Caption: Successful trainers Juanita and Clinton Thompson with Ninetymile Rocks, winner of the Life Members Maiden Final (407m) at Rockhampton in April. 

By MIKE HILL

RELATIVE newcomers, Clinton and Juanita Thompson, have been quick to make an impact on the Rockhampton greyhound training ranks.

An unplanned visit to Albion Park a few years back was the spark that propelled the couple to consider getting a couple of dogs.

Clinton, who’s been training thoroughbreds since the late ’80s, said he and Juanita were heading down to Sydney to see wonder mare Winx race.

“We stayed overnight with friends in Brisbane and they took us to a dogs meeting at Albion Park,” he said.

It was the start of their love affair with greyhounds and this month we feature the Thompsons in The Trainer column.

“That night I caught the dog bug and I knew I had to get a greyhound … I was fascinated with them,” Juanita said to Chase in an earlier interview.

“They’re very addictive, I know that much.”

Clinton said within a few weeks Juanita had bought two pups.

She was also the first to obtain a trainer’s licence and to assist his wife, Clinton decided to apply for a handler’s licence before he, too, joined the training ranks a little more than a year ago.

And since then they have immersed themselves in the sport in a big way, and they are getting results.

The couple, based at their 25-acre property at Tungamull, between Rockhampton and Yeppoon, have 25 dogs in work, a litter of pups about to be broken in and several broodbitches.

Juanita credits Rocky-based Andrew Suli and Les and Lou Wisener and Churchable’s Warren Nicholls as having the biggest influence on her early career.

“They were fantastic in helping me to establish myself,” she said.

“I’ve also taken information from a lot of people and I’ve received enormous support from Clinton.

“He’s been my biggest supporter and he’s 100 per cent behind me.”

Clinton added: “It’s definitely a team effort. We do everything together.”

The Thompsons have quickly become a formidable team, matching the likes of leading trainers Ken Boody, Darren Taylor and Dallas Beckett.

Already this year they have led in a combined 35 winners – 32 at Rockhampton, two at Albion Park and one at Ipswich.

Heading the team are smart litter brothers Rybolt (30: 10-7-5) and City Way (23: 3-9-3) owned by a syndicate headed by Col Shorter, while the Thompsons also have a close connection with Churchable owner-trainer-breeder Warren Nicholls.

“Warren has sent us some nice dogs,” Clinton said.

One of Nicholls’ promising sprinters, Protagonist, was a recent Rocky victor for Juanita, who has rugged up 10 winners so far this year.

“He’s a real nice dog,” said Clinton, who is sitting in second place on the Rockhampton trainer’s premiership behind last year’s runaway winner Ken Boody.

Thompson, who worked in coal mines around the Clermont and Biloela regions for 30 years before retiring in 2014, began in the racing game as an apprentice jockey.

However, an ongoing battle with weight forced him to give up riding after three years and he moved into training.

He still has his licence to train gallopers but admits there’s fewer hassles associated with the dogs.

“There’s no-one to blame, you don’t need a jockey … whatever happens happens,” Thompson said.

“I don’t have to go looking for trackwork riders, you can do everything yourself.

“It’s a lot easier to transport dogs to meetings and they don’t kick as hard.”

He trained more than 50 thoroughbred winners in his career but admitted he was thrilled to land a city victory with Rybolt (at Albion Park) in mid-April.

“It took a bit to sink in, but it was a good feeling,” he said.

“It was not a Brisbane Cup or anything like that, but for us up here, it was pretty good.”

Rybolt’s triumph means Clinton has gone one better than he achieved in his gallops career.

Over that time he started six horses at metropolitan level in Queensland without a victory.

As far as the dogs are concerned he said: “We don’t overwork our team. We usually race them once a week once they’re fit.

“We hand walk our dogs every day, morning and night.

“I like it. Without it, I don’t know what my weight would be.”

1: How and when did you get involved in greyhound racing?

A: When my wife took it on in about 2020.

2: Who has been the greatest influence on you as a trainer?

A: Warren and Tracy Nicholls, Col Shorter and my wife.

3: At what age do you start preparing a pup for racing?

A: We start dragging toys around them as soon as they start running around.

4: How long does it take to prepare a pup for its first race?

A: Every dog is different

5: What makes a good pup?

A: One that chases and latches on. My wife picks better ones than I do.

6: Do you do anything special when preparing a young dog for its maiden compared to a seasoned performer?

A: We’re still learning, but we are about to break in our first litter.

7: Do you have a set routine for all your greyhounds or do you vary training for individual runners?

A: We vary training for each dog.

8: Do you swim your dogs as part of your training regime?

A: Yes, we go to the beach, but we are building our own swimming complex at home.

9: How frequently do you like to race your dogs?

A: Once a week.

10: What’s your training routine for dogs between races?

A: We walk our dogs daily and some run up the straight track.

11: Do you do all muscle work on your dogs?

A: Mostly. We do get Col Shorter to check them over when he’s up.

12: Do you do treat all injuries to your dogs yourself?

A: Yes, unless a vet is required.

13: Which is the best greyhound you have trained?

A: Rybolt.

14: What does the industry need most going forward?

A:  More tracks around the state. With racing facilities just in the Brisbane area, and at Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Townsville, there’s too much travel.

17: What is the best advice you could give someone just starting out as a trainer?

A: Have a crack.