Caption: Jemma Daley and Tarquin Neal with Hara’s Buddy after winning the Queensland Straight Track Championship Final (366m) at Capalaba. (Photo: Toby Coutts)

By Pat McLeod

Jemma Daley has had a taste of straight track success and wants more.

Her maturing sprinter, Hara’s Buddy, recently won through to the National Straight Track Championships and this Sunday is part of Daley’s two-pronged attack on the rich Capalaba Cup (366m).

Hara’s Buddy and Victorian visitor Canya Untamed will represent the Park Ridge kennel in one of seven heats of the $112,500 Group 2 Capalaba Cup.

“The Nationals was the first straight track feature that I had actually won,” says Daley.

“Up until then I have never had the right dog to have a crack at the Capalaba features, so it is nice to have a dog like Buddy.

“Actually, we have got the next litter at the breakers now and there is one dog that is exactly like him.

“So hopefully I have got more candidates for Capalaba going forward.”

Daley said both her Cup contenders had plenty of raw ability, but race maturity would be the key to their success in the $75,000-to-the-winner Cup finale.

“Buddy has run quick times at Capalaba and you would think that he is near his peak now that he is just over two and a half,” she explains.

“He probably has a little room left for improvement because he is quite a tall, leggy dog.

“He hasn’t been over-raced and we’re just trying to put him where he’s meant to be.

“He just has to find his feet early in running. He is still a young dog still working things out.

“He definitely likes to be on the outside, but just has to do everything right in the heats to put himself in the final.

“I don’t think he’s a dog that necessarily has to draw the outside, but he just needs to get that little bit of clean air.

“He can get out of the boxes no issue at all, and can run two good sections, but being a big, tall, leggy dog it doesn’t take much for his legs to get tangled up.”

Canya Untamed began his career with Sydney trainer Jason Magri and is now with Victoria’s Jessica Hopkins.

He has experience at both Richmond and Healesville straight tracks and an impressive record of nine wins and three placings from just 15 starts.

“Canya Untamed does get a little bit worked up in the kennels before the race,” said Daley.

“I had a chat with Jess (Hopkins) this week and we’re both still trying to work him out.

“Jason Magri has done a wonderful job with the dog and he has arrived here in terrific order from Jess.

“The dog will be going back south after the Capalaba campaign.

“I am here to keep him healthy and happy and communicate with Jess.

“You just have to keep his head right and try to settle him down.

“So, if we can just get him to take a breath in the kennels, he might be able to bring a little more to the track.”

Sunday’s heats are jam-packed with talent headed by the local track King, Valhalla, the defending champion.

After scoring in the QGold final for male greyhounds on September 22, Valhalla boasted 29 wins, six seconds and a third from 37 starts up the Capalaba straight.

Park Ridge trainer Tom Tzouvelis reported the all-clear with the dog after it cooled down following its most recent success and was left keeping his fingers crossed for some improved starting box manners.

Another interesting Cup heat inclusion is Selena Zammit’s group-class chaser All Natural, who has been out injured, returning to the race track for the first time since June 20.