Caption: A happy trainer Greg Stella with record breaker Magistrate and a representative of the race sponsors. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)

Weekly wrap of racing at Ipswich with MIKE HILL

“THAT was unreal,” a thrilled Greg Stella said after Magistrate’s explosive record-breaking sprint over 431m at Ipswich last Saturday night.

The highly talented black chaser (Fernando Bale-Inspired Hope) was having his first start in three months after sustaining a toe pad issue.

“To run a record first-up, I wasn’t expecting that,” the Park Ridge-based trainer said.

Magistrate, who hadn’t raced since late June, exploded from the boxes with a sizzling 13.05s first split to demolish his 4th/5th Grade opposition by 10-and-a-half lengths.

In doing so he stopped the clock at 24.49s, almost a length faster than the previous best (24.54s) set by Regal Recall in March 2019.

“I knew he had it in him,” Stella said.

“He likes Ipswich and has a good record there.

“He ran 24.55s in a solo trial at the track last December, but to break the record under race conditions, that did surprise me.”

The trainer said it was a great feat for a dog to break any record.

“Magistrate has an explosive start,” Stella said.

“His genuine early pace is one of his biggest attributes and it’s lovely to get the record – it’s the only one he’s got.”

He said he knew his sprinter was on song when the first sectional split (13.05s) flashed up on the semaphore board during the run.

“I thought at time this will be close to the record,” said Stella, who unfortunately was unable to celebrate with his family trackside.

He said his wife Michelle and two daughters, Rylee, 24, and Ebony, 18, were holidaying in Canada.

Stella said it was something the girls had been planning for some time.

“They left last Thursday,” the trainer said.

“They gave me 12 months notice, but it came around pretty quick.”

He said they were aware of Magistrate’s record run when he spoke to them earlier in the week, adding they were so proud.

Stella said his initial plan had been to run the seasoned sprinter – he turns four in January – in a couple of races over the shorter trip.

“But he pulled up so well, I decided to nominate him over 520m at Albion Park on Thursday night,” he said.

And Magistrate didn’t let his trainer down.

The sprinter again exploded from the boxes, opening up a commanding lead on the back of a 5.38sPB first split – an advantaged he never surrendered.

Magistrate, a $3 favourite in the top grade sprint, beat Cluster (Selena Zammit) by two-and-a-half lengths with Kahlo Hayze (Sandra Hunt) another length and a quarter back third.

The Stella chaser clocked a slick 29.85s – his best time for the trip at headquarters since posting a 29.79sPB in August last year.

“The plan now is to head towards the Ipswich Cup in late October-early November,” the trainer said.

“It’s some six to seven weeks away and Magistrate will need a couple of 500m runs before then.

“But all going well we’ll target the Cup.

“He was a reserve last year after finishing second in his heat and was lucky enough to win the Cup Consolation.”

Stella said it would be amazing to win what is shaping up as the last Cup to be run at the Ipswich track.

He said Magistrate – with a record boasting 29 wins, 28 placings and earnings just over $434,000 – had raced 69 times.

“Every run now is a bonus,” the trainer said.

“I’ll keep him ticking over while he’s going great.

“I’d love to keep him racing until he turns four.”

MEANWHILE, Stella, who has had outstanding success with members of the first two litters from the wonderfully bred Donna Darcy-owned Inspired Hope, said he was keenly awaiting the arrival of youngsters from the third litter.

He said the all-female six-pup brood were by Tommy Shelby and had just been broken in.

Stella said three girls were coming his way in a couple of weeks and connections were happy with the pups’ progress.

Inspired Hope, from the outstanding Zambora Brockie-Lilly Sur Seine litter that included classy sprinters Stinger Noir, Sequana and Made In America, has been a wonderful producer so far.

Her first two litters by Fernando Bale and Aussie Infrared have already amassed more than $942,000 in prizemoney.

Stella said the broodbitch had just had a repeat mating to Fernando Bale.

*****

TOWNSVILLE Cup winner Scarlatti returns ‘home’ to Ipswich on Saturday night.

The Tom Tzouvelis-trained chaser has drawn box four in the second of a three-heat 5th Grade series over 520m.

The task appears simple for the versatile sprinter, but it’s a dog race and anything can happen.

Scarlatti finished powerfully to beat a classy field at Townsville earlier in the month, running a slick 28.69 (498m record is 28.32s) and taking her stats to 13 wins and 15 placings from 52 starts and earnings just over $171,000.

The Superior Panama-Sherbini chaser has a super quick 30.08sPB for the Ipswich journey, clocked earlier in the year, but it will be her first appearance over the trip since finishing sixth behind litter sister and kennelmate Saanvi in the rich Golden Chase final in early April.

Ned Snow’s Mischievous Lou (box 2) has the time to test Scarlatti, but her form has been disappointing since stringing together a series of wins in May, while the Josh Priest-trained Blow In (box 1), Pencil It In (Michael Edwards) and Vic Vegas (Greg Ball) appear the best of the others.

The Chris Brydon-prepared Garrison (box 7) stands out as the one to beat in the first heat of the series, while heat three appears an even affair with Gary Gilbert’s Sagai Miss, Extreme Tension (Ned Snow), Apollo’s Sun (Martina Kirillidis) and Hara’s Cookie (Jemma Daley) looking the best chances.

THE Ipswich Golden Chase puppy auction, scheduled for Saturday, October 12, has been cancelled.

In a special statement, released last week by Acting CEO Jodie Pagan, the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club advised stakeholders that several changes had been made to the 2024 Golden Chase auction.

The statement said: “The auction component has regretfully been cancelled due to insufficient nominations.

“Nominators for the auction have been contacted by the Club and given the option of a refund of nomination fees or to enter their pup(s) via the buy-in process of the Golden Chase. 

“The Club has elected to introduce a late buy-in nomination, which will commence immediately and close at 12pm on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. 

“The existing whelping dates between 1 October 2023 and 1 June 2024 will continue to apply. 

“A late nomination fee of $990 (inc GST) per pup will apply. 

“The Golden Chase race series for eligible greyhounds will be conducted at The Q in 2026. 

“The Race Series will be held over 350m (QS) in or around February 2026, 450m (Q1) in or around April 2026 and 520m (Q2) in or around September 2026. 

“The 2026 Golden Chase Race Series prize money allocation for each final is:  350m (QS) $20,000; 450m (Q1) $50,000; 520m (Q2) $110,000.

“A Breeder Bonus of $10,000 will be paid to the breeder of the winner and $500 to the breeder of the starting finalist for the 520m (Q2) final.”