By Jordan Gerrans
Almost a year ago champion conditioner Tony Brett was talking about easing into retirement and downsizing his kennel.
The five-time Brisbane Cup winner was making those remarks in the minutes after his kennel high-performer of the time Orchestrate landed the Group 1 Brisbane Cup of 2022.
Orchestrate has since been retired following a back injury.
And, while the respected dog man has wound down his year-round operation, come carnival time the Brett name is still a feared commodity at Albion Park on a Thursday evening.
Despite musings of retirement, the leading trainer is set to be a force again in the 2023 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival with a kennel full of interstate star-power.
Brett is looking after Flying Amy heat winners Alpha Zulu and Umberto for his old mate Jason Thompson and is set to also welcome dogs from New Zealand and Western Australia.
With the prestigious Brisbane Cup to be raced for a staggering $1 million in total prize money for the first time this year, the long-time Grandchester-based trainer is dreaming of jet-setting out of Australia later this year on a serious high.
He has long promised his wife Fleur a trip to Europe and they might just head across the world with some extra spending money in a few weeks’ time.
“We did quieten it down but it has been a blessing in disguise because this time last year, I could not have taken this many dogs as we are heading towards almost a dozen dogs now that I will be looking after through the carnival,” Brett said.
“I would not have had the room last year so it has just worked out.
“We are booked to go to Paris on August 15 so what better way to head on holidays after knocking off a $1 million race.
“It could not get any better than that.”
With the Cup to be raced for the magical $1 million mark in 2023 and increases for several other races during the winter feature period, the long-time Sunshine State trainer believes the sport in Queensland has turned a corner into a new golden era.
When referencing the amazing stakes upgrades, Brett thinks back to his late father Dave Brett racing dogs such as Toban Leah, among others, many decades ago and the sizeable prize money increases that have followed.
“I feel we have turned a new era, it is just unbelievable,” Brett said.
“The interest that the difference in prize money has made is huge, dogs and trainers are coming from everywhere.
“I am as excited as ever. I did not think two years ago that we could be running for $1 million, so it has blown me away as a trainer in Queensland.
“This has put us up on the Australian stage, now we do not look to head interstate to chase the big dollars – they are coming to us.
“It is fantastic for racing in Queensland.”
Brenton Scott - Racing Queensland's Senior Racing Manager for Greyhounds – thinks Brisbane is set for a bumper winter program.