Caption: All smiles in the presentation arena after Kahlo Hayze (Sandra Hunt) had taken out the Winged Runner Trophy Final (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Kahlo Hayze a true Winged Runner; the Tommy Tzouvelis train shows no sign of slowing; Kerri-Lyn Harkness shares the celebration; chalk another one up for Cyndie’s Cyndie; Denise Robinson’s Tarawi Moo’s eye-catching finish; and Luke Gatehouse appointed inaugural CEO of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club – all in PAT McLEOD’s wrap of Thursday night racing at Albion Park:
Young sprinter Kahlo Hayze confirmed her status as an emerging star, comfortably nailing her first feature, the Winged Runner Trophy Final (520m), in an emotional Thursday night of racing at Albion Park.
The Sandra Hunt-trained bitch won the ninth race of her last 10 starts, all at ‘The Creek’ over 520m.
But this one was special.
The Winged Runner Trophy, an annual feature for Open bitches, is raced in honour of the 2000 Queensland Greyhound Of The Year, Winged Runner, who was not only a Group 1 winner, but held the-then record of 32 wins at Albion Park.
What made this year’s race even more poignant was the fact that legendary industry figure John Reimer, who trained Winged Runner, passed away in the days leading up to the race.
“This win is special because when we first came to Queensland John (Reimer) was still training and, in fact, Winged Runner was still racing … what a dog!” recalled Hunt.
“John was a very good trainer. We knew him and are good friends with his family.
“It is always sad when you lose someone like that.”
Kahlo Hayze proved she is a class chaser with an all-round show of talent to win by four and a quarter lengths with Noel Murdoch’s pair of Jumping Jive (second) and Cha Cha Kitty taking the minors.
The winning time was 29.74secs – a new record for this feature race.
Kahlo Hayze was last out of the boxes from the six alley, but used great field sense to quickly slice through to second place behind the fast away, Jumping Jive.
However, but by end of the back straight Hunt’s speedster had gained control.
“Box 6 was not a great prospect,” said Hunt.
“She has a lot of track sense for a young bitch and certainly showed that tonight. I was very pleased that she went across to the rail.
“She is using her head, which a lot of them don’t. Her run home time was excellent.”
Hunt said Kahlo Hayze would now be aimed towards some age restricted features, including the Winter Carnival’s Flying Amy Classic.
Among Thursday night’s crowd trackside at Albion Park were David Schulz and Cameron Tesch, members of the syndicate who owned Winged Runner.
“We love this night,” said Schulz.
“We come each year and tonight there are about 20 of us here.
“We love getting together on this night and the club plays the perfect host.
“Everyone brings out their old memories and we just have a great time.
“John (Reimer) was not only a very good trainer, but we would often celebrate victories at his place. He was a great host and a great family man.”
The Tom Tzouvelis carnival kept rolling on Thursday night at Albion Park.
The Park Ridge trainer notched another double with Amendola saluting in a 710m FFA and Pursuer doing likewise in a 5th Grade 600m.
It continues an incredible run that kennel is experiencing. On Sunday Tzouvelis’ straight track success story Valhalla won the Capalaba QGOLD Final (366m), worth $10,010 to the winner and then Tagovailoa, currently under the care of Ken Boody, won the Rockhampton Wildcard on Wednesday night.
That wide-reaching vein of success continues on Saturday night with Tzouvelis’ Saanvi and Scarletti in the $100,000-to-the-winner Golden Chase Final (520m) at Ipswich.
He is currently deciding which sprinters to send north for the Rockhampton Cup (heats April 19 and final April 26) and which distance chasers will hunt some rich upcoming pickings in NSW.
“It is a great problem to have to be so busy,” Tzouvelis said.
“I would rather be busy and driving everywhere than sitting at home without anything to race.
“It is good to be busy and I do not take it for granted. It won’t last. Things go in cycles.
“I am really happy with Tagovailoa, because he is a home-bred (Maurice Minor x Del Rey).
“We sent him north to Ken (Boody) at Rockhampton especially with the Wildcard and Rocky Cup in mind.
“Ken has done a terrific job with the dog. He has really blossomed up there. I would love him to draw the red in the final.”
Caption: Trainer Kerri-Lyn Harkness (centre) with Renee and Alex Gadaleta after Master Distiller’s win on Thursday night at Albion Park. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Fellow Park Ridge trainer Kerri-Lyn Harkness ‘shared the love’ when Master Distiller showed plenty of finishing power in taking out a 5th Grade 520m event at Albion Park on Thursday night in a 30.01 PB.
Harkness was rapt in the run, but included young greyhound industry couple, Renee and Alex Gadaleta in her celebration.
“Renee and Alex are two young people who are coming up through the industry,” she explained after the three-and-a-half-length win over Izzy No Talk (John Dart) and Obliging Hope (Cyndie Elson).
“They are a big help to me, but help out a lot of trainers. They are really good people. Really good for the future of the industry.
“This win was nice because both Alex and Renee love this dog in particular.
“As far as the run goes, Master Distiller has improved and it was just good to see him clear that first corner without getting into trouble.
Another youngster on the rise, Cyndie Elson’s Cyndie’s Cyndie, continued her ascension towards a major staying career, taking out a 5th Grade 600m Final.
She crossed in 34.94secs ahead of Brindle Blaster (Jeff Ahern) and I’m Old School (Tom Tzouvelis).
Caption: Denise Robinson’s Tarawi Moo (1) bursts along the rails to catch Travis Elson’s Danger Zone on Thursday night at Albion Park. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
The finishing run of the meeting on Thursday night went to Denise Robinson’s Tarawi Moo, who jumped out of the ground over the last 40 metres to edge out Travis Elson’s Danger Zone in a 5th Grade 520m.
As the dog’s handler, Shirley Caden confirmed: “She is a very strong finisher and she certainly showed that tonight.”
Danger Zone, out of Box 2, started strongly and sprinted to a seven-length lead down the back.
Midway down the home stretch the Elson chaser appeared to have the race won, until Tarawi Moo ‘exploded’, winning in 29.97secs.
*****
Long-time Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse has been appointed CEO of the newly minted Queensland Greyhound Racing Club (QGRC).
Club chairman Les Bein said the appointment, for an initial one-year period through to March 31 next year, was made to ensure ‘continuity’ with the amalgamation of the two clubs and a smooth transition to racing at The Q.
“The committee has made this decision for several reasons, but certainly continuity of leadership within the club and stability to ensure that the club amalgamation processes may be fully implemented,” he said.
“A major consideration was also the level of involvement Mr Gatehouse has had in The Q Project during the last two years.
“We also took into consideration the amount of corporate memory and industry knowledge that he possesses in regard to the overall project.
“The key reason for this decision is stability without disruption.”
Gatehouse said he was ‘honoured’ to be the inaugural CEO of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club.
