Caption: A jubilant Tarquin Neal with Jemma Daley, Brae Daley, 7, and impressive Ipswich Auction winner Sushi Mango. Photo: Just Greyhound Photos.
Ipswich Wrap with MIKE HILL
TARQUIN Neal admits he became a bit boisterous as his sprinter Sushi Mango headed for victory in the $57,500 Group 3 Ipswich Auction Series final (520m) last month.
“I got excited, yelling and screaming,” he said.
And although he said it was ‘out of character’, many would say he was entitled to get ‘a bit boisetrous’.
At 32, the young trainer, who’s only been in the sport a few years, had just won his first Group final.
“Not every day does a small kennel get in big races and win $40,000,” said Neal, who has eight dogs, including a couple of pups, in his kennels at Park Ridge South.
“Some kennels don’t win that in a year.”
Sushi Mango, a $12 chance, had taken the lead down the back straight after beginning quickly from box seven before racing to an impressive near-six lengths victory from the Karen Tribe-prepared $101 outsider Petite Swagger with the Jedda Cutlack-trained Red Buzz ($14) two lengths back third.
The winner clocked a slick 30.58s, his best time for the journey.
Hot fancies Tungsten Miss ($1.65) and Media Rights ($5), from the two inside boxes, were beaten for early speed and then suffered interference through the first turn.
Neal said he had been very relaxed before the race after Sushi Mango scraped into the final with a fourth in the semis a week earlier.
“I was excited just to be in the final,” he said.
“It was my first big final and it was nice just to soak up the atmosphere of the night.
“I was just hoping for a top three finish.
“If he could achieve that I’d be really happy.
“But to actually win … it is unbelievable.”
Neal was still on cloud nine the following morning.
The trainer said Sushi Mango had pulled out the big one when he needed to.
“He got the right run and was able to produce a PB on the night.”
Neal remembers the first time he saw his pup at the 2020 auctions.
“I wanted to buy a few well-bred pups to get some stock into my kennels,” he recalls.
“But every time I bid on one it was a buy-back and I couldn’t manage to buy any,” he said.
“Then I heard that Jeff and Jane Crawford had some (Zambora Brockie-Smashing Sally) pups in the auction and they were for sale.
“I went and spoke with Jeff and had a look at the pups.
“I liked one … he was the only one I liked.
“He seemed to have a carefree attitude.
“You could pat him, do whatever with him, he didn’t seem to care.
“That’s what drew him to me the most.
“I bought him for $5000 and I’ve won $40,000.
“Even before the Auction final, he’d been a good dog to me.
“He’s my champion.”
Earlier in the year, Sushi Mango had finished fifth behind Red Buzz in the $21,000 Auction Sprint series.
Neal said Sushi Mango, named after his favourite comedy group (Sooshi Mango), was broken in at Golden View and at the time they said “he’ll be a nice dog for you.”
“He took a while to win his maiden … he was very green early on,” he said.
“But once he adjusted to racing with other dogs and after his first win he’s been very consistent.”
The Auction success took Sushi Mango’s record to six wins and seven placings from 26 starts and lifted his earnings to $57,300.
The Jedda Cutlack kennel gained some compensation for Tungsten Miss’ loss when She’s Sweet won the Auction Consolation, while last year’s Auction winner, Extra Malt ($2.40 fav), ran 30.06 to win the $24,000 Ipswich Anniversary Trophy (520m).
It equalled the seventh fastest run at the track.
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GREYHOUNDS sold at this year’s Ipswich Puppy Auction will be racing for prizemoney in excess of $100,000 in the 2024 Group feature.
Club president Rob Essex foreshadowed the increase during an address at the club’s big 40th anniversary meeting last month.
Special guests, including club patron Paul Tully, as well as past members, gathered for a night of celebrations that included the running of $57,500 Ipswich Auction Series (520m) and the $24,000 Ipswich 40th Anniversary Trophy (520m).
And legendary broadcaster Paul ‘Dogsy’ Dolan dusted off his binoculars for the night to call a couple of races .
In 2018, he pulled the plug on a career that spanned more than four decades, but has returned from time-to-time, calling races on special occasions.
