Caption: Connections are hoping Gold Sequani can match her stunning heat run in the final of the $15,400 QGOLD 5th Grade Final (431m) at Ipswich on Friday. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
MIKE HILL’S weekly wrap of greyhound racing at Ipswich
SHANE Ellis looks to have found the secret to bringing out the best in regally-bred sprinter Gold Sequani.
The Burpengary-based trainer took over the sprinter ‘s preparation in early March and has been in the money in all four runs so far with three wins and a second.
Ellis is hoping the winning streak continues in Friday’s $15,400 QGOLD 5th Grade Final (431m) at Ipswich after the light fawn daughter of Fernando Bale and Sequana produced a slashing heat victory last week.
It was her first official outing over the shorter trip and her 24.71s was only a bit over two lengths outside Regal Recall’s track record (24.54s).
The performance didn’t surprise Ellis and he’s just hoping she can repeat it in the final.
“I trialled her out of the boxes over 431m the week before and she went 24.85s,” he said.
“I just wanted to make sure she was mentally right.”
He said he spoke to owner Russell Farrell about coming back to the 431m after Gold Sequani won her 520m Novice at Albion Park earlier this month.
“We decided to give it a go,” the trainer said. “It was just a matter of giving her a freshen up.”
Ellis said he was confident Gold Sequani would handle the shorter trip.
And he’s not overly concerned with her jumping from box five in the $10,010-to-the-winner final.
“The way the field is drawn, I’m happy with five,” the trainer said, particularly if Gold Sequani can jump like she did last week.
She clocked a super 13.10s first section, which matched the track’s best.
And when asked who he thought might be the danger, Ellis said: “I hope there is no danger.”
“However, Tommy’s two, they’re drawn out wide, could be hard to beat.”
He was referring to Mo’at, trained by Tom Tzouvelis, in box eight and That’s Hot, trained by Tzouvelis’ deputy Jedda Cutlack in seven.
Both were impressive heat winners last week – That’s Hot in 24.91s and Mo’at in 24.95s.
“Whoever gets a clear run to the first turn will be in the box seat,” said Ellis.
“It all depends on the start.”
Gold Sequani (8: 3-1-3; $14,665) launced her career with a second in a heat of the Vince Curry Memorial Maiden series at Ipswich in mid-January and then finished third to eventual series winner Duffman in a semi-final.
The talented sprinter joined Ellis’s kennels almost eight weeks ago.
He already had Gold Sequani’s litter sister Celtic Goddess – both are owned by Farrell, who also raced their outstanding Group performing dam Sequana (51: 26-9-5; $144,345).
“Little separates the pair,” Ellis said.
“They’re great in the kennels … they’re great travellers … they’re so quiet … they’re just great dogs and they can run.”
He said Celtic Goddess with three wins and a second from four starts was currently sidelined after sustaining a pin muscle injury earlier in the year.
“She’s probably 5-6 weeks away from returning to racing,” the trainer said.
GEORGE Clegg is expecting good things from in-form chaser Honey Bar Cool in her first attempt over 630m at Ipswich on Saturday night.
“She’s hit a vein of form and deserves her chance over the longer trip,” the Mudgeeraba-based trainer said.
Honey Bar Cool is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the $7400 Shipwreck At Stud 4th/5th Grade (630m) after impressive victories earlier this month over 520m at Ipswich.
Clegg admits he has a soft spot for the blue fawn daughter of Barcia Bale and Cool Talk.
“She’s very strong and she should go good,” he said.
“She’s been crying out for more distance.
“Some dogs take longer to mature and show their best; she’s one of those.
“It took her six runs to break her maiden and another 15 starts before she won her second race.
“But she’s been in great form of late. You’ve just got to be patient with them.”
Clegg said Honey Bar Cool had a similar racing pattern to his former star chaser Big Bad Bob.
“He would drop out early and then make a forward thrust; she is doing the same,” he said.
