Robartson kennel back in Queensland to strike

By Jordan Gerrans

When retired champion High Earner was inducted into the Queensland Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame in early 2021, David Robartson was frustratingly forced to watch on from interstate.  

With the pandemic still prominent at that stage, the veteran industry participant was warned against travelling interstate from his Stake Hill-based kennel in Western Australia.

While Robartson’s daughter - Jodee Jennings – among other family members were able to travel to Brisbane to celebrate the considerable milestone, he was disappointed to miss the special occasion for one of his favourite dogs he has ever prepared. 

He has made the journey back to the Sunshine State for the first time in years this week as he aims to qualify a new kennel star for the Final of the Golden Ticket next week at Albion Park.

The Robartson team have Throttle on the comeback trail from injury as the impressive youngster is first-up in a heat of the Group 3 Golden Ticket on Thursday.

The $70,000 Group 3 Golden Ticket Final on January 19 will again act as the ideal lead-up to the Group 1 Gold Bullion, with the winner receiving automatic entry into the $300,000 Final a fortnight later.

Before Throttle makes his return to the track, the top trainer enjoyed an opportunity to reminisce about his former kennel stars Hall of Fame status this week.

High Earner was a Group race winning champion in Queensland and Western Australia before turning his attention to a stud career.

Robartson – alongside his wife Christine – bred High Earner, who retired with the greatest prize money tally in Australian greyhound racing, before it was eventually surpassed.

“It was a great thrill,” Robartson said of High Earner being inducted into the Queensland Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame.

“We were only talking about it the other day, High Earner was one of the top dogs in Australia and at one stage, he was the highest earner for a couple of months there.

“Back in those days, it was only $50,000 for a Group 1, he earned a lot of money in those days and while it is not what prize money is now, it still was a lot of money back then. 

“He gave us a lot of pleasure, in those three years he raced in about every feature race in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.”

High Earner was retired in April of 2011 with the Robartsons relocating back to Western Australia from the Sunshine State in late 2013.

The move back to the “West” ended a 10 year stint of training in Queensland.

Robartson recently travelled back to Brisbane for Throttle’s tilt at the 2022-23 Golden Greys Summer Carnival.

Throttle is trained in Christine Robartson's name. 

He is staying with the Casey and Alan Dargusch kennel, who were the Robartsons neighbours when they lived in Queensland.

Throttle – a winner of 11 of his 22 starts – was on a path towards The Phoenix and Melbourne Cup late last year before he was struck down by injury.

“He trialled really well at Sandown in the lead up to those races but he pulled up with a bruise on the inside of his back muscle,” Robartson said.

“The vet had a look at him and suggested we stop with him and give him six or eight weeks off from racing and at the same time just free gallop him.”

The fawn dog has not faced the starter since running third in a Group 2 at Cannington in Western Australia in late October of last year.

The interstate raider will jump from box five in the last of the four heats for the Golden Ticket on Thursday evening at Albion Park.  

The heats of the Golden Ticket will be conducted as four-dog shoot-outs, while the Final will be held as two-dog match races, with the winner determined by the fastest time.

“The dog looks good and feels good now,” Robartson said on Wednesday morning.

“He has had two trials at Perth and both times he went as good as he can go at this stage of his preparation.

“We were not coming over to Brisbane for this specific series – we were coming for the upcoming one The Gold Bullion – but once I read the conditions of this series, I wanted to come over earlier.

“This will give him the room to move as he is a pretty athletic dog and comes to hand pretty quickly.

“The four dogs heats and Finals, that is a great idea to give him a chance to have a race and hopefully he can win the series and get the ticket through.”

Robartson warns Throttle may be just one run short this week for his first-up assignment over 520 metres. 

“The draw is good,” he said.

“When you get into these races, you need to overcome all the things that are put in front of you and just hope the dog jumps as he can on his night.

“He is fresh and well.

“My only slight doubt is if he will have enough at the end.

“But, in saying that, he is a fast dog and a strong dog.”