Local dogs up for test
FORGET the southern raiders, Townsville’s leading trainers are determined to defend home turf.
For the first time since it earned Group 3 status, the WESEAL Townsville Cup will feature four locally-trained greyhounds next Friday night.
It was a sizzling performance from the local contingent, with the two emergencies for the rich final – Bubbles And Brie and Finito Show – also hailing from Townsville.
Townsville’s best chance is veteran Tipsy Four, who was impressive running a swift 28.760 to upset reigning Cup champion Quara’s Flick and Brisbane heavyweight Shakey Deisel. Harold Hovi’s battler Gascoigne ran second to also book his place in the final.
Graham Thomson’s excitement machine Billy Bottaluchi was only marginally off the pace, blitzing the third heat in 28.790, while Carol Pickard will rug up Plyometric, who ran second behind Oh Mickey, in the final.
Townsville Greyhound Club president Gary Heath could not hide his excitement at the local onslaught, but admitted they would have their work cut out for them to overcome Oh Mickey. The Selena Zammit-trained greyhound has taken all before him, including the Group One National Derby in January.
“I know he is one of the best dogs in Australia and I didn’t think we could get him up here,” Heath said. “But we had a chat to Michael (Zammit) a few months ago and they were keen. It was really good for us to promote the Cup with a dog of that calibre.
“It is good to see our local dogs take the fight to the highquality runners.
“The Townsville dogs are getting much stronger and we are racing twice a week now.
“That has helped the quality of dogs up here grow a lot.”
The box draw has blown the race open with Oh Mickey drawing out wide in seven, and fastest qualifier Federal Morgan drawing an awkward box five. Hara’s Panda, trained out of Brisbane by Michael Stephenson, will likely start favourite after drawing the inside rails run.
Gascoigne and Billy Bottaluchi have drawn side-by-side in box three and four respectively, and if they can stay out of the early trouble, could be a chance to feature late.