“Her mum Cool Talk (Thirty Talks-Bralyn Casey) is a half sister to Big Bad Bob (by Lochinvar Marlow).
“Honey Bar Cool has good track sense, she can weave through the field. She’s a good railer and she makes up a lot of ground on the turns.
“Ipswich is a bigger, better track for her and I don’t think she will be troubled by the 630m, although it will be a challenge.
“It’s a very tough run.
“I trialled her about four or five weeks ago over 600m at Albion Park and I was relatively happy with the run.
“Her only previous try over 600m was last October.
“She wasn’t ready for it. She’s more mature now.”
Clegg thinks the turning point for Honey Bar Cool came during the Bundaberg Cup series in early March.
“She ran second in the heat and third (to All Natural) in the final,” he said.
The trainer believes competing against quality opposition has boosted her confidence.
“She’s been very impressive and very strong in her two victories since,” he said.
In a race in which only two runners have won over the trip, Honey Bar Cool’s biggest dangers look to be the Leanne Hall-trained Ringbark Razor with a 37.28s PB, Jayson Valentine’s Cookie Queen and possibly Hole In One (Michael Vaughan).
Ringbark Razor is a three-time winner over the trip, while Cookie Queen (37.33s PB) has two wins from three attempts, although she’s been unplaced in recent runs.
However, there were excuses when she took a tumble in her last outing over 630m.
“
IPSWICH club members have been saddened by the passing of immediate past president Steve Woods this week.
Steve had been a long-time member of both the Ipswich and Albion Park Greyhound Racing Clubs.
And in his memory, the Ipswich club has named race two on Saturday night the Farewell Past President Steve Woods Novice (520m).
Queensland Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse, in announcing the sad news, said Steve was a popular and respected member of the greyhound racing fraternity for more than 50 years.
“A builder by trade, Steve’s skills were often sought after by fellow trainers to undertake work at their properties,” he said.
“As president of the Ipswich Greyhound Racing Club from October 2023, Steve led the final stages of the amalgamation of the Ipswich and Brisbane clubs, ensuring that the vote of Ipswich members was overwhelmingly in favour of the amalgamation.
“Steve was elected to the inaugural committee of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club by Ipswich members, but sadly was unable to continue in the position due to illness.
“On behalf of the committee, management and staff of the QGRC I wish to pass on our sincere condolences to Steve’s family and his partner in life and greyhounds Kerri-Lyn Harkness on the loss of Steve.
“Steve Woods is a man who will be missed.”
In the sport for five decades, Steve was proud to live in what he called ‘one of the most popular greyhound streets’ in Queensland.
“At one stage about 500 dogs were kennelled along the Park Ridge road,” Woods told Chase in The Trainer column late last year.
He said he had arrived at his Park Ridge property in the early 1970s after picking up the lead and collar a few years earlier when living at West End, an inner Brisbane suburb.
“I had just left the Army after doing my National Service,” Steve recalled.
“It was back in 1971 and I had a few mates; we were made punters on all types of racing.
“Two or three times a week we’d go to the horses, trots or dogs.
“Then one of my mates came round with a greyhound.
“We all put in a couple of dollars to pay the stamp duty on the transfer and we became owners.
“As I was the only one who had a house (rented) I became the hands-on trainer.”
Steve said not long after that he bought acreage at Park Ridge so he could increase his involvement.
It just went from there, he said.
When asked which was the best greyhound he had trained, he replied: “Two dogs stood out – Gowrie Sobers and Icy Profit, who raced many years ago, have a very soft place in my heart.”
Since news of Steve’s passing was released heart-felt comments have flowed on both Ipswich and Albion Park club Facebook sites, including the following: RIP Steve. An amazing tradesman, there was nothing that Steve couldn’t build or fix. Our home will forever be filled with memories of all the work that Steve did. He loved a chat and loved a cup of tea. So glad I got to spend many chats over a cuppa with him. You will be missed Steve. RIP our dear friend – Michelle Stella
