Caption: Caretaker trainer Tony Apap with talented Sydney youngster Hush Hush. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)

MIKE HILL’S weekly wrap of greyhound racing at Ipswich

TRAINER Sam Sultana is hoping talented sprinter Hush Hush can duplicate his start from last week in the $145,750 Golden Chase (520m) at Ipswich on Saturday night.

“He began all right last week and I’d like him to do the same in the final,” Sultana said.

“And I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes a bit quicker.”

The interstate sprinter was an impressive winner in his semi-final last week, clocking a smart 30.38s – a bit over a length slower than Scarlatti’s 30.28s, the fastest of the four semis.

“Nothing Hush Hush has done so far in the series has surprised me,” Sultana said from his Sydney base earlier in the week.

“The dog has ability and he’s done well so far.”

Sultana and his daughter Kristy, who owns the Barcia Bale-Mrs. Mouse sprinter, are hoping the black dog can bring home the $100,000-to-the-winner feature.

“I’m not sure at this stage if I’ll make the trip north for the final,” the trainer said mid-week.

“I have some runners at Wentworth Park on Saturday night (including Bailey Bear in the first semi-final of the rich Group 1 Golden Easter Egg (520m).”

“But Kristy will be going up.”

Sultana has entrusted the young sprinter to good mate and well-respected Gatton-based trainer Tony Apap for the rich series.

“We’ve been mates for a long time,” said Apap.

“The families have known each other for many years. I remember going to Sam’s wedding.

“I’ve sent dogs down to him over the years and he’s sent dogs to me.”

And like Sultana’s assessment, Apap believes Hush Hush still has a bit of improvement in him.

“He wants the rails and he got box two in the final. That will help,” said Apap.

He said he’d been impressed with Hush Hush’s two victories so far in the series.

Although he only clocked 30.83s in his heat win (two weeks ago), Apap said it was a better run than the time would suggest.

“He missed the start, hit the running rail and bounced off a runner and suffered a check in the back straight,” the trainer said.

“And we know he can go quicker.”

He said it was common knowledge that Hush Hush clocked 30.17s in a trial before the series started.

The sprinter, with an impressive 6-3-1 record from just 12 starts, is already a dual Wentworth Park winner with a 29.83s PB to his credit.

Apap said it was a great Golden Chase field and anyone could win, adding that: “We’ll need luck around the first corner.”

He feels the biggest danger to Hush Hush is the Tom Tzouvelis-trained Scarlatti.

“She ran a 30.08s (in the heats) and although she’s drawn box seven, if she jumps well she’ll be hard to beat,” he said.

Like Hush Hush, Scarlatti (Superior Panama-Sherbini) and litter sister Saanvi (box 4) go into the final unbeaten in the series.

The highly consistent Saanvi, with the fastest first split of 5.22s (.04s outside All Natural’s track best), has a 4-3-0 record from eight starts over the Ipswich journey, again highlighting her potential.

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THE Golden Chase final will be a battle of the experienced and the not-so experienced.

Four finalists have raced 23 or more times – Rusa Range (42: 9-9-9), Saanvi (35: 13-11-2), Scarlatti (33: 8-6-8) and Bootin’ Boodie (23: 8-5-4), while the other four are just out of single figures – Duffman (11: 6-4-1), Hush Hush (12: 6-3-1), Comedy Act (12: 4-4-0) and Out The Bottle (12:4-2-3).

IN a big night of racing, Ipswich will also stage the $11,600 Keith Sternberg Memorial (630m), the $11,600 Past Members Trophy Final (520m) and the $10,500 Golden Chase Consolation (520m).

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THE Byers, Pauline and son Shane, were in winning mode at Ipswich on Tuesday leading in four winners between them.

Pauline strengthened her lead in the club’s women’s trainers’ premiership with a winning treble, while Shane landed another victory with his only dog in work Spring Tino.

Pauline’s winners were Spring Travis ($2.70 fav), Spring Cedar ($3.40) and Spring Aura ($4).

PATRONS are reminded that there will be no racing at Ipswich on Thursday, April 18, and instead the club will stage its 288m meeting on Wednesday April 17.

The same situation will apply the following week with the club closed on Thursday, April 25 (Anzac Day) with 288m racing on Wednesday April 24.

The club will stage heats of the $60,000 QGold series over 431m on Friday April 19 with the final a week later.

Owners and trainers are also advised that the club will be closed between May 10 and May 23 inclusive due to the Ipswich Show.

RQ advises that Ipswich meetings during this time have been transferred to the following venues:

• Friday May 10 (Day) – Albion Park;
• Saturday May 11 (Night) – Rockhampton;
• Tuesday May 14 (Night) – Albion Park;
• Friday May 17 (Twilight) – Albion Park;
• Saturday May 18 (Night) – Rockhampton;
• Tuesday May 21 (Night) – Albion Park;
• Thursday May 23 (Day) – Capalaba.

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IPSWICH officials advise owners and trainers of changes to the club’s weekly trials program.

* Trials will be run next Monday (April 15) from 4.15pm (bookings on Friday, April 12, from 9am).

* No trials on Wednesday (April 17) due to night racing.

* Trials Thursday (April 18) from 8.30am (bookings Monday, April 15, from 9am).

* Trials Monday (April 22) from 4.15pm (bookings Friday, April 19, from 9am.

* No trials on Wednesday (April 24) due to night racing.

* No trials Thursday (April 25, Anzac Day).

*Trials Monday (April 29) from 4.15pm (bookings Friday, April 26, from 9am).