
Caption: It Wasn’t Me with trainer Garry Gilbert and members of The Gallopers syndicate, headed by breeder Gary Dodt (far left). (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
Weekly wrap of racing at Ipswich with MIKE HILL
TRAINER Garry Gilbert is hoping to finish off a highly rewarding week with a winning double at Ipswich on Saturday night.
Gilbert is having a wonderful run of success with members of a Fernando Bale-She’s Whistling litter, bred by long-time friend Gary Dodt.
Already the 11-member litter, of which Gilbert trains six, have collectively picked up 49 wins and banked just under $180,000.
And the youngsters haven’t turned two yet … that will happen later this month.
Gilbert has already picked up four wins so far this week with three littermates – Whistle Away (Capalaba and Albion Park), It Wasn’t Me (Ipswich) and My Holiday Fund (Albion Park).
And he hopes to continue the winning run with He’s Something (Maiden 520m) and It Wasn’t Me (4th/5th Grade 520m) at Ipswich on Saturday night.
He’s Something, drawn the rails, is the only member of the litter yet to win a race, but victory isn’t far away, suggests Gilbert.
“The dog suffered a sesamoid bone injury early in his career, which put him back quite a bit,” the trainer said.
“He was sidelined for about eight weeks.
“He had two runs in May (for a second and fourth) before returning in a 520m maiden at Albion Park on Monday.
“Although he’s been trialling well by himself, inexperience beat him.
“He has ability and we are hoping he goes better at Ipswich.
“It’s only a matter of time before he breaks through.”
Gilbert, based at Tivoli in the Ipswich region, said It Wasn’t Me, drawn in box two for the $5800 Ipswich Softball Association 4th/5th Grade, was returning to 520m after several months successfully racing over the shorter courses.
The brindle sprinter (current stats 19: 6-1-2: $24,035) is chasing a hat-trick of wins following double success over the Ipswich 431m trip.
“She’s fit and racing in good form,” Gilbert said.
“She’s the best and strongest bitch in the litter.”
It Wasn’t Me showed her potential early in her career when she placed fourth behind Duffman in the rich Vince Curry Memorial Maiden Final at Ipswich in February at just her third race start after winning her semi-final.
“It’s a natural progression that she steps up in distance,” the trainer said.
“She’s more a 520m bitch.
“She has early pace and she’s fit, but it’s a hot field.
“It will all come down to luck in running.
“You don’t get many easy races these days.
“The dog in box one (Federal Remark) also won on Tuesday and Tommy (Tom Tzouvelis) has a smart dog (Autumn Storm) out wide (box seven).”
Gilbert, who operates a sports therapy clinic where he specialises in structural alignment, said he was thankful for the outstanding support he receives from the team around him.
He said good mate Gary Dodt was a hands-on owner and ‘I couldn’t do the training without him’.
Gilbert said his wife Leanne was a huge help with the dogs and son Geordie (studying bio medicine and science) was his No. 1 help during a recent five-week break from uni.
He said It Wasn’t Me and Whistle Away – possibly the pick of the litter – were headed towards the Molly Campbell at Albion Park later in the month.
The trainer also added that Dodt was so impressed with the She’s Whistling litter ‘he’s just bought another Fernando Bale straw for a repeat mating’.
*****
PROMISING youngster Too Hot and former North Queensland sprinter Federal Remark are joint winners of July’s Ipswich greyhound-of-the-month.
Too Hot, owned and trained by George Kadniak, picked up 16 points for three wins and a third – all over the 288m short course.
The black sprinter (Mepunga Blazer-Sheza Keen Size) only began racing in mid-June and hasn’t been out of the money in 10 starts (4 wins, 6 placings).
Federal Remark, trained by Brad Belford, also collected 16 points with identical placings.
The fawn brindle chaser (Federal Morgan-Flo Jo Focus) didn’t have his first outing at Ipswich until mid-month when he produced a first-up victory over 431m.
Since then he’s collected another two wins and a third – all over the 431m trip. The pair join previous monthly winners Bundy Prize (January), Be Desired (February), Kia Kaha (March), Spring Travis (April), Tarawi Lee (May) and Infra Terra (June).
NORTHERN Rivers trainer Brad Northfield made a highly rewarding trek to Ipswich on Thursday.
The Backmede-based (near Casino) conditioner picked up a winning treble over the 288m course.
Northfield was successful with Feisty Foxy ($1.95 fav) in a maiden as well as novice winners Tub Star ($3.20) and Cookey Charisma ($4.40).
Meanwhile, leading female trainer Pauline Byers rugged up a double at Ipswich on Tuesday with Spring Notice ($6) winning a 431m Novice and Spring Aura ($4.20) successful in a 5th Grade 431m.
*****
OWNERS, breeders and nominees are reminded that time is quickly running out to submit nominations for this year’s Ipswich Golden Chase Puppy Auction.
The cut-off is only two weeks away, with nominations closing on Friday, August 16.
This year’s auction will be held at the Ipswich Showgrounds greyhound complex on Saturday, October 12.
Pups sold through one of the two sale categories – auction and buy-in – will be eligible for a series of races in 2026 at The Q, the new multi-million dollar, three-track complex at Purga.
A total prizemoney pool of $180,000 will be on offer for the three series.
* The Golden Chase 520m series, to be run on the Q2 track, will carry prizemoney totalling $110,000 with winning connections taking home $75,000.
* The Golden Chase 450m series, on the Q1 circuit, will offer $50,000 with $33,000 going to the winner.
*And for the first time, the Golden Chase Straight Track series will be run on the QS course with $20,000 up for grabs, $12,000 going to the winner.
The auction is open to pups whelped between October 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024.
There will also be a $10,000 bonus going to the winning breeder of the 520m series.
Nomination forms and terms and conditions are available at www.ipswichgreyhounds.com or by phoning 07 3202 2977.
Caption: Gloria Falla had a rare Ipswich win with new kennel addition Old Stables last week. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
CHURCHABLE-based trainer Gloria Falla landed a ‘surprise’ winner with her new kennel addition Old Stables at Ipswich last week.
She’s only had the fawn and white chaser (Aston Kimetto-Sal Talk) a bit over a month and says she’s more than happy with the way the dog’s going.
Old Stables had already picked up a win and placing at Capalaba for his new trainer and last week’s win was Gloria’s first at Ipswich for some time.
“I have trouble with my eyes these days and I don’t drive at night.
“So, I race mainly at Capalaba,” she said.
Gloria said she put Old Stables in last Thursday’s 288m meeting at Ipswich just to see how he’d go.
“We got the win! I’m happy with him,” she said.
The sprinter then followed up by just missing a place over 288m at Ipswich on Thursday.