Caption: Sarah Johnson, right, with Tony and Fleur Brett and the Jungle Deuce x Bubbles And Brie litter, which are now blossoming on track after some early health concerns.
Weekly wrap of news from the Ipswich track with Pat McLeod
When Sarah Johnson’s One More Song won on debut at Ipswich recently there were plenty of reasons why the emotions overflowed.
First, there was THE WIN, a great result for any first starter.
It was also a successful return to the collar and lead for Sarah, who has held a trainer’s licence for about 15 years, but hasn’t had a starter for a few years.
But the biggest reason for the overflow of joy with the outcome of the 288m maiden at Ipswich was the difficult and emotional journey that had led to that race start.
As Sarah explains there were grave fears that the entire Jungle Deuce x Bubbles And Brie litter would not survive when diagnosed with a rare condition when just six months old.
“The entire litter suffered from a bone issue and lost muscle mass when they were about six months old,” she said.
“It was a reaction to eating meat and from then on they could only eat kibble.
“When the condition was first diagnosed we thought we were going to lose all 10 pups.
“It has been a long process and to get just one of this litter to the track would have been so good, but to get a win, with the first start, well that is just amazing.
“It really makes you appreciate a lot of the little things that we take for granted in what we do with these beautiful animals.”
So far four of the litter have started and Sarah is confident all 10 – five dogs and five bitches – will eventually make it to the track.
She said it was ‘fitting’ that the first start and win for One More Song was at Ipswich.
“This is my home track,” she said.
“We do the majority of our trialing here and over the years this is where my dogs have had most of their starts.
“It will be a sad day, very soon, when we say goodbye to the Ipswich Showgrounds track and move on to The Q.
“Sad in one way, but of course very exciting in another with the opening of The Q and the incredible facility that it offers.”
Sarah also paid tribute to her cousin, mentor and industry heavyweight Tony Brett.
“I am so lucky to have had Tony guiding me through all aspects of this industry,” she said.
“To have someone like that, with his experience and know-how, to get the best out of a dog, from the very beginning, through trialing, right through to the top level, Tony has not only experienced it all, but also is successful at all levels.
“So yes, I am very lucky.”
Caption: Wedding bells recently for Sarah and Michael McInally.
It has also been a busy several months for Sarah off the track as well with her December 17 marriage to high profile, three-code photographer Michael McInally, of greyhound’s Box 1 Photography fame.
Tony Brett and wife Fleur were part of the bridal party for the big day at Sarah and Michael’s home at Laidley Heights, west of Ipswich.
“We are just 15 minutes from Tony’s kennels,” says Sarah.
“I am there every morning, so being so close is very convenient.”
And married life so far?
“People keep asking me that, but as I tell them: ‘I will let you know when Michael is back home.’
“It has been a really busy time for him with carnivals such as the Magic Millions to cover.
“What is a positive is that his career is not totally different from greyhound racing. It is almost 24/7, so we both understand each other’s lifestyle.
“Neither of us has a nine-to-five life.”
(This week four of Sarah’s litter again were on the track, this time at Albion Park on Wednesday, resulting in wins to One More Song and Not A Canon.)
Caption: Ben McCarthy celebrates after victory in the Vince Curry Memorial Maiden (520m) at Ipswich with Satoshi. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
An injury concern has slightly dampened Ben McCarthy’s celebrations since his smart sprinter Satoshi took out last Saturday night’s 41st running of the prestigious Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden (520m) at the Ipswich Showgrounds track.
Satoshi’s two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length win over Moet Magic (Ray Burman), with Strut (Jeff Crawford) third in a race record of 30.29, was the proof that this young dog is the ‘real deal’ – unbeaten in heat, semi and final.
However, later that night and through this week the dog has been ‘proppy’, according to McCarthy.
He believes the injury is not too serious, but is waiting on confirmation from X-rays late this week.
“It looks like something below the wrist. It hopefully is minor, but we will know for sure soon,” he said.
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Ben McCarthy marked the significance of the Vince Curry victory with ink.
He had a tattoo of a racing greyhound added to his right ankle on Wednesday.
