Caption: Brisbane trainer Jemma Daley. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
By Pat McLeod
Jemma Daley will again draw on her strong hand of confidence cards as she prepares smart visitor Lenny’s Honey for her Queensland debut over the 520m journey at Albion Park on Thursday night.
The Koblenz x Maddison Kaye bitch has certainly paid for her ticket north from South Australia recently with just one unplaced run in her eight Albion Park outings to date.
All of those have been over the 395m and 331m and have included five wins.
She steps up to the championship distance on Thursday night in a 4th/5th Grade quality field, but Daley has no doubts about her ability over that journey.
“Lenny’s Honey is the interesting one,” Daley says of her five chances on Thursday night.
“She has South Australian form over 500 metres and has been racing here over shorter distances and won a good money race the last start (an open final over 395m at ‘The Creek’).
“She had a long box to box last Monday night which I was very happy with her.
“Box three will help her, but she will need to show a good turn of foot.
“She may be found wanting late, but whatever she does on Thursday night she will improve on.
“She is a credit to her owners (Debbie and Manuel Stuppos), who bred her.
“We stayed with them when we went down for last year’s Nationals.
“They asked if we would give her (Lenny’s Honey) a go up here, especially with the improved prizemoney in Queensland.
“When she came up here, she came on season almost straight away and had a couple of trials which didn’t show very much.
“But now she has hit the ground running and is a real competitor.
“She is not the greatest solo trial dog, but you put her in a field and she wants to race.”
All of Daley’s runners for Thursday night, including Lenny’s Honey, will be given a ‘confidence boost’ the day before they race.
“Confidence plays such a massive role in greyhound racing,” Daley says.
“We certainly have a huge focus on the mental side of the sport, trying to ensure that our dogs are mentally switched on.
“That plays a massive part in my training regime, especially with my young dogs.
“I have a long chat with (renowned greyhound mentor) John Martin every few weeks and he will suggest certain things to try.
“Things like letting them finish on the arm at the track, which I see more and more trainers are doing now.
“I will send dogs away to places such as Townsville, if I think the change in scenery will lift them mentally.
“But it can be something simple that can achieve that.
“The day before they race my dogs get put on a lead and we will go for a walk down the paddock, maybe we will go down and around the creek.
“There will always be something moving or jumping out and of course you have to hang on for dear life, but it gets the dogs motivated and interested.
“You can see the difference in the dogs. You can tell the dogs that are really on point. Their ears are up and their eyes are wide open.
“They are ready to go.”
Daley said all five of her charges will need the run on Thursday night after missing some work over the past week because of the effects of Cyclone Alfred.
“Journey will need a little bit of luck early, but will be motoring home,” she says.
“Canya Cash In will be a little bit the same. He is not bomb-proof at the start and will need a bit of clear room, but will be making a good run at them.
“Canya Joyous is coming back after a short lay-off, so she will need the run.
“Hara’s Poh will need a lot of luck. He has got a lot of ability, but has let himself down throughout his career with his confidence.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he lobbed, but he needs a bit to go his way.”
