Caption: Greg Stella’s Magistrate wins at Albion Park on Thursday night. The quality chaser is likely to head north in a few weeks for a Rockhampton Cup campaign. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Pat McLeod reviews Thursday night’s meeting at Albion Park:
Meticulous trainer Greg Stella has eyes on a Rockhampton Cup campaign for Magistrate after the seasoned group campaigner ‘won ugly’ on Thursday night at Albion Park.
The class chaser, with $390,585 in prizemoney to his name, accounted for Sharyn Jackson’s Mr. Springtime by four-and-a-quarter lengths, with another top performer, Sevener Sinners, (Col Graham) third, in a Best 8 (520m) at The Creek.
The winning time, 30.21, indicated that it was far from a fluid performance from Magistrate.
“He did it the hard way, but he got the job done tonight,” said Stella.
“He always tries, but he messed the start up a bit tonight and had to do it from behind, which is not a normal thing for him, but fortunately the time were a little bit slower tonight.
“It was nice to get the win. He hasn’t won for a while because he has been running into better dogs.
“Long term, it’s about six weeks away, but I might take him up north for a go at the Rockhampton Cup.
“We will give him a few more 500m races before then and then try to get a trial or a race start before the cup heats in Rockhampton.”
The $112,5000 Rockhampton Cup heats are on Friday, April 19, with the final Friday, April 26.
Magistrate, whose race pattern is normally fast out and catch-me-if-you-can, has never been north of Brisbane.
Recent arrival to Queensland, Eric Conroy’s newly purchased former top NSW sprinter Modern Swinger, found plenty of interference in his Albion Park debut and finished sixth in the Best 8.
Caption: Cyndie’s Cyndie (3) dives through on the rails for a thrilling win on Thursday night at Albion Park. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Emerging sprinter Cyndie’s Cyndie would have done her owner/trainer, Queensland greyhound racing matriarch Cyndie Elson, no favours with her incredible win in a 5th Grade Final on Thursday night.
Brian Baker’s Waikarie Molly led the field for the majority of the journey with race favourite Cyndie’s Cyndie looking an unlikely winning chance.
However, as the finish line loomed Elson’s Dyna Double One x Cyndie’s Magic chaser suddenly changed gears and flew home for a tight victory in 30.07 with Reg Gardoll’s Albert’s Memory also sizzling late for second place and Waikarie Molly finishing third.
Elson has undergone back surgery recently and the Churchable-based conditioner would no doubt have been riding every bit of her dog’s amazing finish.
As kennel spokesman Drew Pearce said, laughing, after the run: “Cyndie would have been screaming at the TV!
“That was a great run tonight. She (Cyndie’s Cyndie) is a very strong little bitch.
“She is enjoying racing and that is the main thing.”
Cyndie’s Cyndie has now won nine and been placed on six occasions from 25 starts for prizemoney of $62,730.
Caption: A tough night at the office for popular race-caller John ‘Bunny’ Brash with, above, Fancy Gift (2), getting the nod in Race 4 over Pursuer (8) and Tiny Encounter (5), and below, in Race 5, Witty Wendy (4) edging out Obliging Warren (6) and Dixie Gambles (2). (Photos: Box 1 Photography)
Cyndie’s Cyndie’s win by the tightest of margins continued a tough night behind the binoculars and microphone for popular race-caller John ‘Bunny’ Brasch.
The margins in races four to seven between the first two runners were all by a quarter of a length or less.
Making things even more testing for the unflappable Bunny, were the blanket finishes in races four and five – both 600m 5th grade heats.
Caption: Brent Kline and Snowy Waugh after success at ‘The Creek’ on Thursday night. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
Thursday night’s Albion Park meeting opened with two youngsters starting to fulfill early promise.
Jemma Daley’s Hara’s Elsie and Brent Kline’s Snowy Waugh both saluted in 520m Novices.
Hara’s Elsie, part of the precocious Equalizer x Hara’s Penny litter, was back from being on season after just one start in September last year.
She gapped Garry Gilbert’s Whistle Away by eight-and-three-quarters-of-a-length, with Miss Adventurer (Stephen McInerney) third. The winning time was 30.08.
“This is a handy litter and they are all starting to hit their straps now,” said the kennel’s Tarquin Neal.
“She’s (Hara’s Elsie) only having her second start, but she seems to be going alright.
“She is probably the best one out of the litter and we have had high hopes for her from day one.
“It is just a shame that she came on season when she did, but she is back with a very good run tonight and hopefully she will continue on with it.”
For Kline, Snowy Waugh’s gutsy performance was more than pleasing, starting well, leading, being headed, then coming back to win.
“I was more relieved than anything with tonight’s run,” he said.
“She has got a stack of ability. You just have to look at her first splits, she is an absolute jet.
“But in one of her early races she was fought off the track, pretty seriously, and she lost a lot of confidence.
“She is the friendliest little dog and that knocked her around a bit.
“The only way to get through it is to continue to put her around and fingers crossed she will work out that everything is going to be OK.
“Tonight’s finish was extremely good. The way she came back, she reminds me of her mother, Shilo.
“She’s only had 12 starts now and we didn’t see the best of her mother until about 40 starts. So, hopefully it is just the beginning.
“Also, her mother was at her best over 600 metres and it looks as though eventually that will be her distance.”
Caption: Job done, again! Greg Deering’s Where’s Johnson looks satisfied with another winning performance. (Photo: Box 1 Photography)
At the other end of the experience scale, Greg Deering’s Where’s Johnson, continues to make an impression over the 520m.
On Thursday night at start 63, he claimed his fifth win in a row, in a 4th/5th Grade (520m) in a smart 29.92.
After early career success over ‘the shorts’ the Hooked On Scotch x Zipping Flick chaser has found his home in the longer distance.
“He has been on fire over this distance,” said Deering’s wife Kim Woods, who handled Where’s Johnson on Thursday night.
“Greg was concerned about the speed of the two (Magical Cyndie), but things worked out well for our dog.
“He’s a bit of a favourite at home because he is so laid back.
“He was very good tonight.”
