CAPTION: Farmor Relief dashes away for an easy Capalaba win on January 10. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
By NEIL ARCHER
TRAINER Cecil Druery is puzzled by Farmor Relief’s uncharacteristic poor effort up the straight on Wednesday but thinks his chaser can still be a serious threat in Sunday’s Jeff Jones Celebration Of Life Trophy (366m) at Capalaba.
Farmor Relief ran a terrific second to the in-form I’m Old School in last Sunday’s Trophy heat, leading until collared late by the winner. The Tom Tzouvelis-trained I’m Old School clocked 19.81 – the fastest of the three heats while the Evelyn Harris-trained Darby Display won his heat in 20.02 and another Tzouvelis-trained runner, Fancy Gift, clocked 20.06 in her heat.
I’m Old School subsequently scored a narrow win at Albion Park on Thursday night, but Farmor Relief was disappointing when he ran again at Capalaba on Wednesday, finishing a well-beaten fourth as the $2.10 favourite behind Tweed Force.
“I was very disappointed with him on Wednesday,” said the Churchable-based trainer. “He races well up the straight but just wasn’t himself on Wednesday. Maybe he just hadn’t backed up from his run on Sunday – I just don’t know – but I’m hoping he’s just put in that one bad one and will bounce back to his best form in Sunday’s final.
“And with the right run, I think he’s capable of running a big race and hopefully can turn the tables on I’m Old School this time around.”
Druery has really turned Farmor Relief’s form around since the Jiminy Reno-Arabella Emjay dog joined his kennel last year.
A 12-start maiden before joining Druery, Farmor Relief has now won three races – all at Capalaba – from his eight starts for his new trainer.
He won first-up for Druery at Capalaba on December 21 after being heavily backed at big odds, won again up the straight at his next start a week later, then again at the same track on January 10.
“He had a few things I had to work on when he arrived and I brought him along slowly. He’s certainly been going very well up the straight in the past few months,” said Druery.
Sunday will mark the fifth running of the Jeff Jones Celebration Of Life Trophy, a race that honours the life of Jeff Jones, the well-respected former trainer and great greyhound racing man who passed away in 2018. Jeff was also a founding member and past president of the QGBOTA and was heavily involved with the Capalaba club for many years.
Jones, of course, is the inspiration behind the naming of Jay Is Jay, the current Queensland star trained by his daughter Selena Zammit and owned by his wife Lillian. Jeff owned and trained Jay Is Jay’s mother Kealoah.
Previous Jeff Jones Trophy winners:
2023 – Journalist (Greg Stella) 19.57
2021 – Easy Does It (Tony Apap) 20.14
2020 – She’s Whistling (Garry Gilbert) 19.72
2019 – Call Me Ugo (Brett Hazelgrove) 19.77
