s why I’ve been running him in the shorter 288m and 431m races.
“I haven’t even trialled him over 520m yet; he’s only had a post-to-post.
“However, because of what he’s been showing over the 431m, I think he will run out the longer trip.
“He’s been getting stronger with every race.
“They are both good boys.”
WAYNE Siekman has stepped into his new position as operations manager at the Ipswich track.
Although he’s only been in the role two weeks, he says: “I’m enjoying it. I’m receiving great support from the staff both here at Ipswich and at the Albion Park office.”
He admits spending the first week on a crash course refreshing himself with the rules of racing and the way greyhound meetings are run.
He comes to the job with a wealth of knowledge in racing administration, having spent 16 years with the Melbourne Racing Club, rising to racing manager.
Siekman said it had been an exciting time during his decade and a half with the innovative MRC – particularly during its merger with the Mornington club.
He has also held executive management and high-performance coaching roles with Australian Football League organisations, including inaugural head coach with the Collingwood AFL women’s team.
He also coached the Victorian Metro Youth Girls to national championships.
Siekman said horse and dog racing had many similarities in their operation.
“We are dealing with runners and trainers,” he said.
“Our top priority is to make sure we have a safe surface and environment for the runners, in this case the dogs, and that participants have a good experience.”
Siekman, who is married with two children – a daughter, 15, and son, 10 – said he did have some knowledge of the industry.
“I owned greyhounds when I lived in Victoria and I know the industry to some degree,” he said.
Siekman said he was also looking forward to the move to Purga.
“It’s exciting times ahead,” he said.
“The new complex is going to be amazing for all participants – patrons, trainers and staff.
“And it has the potential to be a leader in world racing.”
LOGAN Village-based trainer David Harvey last week rugged up his first winner in more than three decades.
Harvey was successful in a heat of the 5th Grade series over 288m with the outsider of the field and the only dog he has in work, Winter Nights ($31).
He said he had trained for several years during his late teens and early twenties in Victoria.
However, he gave it away in 1987 and only picked up the lead and collar again earlier this year.
It proved a nice little win for Harvey.
As well as the $1560 winner’s prizemoney, he said he had $100 on Winter Nights at $23 with Sportsbet.
Harvey purchased the sprinter from well-known owner-breeder-trainer John McCarthy after deciding to give training another go.
And since he’s had the black daughter of Dyna Lachlan and Pearl Za Diamond, she been able to land a win and three seconds from her first five starts.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to add to her prizemoney stats in Thursday’s $3200 final.
Meanwhile, Harvey hopes to boost his kennel numbers in coming months.
“I have three unnamed pups going to Golden View in August to be broken in,” he said.
*****
TRAINER Cecil Druery rugged up a winning treble – all at juicy odds – at Ipswich on Thursday.
The Churchable conditioner was successful with maiden winners, the Beast Unleashed-Yeah Good Thanks littermates Lakoda Rusty ($15) and Lakoda Lacey ($16) and $6.50 chance Tuta Grizzly (Fully Loaded-Are Jay Dee) in the novice – all over the 288m trip.
Meanwhile, Mark Saal produced a winning double at Ipswich on Tuesday.
The well-bred Kajagoogoo (Barcia Bale-Pump It) pushed his stats to 11: 3-1-5 with victory in a 5th Grade (431m), while kennelmate Walk Right In (Zambora Brockie-Babs Kramer) was successful in the following race – a 5th Grade over 520m.
