Caption: Well-bred broodbitch Rose Ali with her litter of Aston Dee Bee pups.

Each Thursday Chase writer MIKE HILL wraps up greyhound news from regional Queensland

ROCKHAMPTON race-caller and greyhound owner Liam Mulry had plenty of reasons to smile after his regally bred Group performing bitch Rose Ali delivered nine healthy Aston Dee Bee pups earlier this month (October).

“They’re all black and they’re all healthy,” said Mulry, who is waiting with anticipation as Rose Ali’s first litter by Barcia Bale prepare for break-in.

It’s been a big month or so for the owner, who had every reason to jump and cheer when McInerney won the recent Million Dollar Chase final at Wentworth Park.

Rose Ali (by My Bro Fabio) is a half-sister to McInerney (Fernando Bale), both being from the wonderful racer-producer Born Ali, a seven-time Group finalist and winner of $254,600 in prizemoney.

As a broodbitch Born Ali has been a marvel, producing nine Group performers and five Group winners.

And it gets even better  for Mulry … he also has the sprinter Annali, a full-sister to the MDC winner, which he plans to breed from next year.

“Annali is currently recovering from a hock and hip support injury suffered at Bundaberg in June,” he said.

“She’s had a couple of trials and is probably a month or so off returning to the track.

“Her racing future will depend on how she comes back, but even so we’re keen to breed with her next year. Being by Fernando Bale we’ll probably go to a son of Barcia Bale.”

He said Rose Ali’s latest litter, comprising ‘five girls and four boys’, was going along really well.

“It’s a nice-sized litter,” said Mulry, who plans to keep two pups and sell seven.

 “Rose Ali and Annali are from a wonderful producing female line. It was strong even before McInerney came along … he’s only strengthened the line,” the owner said.

Mulry said he was looking forward to Rose Ali’s Barcia Bale pups – two dogs and three bitches – going to the breakers this month.

“They’re just over 12 months old and they look good,” he said.

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NORTH Queensland’s grand sprinter Stratford is on the way back for another campaign.

The veteran of more than 100 starts and almost $110,000 in stakes has been sidelined since sustaining a nasty cut on his leg in mid-September.

“He hit the running rail and had a few stitches put in the leg,” leading Townsville trainer Rhonda Essery said.

“We’ve been bringing him back slowly. He had a trial last week and we’ve nominated him for this Saturday’s meeting.”

The trainer said she had no plans to retire the four-year-old just yet.

“He loves racing, he wants to race… he’ll tell me when he’s had enough,” she said.

Essery admitted Stratford, or Romeo as he is better known around the kennels, was the best dog she’d owned and trained.

“He’s won over $100,000,” she said.

Just under two months ago Stratford (Fernando Bale-Jingjing) landed his second consecutive Townsville Cup Consolation (498m) to go with his other major victories, including the Country Cup (520m) at Albion Park, the Young Guns and Grand Prix, both over 498m at Townsville, and the Rockhampton Young Guns (510m).

Along the way he’s had several city wins with a significant victory over Louis Rumble, admittedly before the Steve Kavanagh sprinter went on his Group performing run.

In 2021, Stratford was virtually unbeatable at the Townsville track … and his 21 wins for the season contained a nine-race winning sequence mid-year.

Essery said she was in the process of registering Stratford, whose current race record stands at 36 wins and 37 placings from 105 starts and $109,165 in prizemoney, for stud duties once he retires from the track.

“I’d like to use him for a couple of my bitches, including Miss Priddle, and I’ve had several requests from outside owners,” she said.

The trainer said another of her former smart sprinters, Naturally Gifted, already a mother to seven  Orson Allen youngsters, was in pup to My Redeemer, legacy of a straw she won in the Capalaba flood relief raffle earlier in the year.

Essery said she also had an SH Avatar straw earmarked for Stratford’s talented sister Samshu (103: 28-25-16 and $77,145) once she finishes racing.

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ROCKHAMPTON trainer Trent Thorley has just had a couple of very satisfying weeks.

He celebrated winning his first city race as a trainer and then Spot On Thyra – the only member of his smart My Redeemer-Ellie Grace litter not to have a win – broke through for a well-deserved maiden victory.

Early in October Thorley took his talented sprinter Spot On Albert to Brisbane for a 5th Grade series over 520m at Albion Park.

The blue bitch, not yet two, was coming off an impressive home-track Young Guns victory over 407m and Thorley obviously wanted to gauge her against city class.

She didn’t let him down jumping well from box two before taking control down the back straight and powering to a two-length win.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t repeat the effort in the final a week later after suffering interference on the first corner.

Thorley had previously experienced city successes but only as an owner.

Spot On Albert’s mother Ellie Grace won five races for him at Albion Park over 520m, 600m and 710m when prepared by Greg Brennan.

A few days after Spot On Albert’s city victory, Spot On Thyra joined the other six members of her litter as a race winner with a strong finishing burst in a 407m Rocky maiden.

Thorley knew victory would come for the black bitch sooner or later.

“She’d had a few issues and just needed a bit of luck,” he said.

Meanwhile, Spot On Albert is back in Brisbane tonight (Thursday) to face some extremely talented youngsters in the rich G3 Rising Stars series (520m).

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LINDSAY McCarthy has joined the Bundaberg club executive following a successful AGM last Sunday.

McCarthy moves into the vice-president’s role after Tracey Raines stood down because of work commitments.

Steve Bland remains as president, Lorraine Horton continues as club treasurer with the new committee comprising Tracey Raines, John Kuhn, John Watts and Darryl Raines.

“It was a good turnout with more than half the club’s membership present,” said Bland.

“Although we’re still one committee member short, I’m confident we can correct that in coming weeks.”

He also announced that long-time member Allen Kelly had been honoured with life membership.