Caption: The Jedda Cutlack-trained Duffman storms to victory in last Saturday’s $112,500 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden Final (520m) at Ipswich in race record time. (Photo: Just Greyhound Photos)
Ipswich Club’s Weekly Wrap with MIKE HILL
NEW race record holder Duffman was always going into last Saturday night’s $112,500 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden Final (520m) at Ipswich with strapping on his offside front wrist, says principal owner and gifted young trainer Jedda Cutlack.
The white strapping had become a kind of ‘badge of honour’ for the brindle sprinter as the series progressed.
Duffman sported the tape in his opening heat three weeks ago; he also wore it in his semi-final and again in Saturday’s finale.
You could say it proved to be a bit of a lucky charm as he went through the series undefeated.
In fact, he improved with each run (30.60s and 30.38s) before setting a new race mark with his super victory in the $75,000-to-the-winner Group 3 final.
The talented youngster clocked a slick 30.32s (BON) – .01s better than the previous best set by Farmor Beach (30.33s) in 2020.
(Farmor Beach, also unbeaten in his series, went on to have a wonderful racing career (58:23-9-6) with prizemoney in excess of $276,000.
Cutlack said initially the strapping was necessary after Duffman ripped a dew claw about two months before the Vince Curry.
“He kept re-opening the wound, so I decided to start strapping it,” she said.
“It didn’t bother him, so I kept doing it.”
She probably could have taken Duffman into the rich final minus the strapping, but she chose not to.
Jumping from box five, the son of Sh Avatar and She’s Some Gal was devastating in front of a big crowd that packed the Ipswich grandstand and surrounds.
Duffman, a well-supported $2.90 second fancy, won the battle for the fence as the field swung out of the straight the first time before breaking away for his runaway six-and-a-half length victory over the Adam McIntosh-prepared Kisses For Gran ($5).
The Tom Tzouvelis-trained Tsu’tey ($8.50), a kennelmate and litter brother to the winner, was another six-and-a-quarter lengths back third.
“When I saw him come out of the boxes well and he was in front going around the first turn, I thought he should be strong enough to hang on,” the trainer said.
Cutlack, who’s been training less than five years, has made giants strides since joining the Park Ridge team of leading conditioner and mentor Tom Tzouvelis.
And she has played a crucial role in the success of the operation, particularly after Tzouvelis’ health scare a few years back.
Describing herself as a ‘very valuable kennel hand’, she rugged up a total of 148 winners (126 seconds and 123 thirds) in 2023 with prizemoney just under $1.1 million.
Cutlack admits she has even dared to dream of what might be for her budding young sprint star.
“I feel very lucky to have him as mine,” she said.
“The line tends to get better as they mature.
“He (Duffman) improved with every run in the series, but there is still much experience to come.
“He has a lot to learn and navigate.”
And although Cutlack hopes to target the rich Auction Series over 520m at Ipswich in April, she said she was also toying with the idea of a Flying Amy mission (at Albion Park in June).
“But that’s still a long way off, and it’s never an easy series,” the trainer said.
Cutlack, the principal owner of Duffman (80 per cent), said two former schoolmates, Brayden Gurney and Dean Mentz, had a 10 per cent share each in the sprinter.
“We were in the same year at high school (Redlands) and they were keen to get involved ,” she said.
“A third friend pulled out late from the syndicate. (Hence the ownership name Not Declan.)
“Although they only have a small share, it’s good as they are first-time owners.
“And a couple of other friends may buy into a dog next time.”
Cutlack said she was also in partnership with breeder Peter Davis and Tzouvelis in a litter of 11 pups from one of her favourite sprinters Sunburst.
“The pups are by Hooked On Scotch and were born two days before Christmas,” she said.
“I’m hopeful we can get a couple of good ones from the litter.”
PAWNOTE: Duffman lost his unbeaten record when he finished second to kennelmate Serrai (Tom Tzouvelis) in a Novice (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night.
DUFFMAN became the fifth sprinter in the past six years to go through the rich Vince Curry series unbeaten.
The Jedda Cutlack-owned and trained dog joins a select group of chasers comprising Elisheba (2023), Rumble Ranger (’21), Farmor Beach (’20) and Spotted Wolf (’19).
The Ned Snow-trained Shipwreck, victorious in 2022, won his heat but was runner-up in a semi-final.
Only one runner in the past 11 years – Fire To Rain- has claimed the title after finishing outside the top two in one of the earlier rounds.
The Chris Riordon-prepared sprinter finished third in his heat in 2017. All other winners since Jungle Junction in 2014 have won or been runner-up in their heat and semi-final.
IPSWICH officials were thrilled with the big crowd that packed the club’s complex last Saturday for the 40th running of the Vince Curry Memorial feature for maiden performers.
“It was a huge night allround and one of the biggest crowds we’ve had for many years,” said one club official.
“There was plenty of action on the track and the cafeteria and dining staff were kept busy all night, while the bar staff were run off their feet.
