Caption: The Garry Gilbert-trained It Wasn’t Me (pink rug) just holds off a gallant Tsu’tey (Tom Tzouvelis) in their Vince Curry Memorial Maiden semi-final at Ipswich last Saturday. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos).

Ipswich Club’s Weekly Wrap with MIKE HILL

SHE may be the baby of the field with an unusual name, but on the eve of Ipswich’s $112,500 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden (520m) final, trainer Garry Gilbert says It Wasn’t Me has so far exceeded connections’ expectations.

“We put It Wasn’t Me and two of her litter brothers into the series because they have early pace and for the experience,” Gilbert said.

The brothers, Whistle Away and He’s Whistling were knocked out in the opening night heats but It Wasn’t Me pushed through with a gutsy third before her impressive semi-final win last Saturday.

(Whistle Away has since won his maiden at Ipswich (30.70s) and finished a promising second in a Novice at Albion Park on Thursday night.)

“It Wasn’t Me is still very young, she won’t turn 18 months old for another few weeks but her performances so far are a bit higher than our expectations,” Gilbert said.

And for the Tivoli-based trainer, it’s the first time he’s had a runner in the rich feature, although he did have a reserve in the final several years back.

It Wasn’t Me (Fernando Bale-She’s Whistling) is owned by The Gallopers syndicate headed by breeder Gary Dodt, who Gilbert’s been associated with for a decade or so, and was named after the song of the same name by Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy.

Gilbert said he’s been happy with the brindle sprinter’s two runs so far in the $75,000-to-the-winner series.

“She was squeezed up on the top corner in her heat and she sat three-wide before winning her semi,” he said.

“She’s showing promise, in fact, the whole litter is.

“She can go a lot quicker early than she showed in her semi.”

It Wasn’t Me clocked a 30.79s last week (5.40s first split), the second fastest semi-final behind Duffman (30.38s) and marginally quicker than That’s Nuts and Tank Engine, both with 30.80s.

“She can go 5.30s early if she gets it right, but so can several of the others in the final,” said Gilbert.

“She’s still a baby and she’s still learning. I know she’s still got her best in front of her.”

Win or lose, he said his sprinter had so far exceeded his expectations.

The trainer said It Wasn’t Me needed luck, but one thing in her favour was ‘she’ll run a straight line’ from box six.

He said the final was full of inexperienced youngsters and anything could happen.

“All eight runners are having just their third run in a race,” Gilbert said.

And while he is seeking his first Vince Curry success, Ned Snow is hoping to secure a record-breaking third victory on Saturday night.

The veteran trainer has qualified two youngsters- Mischievous Lou (box 2) and Coffee Blast (box 8) – for the rich final.

But despite having the double chance and going into the final with some confidence, Snow said it was a very hard race.

“They’re all young and they’re all improving,” he said.

“I’m just hoping my two will be right there at the finish.”

Snow, based at Purga, is one of just four trainers who have won the Vince Curry twice during its 40-year history.

He was successful with Woops A Daisy in 2003 and Shipwreck (2022) before the super fawn sprinter went on to a stellar 61: 18-14-9 career that included two Group victories from six appearances at the elite level and $323,985 in prizemoney.

Snow also produced Run Bolt Run, runner-up to Brook Lee in the 2012 feature.

Other trainers with dual VC success are Tony Zammit (Reliability 1996, Runaway Sally 2004), Christina Harman (Brook Lee 2012, Rose Honey 2018) and John Clancy (Awesome Attack 2001, Spotted Wolf 2019).

Snow said he was happy with the progress of his two youngsters.

He said Mischievous Lou was well-suited near the rails, while Coffee Blast should have a clean run from the outside alley.

It’ll be the third week in a row that the fawn daughter of Out Of Range and Go Lou Go has stepped from box two and Snow said it should be a big help to her.

“She should nearly lead again,” he said, hoping that Coffee Blast can get a better start than he had in his semi.

“He bungled the start last week … that was the first time he had ever done that.

“I’m just hoping he comes out cleaner this week and gets a clear run to the first turn.

“Coffee Blast can run time.”

Snow said the Jedda Cutlack-trained Duffman looked the dog to beat.

“He ran a really good time for a pup last week and if he comes out running he’ll be hard to beat again,” he said.

Duffman (box 5) goes into the final having won both his heat (30.60s) and semi-final (30.38s), while That’s Nuts (box 1) has a similar record with slower times (30.74s and 30.80s).

IPSWICH is remembering Ted Meehan, the club’s foundation president and the man behind the creation of the Vince Curry Memorial Maiden series 40 years ago.

Ted passed away recently and to honour his memory the club will stage a special race on Saturday night.

The inaugural Ted Meehan Memorial 4th/5th Grade (520m) has attracted a classy field and will precede the final of the rich feature he had such a big hand in creating.

Respected former track race-caller and greyhound historian Paul Dolan, who will MC the club’s big Vince Curry  night on Saturday, said Ted Meehan was ‘an ideas man’.

“Ted was a member of the Ipswich club’s foundation committee in the early ’80s and elected its inaugural president,” Dolan said.

“The club had its first race meeting on May 1, 1982, although the committee had spent the previous 18 months creating the complex that exists today.

“Ted was a public servant, who worked in Brisbane and lived in the inner suburb of Annerley.

“He served as Ipswich president for about four years, while also being a member of the old Greyhound Control Board  for several years.

“Ted was recognised for his excellent negotiating skills which played a vital role in Ipswich obtaining live broadcasts of its race meetings on Radio 4BC.

“Ipswich was seeking to obtain a Saturday night racing licence in the early 1980s and  to achieve it the club had to be able to guarantee radio broadcast to the TAB.

“With Ted’s persuasion Vince Curry, as sporting director of Radio 4BC, went out of his way to ensure the club achieved its goal.

“Vince passed away in February, 1983, and as Ted and his committee felt indebted to the man known as racing’s Mr Nice Guy, they decided to name a special race in his honour.”

And so was born the Vince Curry Memorial for maidens with the Peter Coleman-trained Katie’s Lad the first winner in 1984.

While Curry never called dog races at Ipswich, his influence on the club was profound in the early days and continues to be felt even now.

OFFICIALS advise that sponsorship spots are still available for the club’s $18,500 Corporate Dollars Challenge for fifth grade sprinters this month.

A club spokesperson said four spots were still open to potential sponsors.

Heats for the Challenge will be run on Saturday, February 10, with the $12,025-to-the-winner final a week later.

Each sponsor receives a runner in the final with the winning sponsor receiving naming rights on the finish post for 12 months.

*****

OWNERS and trainers are reminded that Ipswich has a racing timeslot change for next Tuesday (February 6).

Racing Queensland has advised that Townsville greyhounds are unable to race at night due to several light towers needing immediate repair.

As a result Townsville will take the twilight timeslot next Tuesday with the first race at 2.48pm QLD.

Ipswich will race at night with the first race at 6.39pm QLD.