Caption: She’s A Ladette in winning form (above) and trainer Brett Hazelgrove (below). (Photos: Just Greyhound Photos)

 

By PAT McLEOD

South-east Queensland conditioner Brett Hazelgrove is far from a novice trainer, but even he admits to being ‘shocked’ by the form surge of kennel duo She’s A Ladette and Star Assassin.

Both will contest 431m events at Ipswich on Friday and the Buccan (south of Brisbane) based Hazelgrove is more than a little intrigued by what their next offering might produce.

“The recent performances of both dogs have shocked me in a good way, I must be doing something right,” he says laughing.

“In fact, a number of the dogs in the kennel are kicking goals at the moment.”

Hazelgrove, whose previous success stories include 2020 Queensland Greyhound Of The Year Dam Slippery, said his first impression of She’s A Ladette when she first arrived in his kennel was ‘pretty average’.

“I didn’t think she was all that promising to start with. I didn’t rate her, but now she keeps surprising me,” he said.

“She just keeps putting in, she is a real surprise.

“Recently almost every time she goes to the track, she pulls off a win.

“She’s a gutsy little thing. She seems to be able to get to the front and pull off some high grade races.

“She seems to really like Ipswich, so while she is liking Ipswich then so am I.”

To date She’s A Ladette (Fernando Bale x Tick Away Fire) has had 23 starts for 10 wins and five placings.

She has been in hot form recently over the Ipswich 431, with two wins and a second in her past three starts.

Hazelgrove says she has the ingredients to conjure another win from the seven alley on Friday.

“She has won out of the seven before, so that shouldn’t be a problem,” he said.

“She is a good beginner, so the plan would be to cross them and if you lead in a 431m race you should be in the box seat.

“She can ping the lids and she isn’t scared to get across.

“Hopefully that will give her the edge on Friday.”

Hazelgrove has similar confidence around Star Assassin, who he says is improving despite nearing masters qualification and with 58 starts to date.

“Star Assassin is another one to shock me,” he says.

“In his last start, he may have come second, but his first section was 13.19, which is absolutely airborne, and I have never had a dog run that.

“Despite the really good start he was beaten by the track record holder, John Thompson’s Barefoot Zulu.

“So, 9.9 times out of 10 you win that race with the start that my dog had, but Barefoot Zulu is a pretty good dog.

“Star Assassin just seems to keep improving right now, despite him almost being at masters age.

“He’s shocking me at every start, and when you look at the times you think ‘bloody hell’.”

Hazelgrove also has Sweet Ladette in on Friday, but the confidence level is not so high with her.

“She had a bit of a season and isn’t really firing as well as she should be,” he said.