Dolan also MC’d the night which marked 40 years of greyhound racing at Ipswich. (The first meeting at the Showgrounds track was staged on Saturday night, May 1, 1982.)
Essex said he had already spoken to Racing Queensland officials about boosting the prizemoney for the 2024 Auction Series.
“The final will be worth more than $100,000,” he said.
“We will be discussing all aspects of the upcoming puppy auction at our next committee meeting.”
Essex said the anniversary night had been a wonderful celebration for the club and the code.
“It was absolutely sensational,” he said.
“We had a big crowd, the restaurant was packed and the racing was competitive.”
Several early members track side on the night included Darryl Williams – the club’s first ever member – Kevin Johnson and Sid Lewis.
Lewis is the only trainer to have won two Ipswich Gold Cups with the same dog.
He was successful in 1991 and ’92 with his highly talented sprinter Haylewie Miss.
In a night of celebrations, the Tarquin Neal-trained Sushi Mango won the $40,000-to-the-winner Auction final, while Leanne Hall’s wonderful sprinter Extra Malt took her record to 27 wins and 11 placings (55 starts) with victory in the $24,000 Anniversary Trophy (520m).
Extra Malt’s winning time of 30.06s equalled the seventh fastest recorded at the track and the winner’s cheque of $15,600 lifted her earnings to just under $200,000.
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NEV Jackson, a man who knows more about the greyhound than most, will judge the 2022 Ipswich Racing Greyhound Sweepstakes at the Ipswich Showgrounds this month.
The Sweepstakes, in its second year, will be staged on Saturday, May 14, between 9am and 1pm as part of the three-day Ipswich Show.
Jackson was forced to decline an invitation to judge last year’s inaugural event due of health issues.
“I had just had hip replacement surgery and was in no condition to travel,” he said last month.
“I’m grateful and honoured the club has invited me again.”
Jackson, 83, a well-respected international dog show judge and a life member of Dogs Queensland, has been a leading greyhound administrator in Central Queensland and an owner-trainer-breeder for many years.
Jackson, who specialised in the hound group of dogs of which the greyhound is a member, said it took many years of study and experience to become a qualified all-breeds championship judge.
Over the years, he has officiated at international championships, mainly in Thailand and New Zealand.
A dog show judge since 1966 and an all-breeds judge for more than a decade, Jackson said every breed had its standard and ‘that’s what each dog is judge against’.
“In the case of the greyhound, you’re looking at confirmation, temperament, movement and presentation,” he said.
“I always judge against the standard.”
Jackson, who judged the greyhound sweepstakes at the Brisbane Ekka in 2008, said it wasn’t impossible for a racing dog to be successful in the show ring.
However, he did admit some judges preferred to see the greyhound carrying a bit more weight than being in race condition.
He said it was disappointing greyhounds weren’t being shown in greater numbers at dog championship shows.
“Unlike many dog breeds, colour isn’t an issue for the greyhound,” Jackson said.
“Every colour is acceptable in greyhound competitions.”
Meanwhile, Ipswich club secretary Di O’Donnell said everything was pointing to a highly successful Sweepstakes competition.
“Last year’s inaugural event was a great success and we’re expecting this year’s to be even better,” O’Donnell said.
“Greyhounds will be judged in different classifications from pups through to veterans in both male and female categories.”
She said the Sweepstakes was more like a ‘beauty pageant’ for the breed.
“The preliminary judging will take place in the preview area in front of the kennels,” she said.
“This is where the respective age classes will be judged, while the ‘general specials’, which will be contested between all class winners to determine ‘Best in Show’ will be held on the dais in front of the grandstand.
“The child handlers will also be judged on the dais.”
O’Donnell said although entries closed on April 29, late entries may be considered, depending on numbers. “But not too late,” she said.
Members will also operate a three-day trade site at the show to promote all things greyhound and the Ipswich club.
“Our aim is to support and promote the racing industry and the greyhound, in particular, from puppy to retirement,” O’Donnell said.
For more information and entry details please go to https://greyhoundsonshow.com.au or phone Di on 0412 544 882
