Victorian owner finding great success in Townsville

By Jordan Gerrans

From what started with a give-away dog on social media, owner Guy McCleish and trainer Jay Schafer have found themselves with a live Townsville Cup chance in 2023.

The McCleish and Schafer relationship only came together by luck and the pair have raced greyhounds together now for the last five years.

They have won plenty of races in that time but it is the Group 3 Townsville Cup that they have been searching for and they get their best opportunity yet after claiming the coveted Townsville Wildcard for this year.

The annual Wildcard race gives a local trainer direct entry into the big Final and bypass the heats of the series, which is set to be stacked with southern kennels again this year.

The McCleish-owned and Schafer-trained Balts Orson scored in 28.72 seconds on Tuesday evening at the Townsville Showgrounds complex to land in the Cup Final, which will be run for $75,000 later this month. 

Schafer almost exclusively trains for the Melbourne-based McCleish these days.

“Guy is perfect as an owner, he is one of the best I have had,” the trainer said.

“It has been a real good relationship for both of us.”

About five years ago, Schafer came across a social media post from McCleish looking to give away a couple of dogs.

As he was keen to get his greyhound career going, he was happy to take on any level of chaser to prepare.

The Rangewood-based Schafer had success with those dogs – which McCleish viewed from afar – which led to the owner then sending Balts Agenda to his Townsville kennel.

Schafer prepared Balts Agenda to great success before a big offer was accepted for the dog from a rival local kennel. 

The number of dogs in Schafer’s kennel from McCleish's brood bitch Real Obsession has only increased since.

Victorian McCleish is in the process of making arrangements to be in North Queensland for the Final later this month.

Balts Orson made the Final last year – where he ran into sixth position – but McCleish could not get to Townsville on that occasion.

He is looking forward to seeing his dogs in action for the first time and spending some quality time away from the track with Schafer as they have developed a close bond over the years.

“It is a great chance to come up there now as I have a good relationship with Jay,” McCleish said.

“Jay has become my guaranteed trainer now and we have got a new litter coming along, so hopefully it can continue on.

“It is exciting times now and we are just working out the flights and if I come alone or bring the family up with me, we will sort it all out before the Final.

“Hopefully we can enjoy the real tropical North Queensland for a few days. It has all worked out amazing.”

McCleish also has dogs with leading NQ conditioner Brad Belford.

The eight-strong Orson Allen and Real Obsession litter that McCleish bred has won over 80 races, with seven of those individual winners.

The majority of the litter have done their racing in North Queensland.

“They have just flourished up there,” the owner and breeder said.

“Jay has done a great job with all the dogs.”

After running third in a heat of the Wildcard series last week, Schafer did not have much confidence about Balts Orson in the Final after drawing the seven.

The white and black dog – who goes by Charlie around his kennel - was yet to win in seven attempts from the seven alley before Tuesday night, but had run second on three occasions.

The history books were thrown out the window when the boxes were opened as Balts Orson was able to begin smartly and took over the running of the race and was never headed.

“I was very surprised by the dog coming out of seven, I usually like him from inside boxes,” Schafer said.

“The six carted him over into the race and gave him a great run.

“That was the best he has ever jumped for me over 498 metres. That sets up well for the Final.”

Schafer only prepares a small team of dogs and declared he aims to keep quality in his kennel instead of quantity.

The Townsville Cup heats will be run next Friday evening before the Final seven days later on August 25.