Glittering Gaby and Dargusch family set to take on the big guns at Albion

By Alex Nolan

Casey Dargusch knows Glittering Gaby faces an uphill battle at Albion Park on Thursday but the trainer couldn’t be happier with the honest stayer.

Glittering Gaby caused an early boil-over on Ipswich Cup night last Thursday when she chased down $1.22 favourite Hara’s Betty to claim the 732 metre open event.

The win reversed the result of their previous two meetings over 710 metres at Albion Park and gave Glittering Gaby her first success in almost five months.

“We were quietly confident last week,” Dargusch said.

“We knew the further she went the better she’d be.”

This Thursday, the former New South Wales-trained daughter of Collision faces a tough ask against top-line stayers Oh Oh Range and Days Of Thunder when they meet in a 710 metre Free For All, which is race three on the program. 

Glittering Gaby is likely to be sent out at long odds in the six-dog field, but Dargusch knows one thing for sure, Glittering Gaby won’t be laying down late.

“Warren Nicholls and us have been talking about getting a race out of the 331 metre boxes - plus an extra lap - because that would suit both our bitches down to the ground,” Dargusch laughed.  

“She doesn’t tend to accelerate until she gets between the 600 and 500 boxes at Albion and that’s when she knuckles in and does her best work.”

Glittering Gaby’s first meeting with Days Of Thunder came in an Ipswich maiden on July 24 last year, the Craig Chappelow-owned bitch’s first run for the Dargusch team in Queensland.

Days Of Thunder was having her sixth career start that same night and despite being sent out as a $3.20 second-elect, she stormed clear to record a seven-length victory over the 520 metres.  

The story of Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Days Of Thunder has been well documented to this point.

Glittering Gaby, on the other hand, broke her maiden five starts later and has since won a further three times, snared 10 minor placings and close to $30,000 in prize money.

“We can’t ask any more of her because she’s bringing in money every week,” Dargusch said.

“The small fields help her because she doesn’t like to be too crowded.

“She is just a fairly honest little girl and if she gets a clear run, she’s always up there.”

Dargusch and husband Alan own and operate Golden View Greyhound Complex at Churchable, where their sons Bailey and Riley have grown up to fall in love with the animals.

Bailey, who turned 16 earlier this year, has shown tremendous passion for the industry and is making his presence felt at the track after securing a handler’s licence.

“Since he’s been able to go to the races there’s been no stopping him,” Dargusch said.

“He’s there most afternoons after school, trialling, racing and on weekends he’s there the whole time with us helping out. He’s been a huge help with the extra hands and he just loves the dogs.”

Dargusch said she was proud of her son’s willingness to listen to advice from people across the industry.

And, at a critical time to lure more young participants into greyhound racing, Dargusch is confident those listening abilities and prior knowledge will stand her son in good stead for a long career in the industry, should he choose to pursue one.

“He’s got so much hands on experience in all aspects because of what we do here,” Dargusch said.

“He also talks to a lot of people and helps Warren Elson out with Bill and Cyndie’s dogs at the races.

“He gets to hear different ideas, so he’s not just seeing the way we’re doing things, he’s seeing the way other people do things as well. I think that’s really good for young people.

“We were the same when we were young with a few people who took us under their wings and showed us the ropes.”

Dargusch will also box Zip Zip Hooray in the last event at Albion Park on Thursday, a masters fifth grade over 520 metres.

The lightly raced, rising four-year-old owned by race caller Anthony Jeffress will exit box four in Race 12 at 10:02pm.

“He had a long lay off with serious leg injuries and it took a bit to get him back, we just nurse him along and take him week to week,” Dargusch said.

“He pulled up a little sore from Ipswich so we gave him an ease up for the week. From box four if he can be somewhere near the lead, we hope he can run his usual honest race.”  

The Albion Park card kicks off at 6:19pm local time.