Josh’s thrilled to land his first winning double

 

Caption: A happy young trainer Josh Priest with Blow In, one of his two winners at Ipswich earlier in the week. Photo: Just Greyhound Photos.

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Ipswich Club’s Weekly Wrap with MIKE HILL

JOSH Priest had plenty to celebrate at Ipswich earlier in the week … he led in his first winning double as a trainer and he and dad Terry rugged up winners at the same meeting for the first time.

“I was surprised when he came home and said it was his first winning double,” said a proud Terry.

The Priests operate from their Vernor base near Lowood, in the Somerset region, west of Brisbane.

Josh, 22,  had taken five dogs to Tuesday’s meeting at Ipswich – four that he trains and one for his dad.

He was successful with 431m Novice winner Blow In ($2.90 fav) and three races later saluted with Anna Bella, an $11 chance, in the 3/4 Grade (431m).

The promising young trainer, who has only had his licence a couple of years,  also had the privilege of leading in a third winner for the day when Dashing Turbo ($18), trained by his dad, won the penultimate event, a 5th Grade over 431m.

“He looks after the dogs on race day and I stay home and take care of the pups,” said Terry.

“He just loves it.

“Josh has done all the race-day duties since I became sick.

“My health is good now but Josh has continued to take the dogs on race days.

“He’s probably handled over 400 winners for us over the years.

“He’s been around greyhounds most of his life and he’s been helping me with the dogs since he was eight years old.

“He’s getting to know his craft.”

Priest, 57, a popular and highly respected trainer who’s been in the sport for 40 years, said he’d  been able to get on top of a 12-month battle with throat cancer.

“I had it picked up early,” he said.

“We were going to scale down when I got crook.

“It’s a hard game that demands a huge commitment.

“But Josh said ‘no, let’s keep going’.

“He’s the reason we are still doing it.

“He’s keeping the dream alive.”

Priest said Josh has had to learn his trade and he was proud of his achievements.

“He’s brought the litter that includes (this week’s winner) Blow In from break-in to racing,” said Terry.

“Josh’s done everything himself, he’s persevered with them.

“He gets as much enjoyment out of winning a maiden at Capalaba as he does from landing a feature at Albion Park.”

The young trainer has already experienced the joy of big-race success.

He produced the very smart Samona to win the Listed Winged Runner Trophy (520m) at Albion Park in May two years ago as well as finishing third to the brilliant Wow She’s Fast in the Group 3 Launching Pad Final (515m) at Sandown.

And while on the subject of Samona, Terry said the bitch recently had a litter of six pups to Fernando Bale.

“They’re four weeks old,” he said.

Priest said their other pups were from the well-bred bitch Born Ruby (Fernando Bale-Born Ali) – a litter sister to Million Dollar Chase winner McInerney.

“Those pups are by Aston Rupee and are almost six months old,” he said.

“We’re hoping through them we’ll have some good quality pups for Josh to train in the future.”

*****

A HANDFUL of trainers have also picked up winning doubles at Ipswich in the past week.

Jemma Daley (Canya Express and Hara’s Buddy) and Shane Topping (Bundy Prize and Bundy Chelle) were the standouts last Friday, Pauline Byers (Spring Bistro and Spring Travis) and Tom Tzouvelis (Autumn Storm and Scripted) dominated on Saturday night and Kerry Hoggan (Shian Freya and Where’s My Car) joined Josh Priest with a pair on Tuesday.

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LEADING trainer Pauline Byers, based at Drayton just south of Toowoomba,  is recovering after having major hip surgery.

An Ipswich club official said Byers had injured her hip when she tripped over a dog in the club’s catching pen a couple of weeks ago.

“We wish Pauline all the best and a speedy recovery,” the official said.

She said Pauline, who is leading the club’s female trainers premiership, had been taken to the Toowoomba hospital by ambulance.

“She’s at home now and reports indicate she’s doing well,” the official said.

Son Shane has taken over kennel duties while Pauline recovers.

*****

PETER O’Reilly’s nicely bred sprinter Tarawi Lee has set a new mark for the first sectional over 520m at Ipswich.

The black daughter of Superior Panama and Exciting clocked a super first split of 5.16s before finishing third in a fifth grade last month.

The previous best was 5.18s held by All Natural.

*****

OWNERS, trainers and patrons are reminded that the Ipswich club will be closed between May 10 and May 23 inclusive due to the Ipswich Show.

RQ advises that Ipswich meetings during this time have been transferred to the following venues:

  • Friday May 10 (Day) – Albion Park;
  • Saturday May 11 (Night) – Rockhampton;
  • Tuesday May 14 (Night) – Albion Park;
  • Friday May 17 (Twilight) – Albion Park;
  • Saturday May 18 (Night) – Rockhampton;
  • Tuesday May 21 (Night) – Albion Park;
  • Thursday May 23 (Day) – Capalaba.

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