“There is obviously a lot of prestige around this race, especially being the last one at Ipswich (before the move to the nearby The Q) and it definitely was an honour to win it,” McCarthy said.
“I decided to get the tattoo as a tribute, something symbolic.”
He also confirmed that 14-year-old son Chase would be getting a motorbike in the aftermath of the win.
Chase could be heard loud and clear across the Ipswich track as Satoshi saluted, screaming out, ‘I’m getting a bike’.
McCarthy later revealed that his son ‘had been begging’ for an updated motorbike for some time.
However, this week he also said that the purchase was deserved.
“He (Chase) works really hard around the kennels,” he said.
“He has a share in a pup and the deal was that he had to look after the pups and care for them, which he does really well.”
Caption: Satoshi takes out the Vince Curry in race record time (30.29). (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
Ben McCarthy has certainly not been backward in tipping his hat to his father, and mentor, John McCarthy after big race wins recently – the Ipswich Derby with Fast Eddie (Aston Rupee x Pearl Za Diamond) and now the Vince Curry with Satoshi (Jungle Deuce x Dynamite Lucy).
John has gifted both dogs to his son from home-bred litters.
Ben revealed the ‘selection process’ on both occasions.
“For Fast Eddie I had first pick of the (six) pups,” he said.
“I chose Fast Eddie because he looked most like his dad Aston Rupee.”
Not a bad selection, with Fast Eddie, who is currently on the way back from injury, so far posting eight wins, five placings and $54,565 in prizemoney from 22 starts.
Although John won’t be too disappointed with the ‘left-overs’, especially Mossy Boots (25: 3-8-9 for $65,050) and Affluent (28: 7-4-6 for $63,395).
And for Satoshi’s litter, John chose first of the two pups and selected the bitch, Gypsy Girl Pearl, whose stats currently rest at 10: 2-4-2 for $17,675.
Of course with the $75,000-to-the-winner Vince Curry collect, Satoshi has the early bragging rights with a perfect scorecard to date of 3: 3-0-0 for $82,020.
Caption: Darren Russell’s Swift Beach is one of two runners the Innisplain (Gold Coast hinterland) trainer has in the Corporate Dollars Challenge 5th Grade (520m) Final at Ipswich on Saturday night. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
Long-time successful trainer Darren Russell has been knocking on the door for some big race success in recent months.
He is back again on Saturday night at Ipswich with two finalists – litter sisters Swift Beach and Savanna Beach – in the Corporate Dollars Challenge 5th Grade (520m).
The winner’s cheque of $12,025 may be a little down on some of the major races he has contested recently, but as the saying goes ‘small fish are the sweetest’.
Both the Bernardo x Poonyahra progeny won their heats, with Swift Beach’s nine-and-a-quarter-length win in 30.24 particularly eye-catching.
Her record at Ipswich over the 520m now sits at six wins from 10 outings.
Russell rates the dog, although admits ‘she has some little quirks’.
“In the heats she went around them like a bird, which was great to see,” he said.
“There is potential with her, but we will just go through the grades and see what happens with her.”
Russell won the Corporate Dollars back in 2013 with New Gleam.
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The feature racing continues at Ipswich following the Corporate Dollars Challenge, with the Dash For Cash, over 288m – heats this week and Final next Thursday, February 13.
And then the ‘Auction’ races will be held, each with heats, semis and final.
The Ipswich Auction Sprint (431m) – February 14, 21 (both Fridays) and final, Saturday, March 1.
Ipswich Auction Series (520m) – March 15, 22, 29.
In amongst all of that is also the Past Members (431m) – March 7, 14; the Keith Sternberg Memorial (630m) – March 29; and the Past Members (520m) – March 29.
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Trainers with multiple wins at Ipswich meetings over the past were:
Saturday: Jeff Crawford 2 – Blue Blend, Hooked On Kisses; Darren Russell 2 – Swift Beach, Savanna Beach.
Tuesday: John Thompson 2 – Barefoot Zulu, Barefoot Elsa. Greg Stella 2 – Magistrate, Marquee Player.
Thursday: Brad Belford 2 – Good Odds Rascal, Urana Muffin.
