By Jordan Gerrans
Hayley Wooler is regarded as a young gun in the North Queensland training ranks and it will only be fitting if her kennel can be competitive in a series by the same name.
The Townsville Greyhound Racing Club will host three heats of their feature Townsville Young Guns series on Wednesday evening at their Showgrounds-based track.
The 20-year-old conditioner - Hayley - is set to be a kennel to follow with NQ newcomer Eyes On Meg set to contest the third of the three heats.
The Wooler moniker is well-known in northern greyhound circles with Hayley’s father Andrew a long-time trainer and her mother Jo is a respected rehomer of greyhounds once their racing days have come to an end.
Hayley has recently taken her hand to training the families team of chasers and has hit a purple patch of late, preparing four winners since November 11.
Jo, who was awarded with the coveted Queensland Racing Integrity Commission Welfare Award at the 2020 TAB Queensland Greyhound awards, is a delighted mother with the way Hayley has taken to training since she took out her official licence.
Hayley had long helped out Andrew breeding and training at their kennel before only recently becoming officially licensed as a trainer.
“We knew it was going to be a matter of time before she went into training as she got her handlers licence when we she was 15,” Jo recalls.
“She did that to help her dads kennel, as he had a couple of young ones at the time and we only had a team of three or four.
“Now, Hayley has stepped up to the plate and is training dogs.”
Hayley has nine victories to her name since embarking on the new journey in the industry.
Even she admits she has been somewhat shocked with his successful she has been in the short period of time.
Blue brindle bitch Saint Bluey has been Hayley’s kennel star so far, collecting two victories and a couple of other minor placings.
“I was born into the greyhounds with mum and dad being in it for 30 years,” Hayley says.
“I am surprised with a few of them are going as well as they are.
“Little Saint Bluey, he has really grown a leg in the last month or two.”
The youngest Wooler has 16 race dogs in her Stuart-based kennel and while they are not an expensive team of dogs, they are certainly making their mark at Townsville.
“Hayley is getting there, we have a rag tag team of dogs at the minute,” Jo said.
“She has got a new ones coming through as well as some young ones, so hopefully they can find their feet in the coming months and it can be onwards and upwards.
“We do not buy pricey dogs; we take on give-aways and pick-up the occasional cheap one or two.”