“The show society also had a special function on the night and that may have contributed to a boost in our numbers.”
Another club spokesman said the possibility that it may have been the last Vince Curry run at Ipswich could have helped to swell the crowd.
“We’re not certain yet if this was the last Vince Curry staged at the track,” he said.
Ipswich and Albion Park through the creation of the amalgamated Queensland Greyhound Racing Club will race at The Q, the new multi-million dollar, three-track complex being built at Purga, just north of Ipswich.
Work is expected to be completed later this year but Ipswich may continue racing at its Showgrounds circuit until sometime in early 2025.
“If that’s the case, we may still have one more Vince Curry here,” the spokesman said.
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IPSWICH’S rich Corporate Dollars Challenge (520m) has attracted four interesting heats on Saturday night.
The series, for fifth graders, carries total prizemoney of $18,500 and, as it’s become a ‘must’ for many trainers with promising sprinters, the heats are chock-full of talent.
In recent years it’s become the launch pad for some outstanding careers with the better chasers going on to Group and open racing. Talented sprinters that have won the series include Brandi Alexander, Velocity Bettina and Tungsten Miss.
Saturday’s series kicks off with heat one, which includes the promising youngster Mo’at from the Tom Tzouvelis kennels and seasoned performers Narkunda (Gerard Bowe), Baccarat Boy (Tony Apap) and Rusa Range (John McCarthy).
Alberton Park, the Terry Priest-prepared winner of the QGold Emerging Sprinters Final (520m) at Albion Park in mid-December, heads the chances in heat two along with last-start winner Cool Bananas (Gerard Bowe), Teddy Foodle (Jeff Crawford) and the Tony Apap-trained Smart And Classy.
The Tzouvelis kennel, currently running hot, will be represented by the in-form Scripted (box 1), a 30.60s winner over the trip three starts back, in heat three.
The talented sprinter clocked a smart 19.70s victory at Capalaba (366m) on Sunday after an encouraging second behind Blackjack Cal (520m) at Albion Park last week.
Others with strong claims include the Jeff Crawford-prepared Mukali (box 8) – a last-start winner here in 30.65s – and the Darren Russell-trained Company You Keep, a smart 24.86s (BOD) winner here over 431m on Tuesday.
Heat four brings together two highly talented sprinters, Jen’s Joy (Jamie Hosking) and Garrison (Chris Brydon).
Jen’s Joy has a flying 30.19s to her credit, while Garrison won a novice in a super 30.24s in late December and has won since in 30.47s.
They look a class above their rivals although Rich Tapestry (Terry Priest) has been impressive over 366m at Capalaba in recent runs before a last-start third behind Hara’s Larry here over 431m last Friday.
Each runner in next week’s $12,025-to-the-winner final with be paired with one of the eight race sponsors.
The sponsors are: Just Greyhound Photos, M & K Butchers, Greyhounds Gear, Garrards Horse & Hound, G J Walsh and Co, McLeod Publishing, Red Dog Mechanix and Century Pools.
Previous Corporate Dollars winners: 2006 Saltwater Pete (Tom Noble) for sponsor Downtown Toyota; 2007 Rapala Boy (Andrew Monaghan) Colourfast; 2008 Too Puzzled (Sandra Giles) Colourfast; 2009 Hot Contender (Derek Milham) Big Dog Racing Supplements; 2010 Red Rocket (Mick Zammit) Garrard’s Horse & Hound; 2011 Obi Wan (Ned Snow) Greg Sternberg Vet Surgeon; 2012 Quick As Air (Deborah Simon) Arness Hay & Chaff Supplier; 2013 New Gleam (Darren Russell) Super Butcher; 2014 Spring Bonanza (Tom Tzouvelis) Gatton Tyre Services; 2015 Darcy’s Curse (Peter Ruetschi G J Walsh & Co; 2016 Arabian Shredder (Tony Brett) Trembath Tyre Repairs; 2017 Mo Stradamus (Stephen Rolph) G J Walsh & Co; 2018 Brandi Alexander (Tom Tzouvelis) Beenleigh Legal; 2020 Velocity Bettina (Kevin Ellis) Greg Sternberg Vet Surgeon; 2021 Spring Cleo (Pauline Byers) Greyhound Gear; 2022 Tungsten Miss (Jedda Cutlack) Beenleigh Legal; 2023 Bundy Prize (Shane Topping) Greys4Pets.
*****
THE Ipswich club awards for the 2023 season will now be presented during the Auction Sprint Final night on Saturday, March 9.
A club statement said invitations to award winners were being sent out and family and friends were welcome to celebrate the achievements of the award winners on the night.
*****
PATRONS are reminded that Ipswich will again race next Tuesday night (February 13) due to lighting repairs at the Townsville track.
Townsville will race in the twilight timeslot with the first race at 2.37pm, while Ipswich’s first race is at 6.39pm.
