Four of ‘Glover’s girls’ line up in prestigious Albion Park female feature

By Pat McLeod

Tony Glover holds four ‘aces’ when greyhound racing’s females take centre stage at Albion Park on Thursday night, but the prominent Queensland breeder admits he thought he had been dealt a dud hand when those same four littermates were born.

The Glover-owned Hara's Pearl, Hara's River, Hara's Pandora and Hara's Skye, all from the July 2020 Fernando Bale - Hara's Honey whelping, will be part of the three heats of the prestigious Listed Winged Runner Trophy (520m), a series for open bitches.

Despite what he describes as ‘less than perfect’ box draws for his quartet, he is quietly confident of playing a part in the $24,000 final on April 20.

That same confidence was missing 33 months ago.

“Initially, when they were born, we were worried,” Glover said.

“The concern was that previously we produced a litter with Fernando and Hara’s Honey’s mother (Hara’s Annie), but the boys were always better than the girls.

“So, when we had this litter to Honey and had just the six girls and no dogs, initially we thought, ‘Oh no. How are we going to go here?'"

Glover’s concerns were quickly forgotten.

Those six girls have proven to be Glover’s ‘best-ever litter’.

Including the two non-starters on Thursday night, Ipswich 630m record-breaker Hara’s Opal and Hara’s Reign, the litter has to date won $412,490.

Included in that tally are Group and Listed races and of course a track record. On April 1 Hara’s Opal reduced Champagne Sally’s Ipswich 630m track record by 0.02 of a second, down to 36.66.

Then last Saturday night she trimmed that down again, to 36.51, winning by a staggering 23 lengths.

“I had never really thought we would get a track record. So, it is not really something you think you are going to go out and achieve,” Glover said.

“Friends and family ask me what it means to break a track record and I guess the simplest and best answer is to say that no other dog has ever gone as fast over that distance at that track. That sums it up.”

Glover says this litter has been outstanding, on and off the track.

“Over the years I've probably bred about 25 litters. That includes a few that we have on the ground at the moment,” the Brisbane businessman said.

“This litter is definitely the best. They are all really good, really honest. From day one they have been no trouble at all. Their temperament has been excellent. They are very placid dogs, but when they get to the track they certainly liven up.

“The satisfaction level is above anything that I've bred before. Going to the feature races adds another dimension. The whole family and friends have gone on those nights. We are all involved with this litter.

“Everybody has had a lot of fun and of course we have had some luck along the way.”

Five members of the litter are under the care of training duo Jemma Daley and Tarquin Neal while the sixth, Hara’s Pearl, is with Gary Pearce.

From a prizemoney perspective, Hara’s Skye is the most successful to date, accumulating $133,740 and Glover believes she is his biggest chance in the Winged Runner.

“Since she has been on season Hara’s Skye hasn't come back particularly well and certainly has not been jumping as quickly as she can,” he said.

“But that has improved in recent outings and hopefully on Thursday night she will be back to her best.”

The Winged Runner Trophy is named after one of the greats of Albion Park, who was also trained by another ‘great’, John Reimer.

This legendary female chaser won the Group 1 Nutrience Cup (now known as the Gold Bullion) back in 1999 and was judged Qld Greyhound of the Year in 2000.

At one stage she held the record for the most wins at Albion Park – 32.

Last year the Winged Runner was won by Samona, trained by recently crowned Queensland Greyhound Racing’s Young Achiever of the Year, Josh Priest.

It is a race Glover would be proud to win.

“I have had runners in the Winged Runner over the years, but we have never won it,” he said. “Like all of these races, there are so many good runners in them. You just need the luck.

“We didn't draw the best boxes in the heats, but all of our runners will run a good honest race, every time.”