Caption: Townsville trainer Heath Ardle with his current kennel star Mali’s Gonzales. (Photo: Louise Partland).
By MIKE HILL
HEATH Ardle had a glancing connection with greyhounds growing up in Tasmania, but it wasn’t until he had settled in North Queensland that the bug really bit a decade or so ago.
“Dad had shares in some greyhounds when I was younger,” he said.
“I was raised in Tassie but later travelled around a bit, eventually making my way to North Queensland.”
Ardle, whom we feature in this month’s The Trainer column, manages a 500-acre property on the Burdekin River just out of Ayr (90km south of Townsville) growing corn and pumpkins for the big supermarket chains.
“One day I happened to see neighbour Henry Parker walking a couple of dogs,” he recalls.
“I went over and we had a chat.
“Henry asked if I’d like to go to a meeting in Townsville and two weeks later I had shares in a couple of dogs.
“I helped him until I gained my trainer’s licence about 10 or 11 years ago.”
Ardle, his wife Michelle and daughter Mali moved to their 10-acre property at Horseshoe Lagoon, a rural community north of Ayr, about 12 months ago and again he and Parker are neighbours.
“Henry just lives up the road from where I am,” he said.
Heath also recalls a chance meeting he had with leading Gatton-based owner-trainer-breeder Tony Apap some time ago that has since proved rewarding .
Last month he landed the biggest win of his career when Mali’s Gonzales won the $15,400 QGOLD Open Final (498m) – for Queensland-bred greyhounds – at the Townsville Showgrounds circuit.
Mali’s Gonzales is one of many dogs Ardle has purchased from Apap since that meeting.
Ardle said he’d probably bought 20 or so racing dogs and pups from the well-known trainer over the years, including two litters (by Barcia Bale and Fernando Bale) from the outstanding sprinter Outside Pass.
Mali’s Gonzales, a member of the Fernando Bale litter, has been a grand campaigner for the trainer and his QGOLD victory lifted his career stats to 20 wins and 25 placings from 85 starts with prizemoney approaching $51,000.
“He’s matured as he’s got older,” the trainer said. “He’s a pleasure to have in the kennels.”
Ardle said he met Apap while dining at Gatton one night.
“I work for a company that is based at Gatton and I was down there for a managers’ meeting,” he said.
“We went to dinner and Tony and a leading Melbourne trainer were also there.
“I introduced myself and we’ve been friends ever since. Over the years Tony has been good to me.”
Ardle secured the talented chaser Swap Ya from Apap late in its career and experienced one of his racetrack ‘highs’ when the Fear Zafonic-Cels Honey sprinter finished second to the Tom Tzouvelis-trained Gadsby’s Road in the 2017 G3 Townsville Cup.
The black dog raced eight times for Ardle for four wins and two seconds before finishing his career with a 74: 25-14-4; $125,269 record.
Heath said he loved his dogs and he loved training.
“Hopefully I can do it full-time after I retire, but that’s some time off,” he said.
In the meantime, he’s happy just to work with his small team.
“I have six dogs in work and two 12-month-old pups (Orson Allen-Patricia Monelli),” Ardle said.
He also has two former racers he plans to breed with – Excuse Me Jack (My Redeemer-Fancy Dancer), a litter brother to last year’s Townsville Cup winner Redemption Day and an exceptional sprinter in his own right; and the extremely well-bred bitch Mali’s Rocket (Barcia Bale-Brook Lee), another of Apap’s breeding.
A serious injury prematurely ended Excuse Me Jack’s career. He raced 21 times for 14 wins and three placings, jointly held the 380m record at 21.42s and won his first six starts (all in BON time) and 14 of his first 17 starts.
Mali’s Rocket retired from the track in mid-2022 with 17 wins and 26 placings from 92 starts and prizemoney touching $35,000.
“Hopefully, she comes on season in the next few months,” Ardle said.
1: How and when did you get involved in greyhound racing?
A: About 10 years ago I started training in North Queensland. I have always been around greyhounds and racing and wanted to have a go myself.
2: Who has been the greatest influence on you as a trainer?
A: Tony Apap and Tim Mullany.
3: At what age do you start preparing a pup for racing?
A: We usually start introducing teasers and toys from the age of three months.
4: How long does it take to prepare a pup for its first race?
A: Everything we do from three months onward is preparation for their first race.
5: What makes a good pup?
A: A good mother.
6: Do you do anything special when preparing a young dog for its maiden compared to a seasoned performer?
A: Not usually, but maybe a little more bull-ring work.
7: Do you have a set routine for all your greyhounds or do you vary training for individual runners?
A: Training is tailored to the individual needs of the dog.
8: Do you have any unique or unusual methods you would like to share in regard to training?
A: No.
9: Do you swim your dogs as part of your training regime?
A: No.
10: How frequently do you like to race your dogs?
A: Two to three times a fortnight.
11: What’s your training routine for dogs between races?
A: We use sprint lanes, straight track and walking machines regularly.
12: Do you do all muscle work on your dogs and treat all injuries?
A: Yes.
13: Do you do treat all injuries to your dogs yourself?
A: All manageable injuries, yes, other than those requiring vet care.
14: Which is the best greyhound you have trained?
A: I have four special dogs that come to mind: Avonadale Tara, Poppy Chooky, Mali’s Rocket and Mali’s Gonzales.
15: What do you consider is the best greyhound track in Australia and why?
A: Grafton. I like the modern facilities and it’s a good, safe track.
16: What is the best advice you could give someone just starting out as a trainer?
A: Keep enjoying it and don’t let it become a chore.
