By Brisbane Greyhound Club CEO LUKE GATEHOUSE

INTERSTATE raiders may have claimed the major prize pool from this year’s TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival, but true-blue Maroon Tony Brett confirmed he is one of the nation’s best trainers.

With Covid striking as the Winter Carnival reached its crescendo, Brett was handed the leads to Wally Harkins’ distance champion Sir Truculent, from South Australia, and Victorian sprinter Equalizer (Jason Thompson).

And as the records now show these to chasing sensations took home the Group One crowns – Sir Truculent the $150,000 TAB Queensland Cup (710m) and Equalizer the $375,000 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup.

Sir Truculent also added the $12,600 Ipswich Grand Prix as part of his Winter Carnival booty.

For those who play down Brett’s involvement, think again. Yes, plenty of kudos to their primary handlers, but the final weeks, days and even hours leading into a major race are vital. T. Brett proved, cometh the hour, cometh the man.

The champion Queensland trainer already has a proven Group One record. His achievements before this carnival already had placed him among the country’s training elite.

But this carnival moved him a couple of notches higher in the pecking order.

I’ll let the recent Group One winning trainers do the talking:

Wally Harkins: “I can’t say enough about what Tony’s (Brett) done with the dog, winning the Listed Gold Cup at the start of the year and now the Group One Queensland Cup. He gets the best out of him (Sir Truculent).”

Jason Thompson: “It’s not as if I’m telling him (Brett) what to do with the dogs, that’s all Tony (Brett). I know how good a trainer he is and if there’s one man who knows how to win a Brisbane Cup it’s him.”

Brett is a class act on and off the track and his stamp on this carnival should not be understated.

Overall, the carnival was an incredible success – record wagering and great racing. Despite Covid the major races showcased the best greyhounds from across the nation.

But one of the most pleasing aspects for me was the incredible amount of congratulatory comments the Brisbane Greyhound Club received from trainers and owners about the club’s staff, right across our facility.

It is a never-ending source of pride for me that not only do we have the busiest greyhound racing track in Australasia – we have the best staff!