Albert\’s Diary

By DARYL GLEESON

Hello to everyone in our wonderful sport of greyhound racing.

After all the revised race scheduling in recent months, GRNSW has stated that all their TAB tracks are back after June 1. Now all we need is for the punters to be allowed back on course.

I know we can punt on our TAB accounts or our corporate accounts, but as we all know, it’s not the same as being on-course. The state racing bodies are all doing a great job, so I am sure when the time is right we will be back on-course punting and having a coldie.

Obviously I have been very quiet in my travels and my health has not been the best lately, but don’t worry as soon as Premier Palaszczuk opens the border gates and Queensland greyhound tracks are allowed to open their gates as well, you will see me at Albion Park or Ipswich and even Capalaba as soon as I can, from my Grafton base.

One thing about this virus, I have watched a lot more interstate racing on the Sky Channel. I know one thing – just how many Group dogs seem to be racing in Victoria!

Hooked On Scotch, Whiskey Riot, Simon Told Helen, Tiggerlong Tonk, Zambora Smokey. These five dogs are all aeroplanes, but Victoria just keep producing them. I know Azza has retired the superstar Whiskey Riot, but what about the previous four, they will just keep winning Group 1 races.

I never thought I would see another brilliant beginner as Fernando Bale, but this dog Simon Told Helen has amazing speed out of the boxes and I am tipping him to be the next superstar of Group racing. He has already won the G1 Perth Cup and the G1 Silver Chief and I am sure there are more G1s to come.

Now onto the NRL and as we go to print we are just starting back at Round Three. Canberra, Parra, Broncos and the Knights won both games before we went out, and ‘yes’ the Roosters are 0 from 2. As I said at the start of the year I was ‘Potting’ the Roosters and was tipping the Raiders. Now we are starting Round 3 and I still have nothing to change. Canberra have got a great side and with the influx of Pommys and that great player in Jack Wighton, I still think they will be winning the comp after their unlucky second last year.

As much as I hate to say it, I think the Broncos will be there at the end making the top four. Mick Zammit and Luke Gatehouse are mad Bronco supporters and lads I think you might be in for a good year.

Roosters going for three in a row, I think will struggle even with that superstar James Tedesco. Manly are the other good hope, but this all depends on the fitness of fullback ‘Turbo’ Tommy Trbojevic. If Turbo stays fit Manly can go all the way. But if there is no Tommy, there is no Manly. I think the smokey are the Penrith Panthers, but we have been saying that for the last three years!

Now onto the upcoming carnivals and, as we know, we lost the famous Grafton July Carnival because of the virus, but one thing about Grafton is when the new track is finished and the virus is all gone Grafton will be one of the best tracks in Australia.

Coonamble will be the next carnival we will be going to over the October long weekend and by the time this comes along let’s hope everything will be back to normal. As soon as we hear of anything going on with the lads out at Coonamble we will pass that on in our upcoming editions of the Chase.

After everything that has gone on in the last three months, geez it will be great to catch up with all the crew that heads out to Coonamble. Once again the popular Coonamble Bowling Club will take centre stage over that long weekend, looking after us as they do best.

Finally, a shout-out to the Taree Greyhound Club on the NSW mid-north coast, who will be hosting their first TAB meeting on Wednesday, June 17, with a day meeting. I know Taree fought very hard to get the TAB coverage and I am sure plenty of trainers will be heading up the highway from the Hunter or down the coast from the Northern Rivers to race at the latest TAB track.

Until next month – cheers Albert.