Caption: Rockhampton trainer Darren Taylor.

By Pat McLeod

If prominent owner-breeder George Farrugia wins the $7700 Rockhampton Maiden 1000 Final (407m) on Wednesday night with either of his two entries, at least trainer Darren Taylor will be able to put a face to the name.

The pair, Melbourne-based Farrugia and Taylor, a long-time leading trainer in Rockhampton, have had a successful owner-trainer relationship for more than five years.

But until recently they had never met face-to-face. All correspondence had been done by phone or text.

But that changed about six weeks ago, as Taylor explains.

“The TAB agency we operated in south Rockhampton closed and so my wife (Marie) and I had the opportunity to go to Melbourne for a short holiday,” he said.

“Marie is a fanatical Brisbane Lions fan and so we decided to go to the Lions-Hawthorn game.

“As it turned out, George is a Hawthorn fan and an MCG member. So, he arranged for us to have lunch together and go to the game.

“It was a great day. The Lions got dusted-up by Hawthorn, so George was happy.

“It was great to meet him – a real genuine, level-headed bloke. It was a really good opportunity for us to finally meet.”

Over the past five years, Taylor estimates that Farrugia has sent up to 30 dogs north, including ‘some very handy dogs’ such as the now-retired Barcia Bullet and the currently injured, Say Some Words.

“A few years ago George just rang me out of the blue when a national draft was started up and he wanted to send some dogs to North Queensland,” says Taylor.

“He told me that my name kept bobbing up and it all just started from there.

“He has sent some very nice dogs up, and some slower ones as well. It has been a very good relationship, so it was nice to finally meet.”

The pair have Phantom Star (Kinloch Brae – Phantom Mime), from Box 4, and Sidra Holland (Barcia Bale – Dutch Audrey), Box 7, in Wednesday night’s maiden final.

Taylor has a high opinion of both young dogs, who opened their accounts with first-start heat wins last week.

“They are both very nice pups,’ he said.

“Sidra Holland is definitely the better dog.

“I was going to take her down to the Mick Byrne Memorial Maiden Novice at Albion Park recently, but unfortunately she went a bit sore about three weeks out.

“She did not run as quick as I thought she would last week (24.20). It may have been the fact that it was her first night in the race kennel block. I don’t know.    

“I think they will both be very handy pups, quality pups. I think they will both run 500 on their ear.

“So, I think a Thursday night novice at Albion Park could be coming up sooner than later.

“I believe the two dogs will go well in this final, but as you know anything can happen in a dog race.

“They have both got early speed, so the box draw shouldn’t be a concern.

“Phantom star seems to be a real tradesman-like dog. Every time I have put her on the track she seems to find another gear.”

Taylor, 50, said that since the TAB agency closed at the end of May he and Marie were enjoying ‘semi-retirement’.

“I am floating along pretty well,” he said.

“Marie and I are semi-retired.

“We are just enjoying life, playing around with the dogs and doing a bit of fishing.

“My wife whelps down litters of pups, so she is involved in that side of the industry. She has got some good customers.

“We will just keep going along the way we are until the end of the year and see what happens, see if one of us has to go back and do a bit of work.

“The dogs may be able to sustain us, they have looked after us so far very well.”