Second place is not always the home of forgotten dreams

By Pat McLeod

Days after Grant Franklin’s greatest moment in sport, his emotions are still torn between absolute pride and nagging, disappointment-tinged thoughts of ‘if only’.

The 58-year-old retiree, an Ipswich-based greyhound hobby trainer, is the living example of why the old sporting adage - ‘Nobody remembers who came second’ – is far from correct.

Franklin will remember coming second for the rest of his life.

When his underrated Get Carter came within a nose of beating raging favourite Bear’s Bullet (trained by Travis Elson) in the $225,000 Group 1 Ipswich Gold Cup over 520 metres last Thursday night, that was the most bitter-sweet moment of his life.

“My dog made a name for himself that night,” Franklin said.

"I got so much pride out of what he did and I felt we both belonged at that level, that we were meant to be there. He did everything I asked of him. He came so close.

“But, he didn’t win and there is a slight amount of disappointment there. A quarter of an inch from Group 1 glory and $150,000. I am pretty sure most people would feel the same and say, ‘If only’.”

Franklin’s honesty is refreshing, but he isn’t mired in regret.

While there is still hurt in that tight photo finish, he has accepted that close enough isn’t good enough.

“After the race, when I got home, yes, there was discussion around how close we were to winning $150,000,” he says.

“But, I wasn't upset. I won $37,000 and that's fantastic, nothing to be sneezed at.

“There is no doubt $150,000 would have been better, but not life-changing. I am not wealthy, but I own my own home, I am retired and I don’t have a lot to worry about.

“To be honest, I am much more disappointed that the dog came so close, but is not a Group-winning dog.

“He hasn't got the prestige of being a Group-winning dog. That's probably the biggest disappointment for me. The money isn't the disappointment.”

Franklin described the lengthy wait for the close finish to be judged as ‘agonising.’

“I was behind the boxes and I have to admit, I did not think he had won,” Franklin said. 

“That also seemed to be the consensus of the other trainers.

“They were congratulating me on a great run, but most also thought that the little girl (Bear’s Bullet) had just got there.

“Of course, my family, in the grandstand, they thought Get Carter had won and they were going mad, cheering and yelling.

“I was hopeful, but it wasn’t to be.”

Get Carter’s run in the Final was almost an exact copy of the ‘winning game plan’ Franklin had mapped out before the race.

Franklin describes his view of the race, the Ipswich club’s first Group 1 event, from behind the 520 metre boxes:

“When they jumped, I saw that my dog got away cleanly, which was exactly what I was after," he said. 

“I was hoping that he was able to get across, which he did. He lobbed into the perfect spot, third place, on the outside. However, this time it was a very different dog out in front (Bear’s Bullet). She was going to be a lot harder to catch.

“This made his job a lot harder and it took him a long time to get in behind her.

“I must admit that on the home turn I was very confident. I thought ‘I've got this’. Usually when he is in that position, so close, he goes on with it. But, Bear’s Bullet, she was never going to shirk her task.

“He was going to have to fight all the way to get over top of her."

Franklin continued. 

"From behind the boxes you can't see the dogs after they go past you and so you have to go back to watching it on TV, which of course is a slightly delayed telecast," he said. 

“I was a little surprised that he had not caught her in the straight, but was still confident that he would.

“When they hit the line I did not think he had got there.”

Franklin said the immediate disappointment of coming second was dulled by being a part of the top echelon of trainers and not feeling out of place.

“It felt brilliant to be part of that,” he recalls.

“I was just so proud to be there and proud of my dog. I am only slowly becoming part of that (training) fraternity.

“I don’t really know (winning trainer) Travis (Elson). I know that he and his family have a lot of very good dogs going around. I would be much more aware of their dogs than they would be of mine.

“He came down and put his arm around me and we had a quick chat. It felt good. No doubt Get Carter will have another crack at Bear’s Bullet again sometime and hopefully then he might be able to get over top of her.

“But, that night was her night and I certainly don't want to take anything away from her or Travis.  She is a great little bitch and a very hard-chasing little bitch. I would love to have her in my kennel.”

In the hours after the race Franklin couldn’t sleep. The closeness of the finish kept nagging, but also there was another question. What next?

With Get Carter now a proven performer at that level there are exciting opportunities at home and down south.

The Brisbane Summer Carnival starts at the end of November and there are also attractive options in Melbourne.

“The Group 1 Gold Bullion (to be run at Albion Park on February 1 in 2024) will probably be a target now,” says Franklin.

“I was also thinking of going to Melbourne, but I am not sure yet whether the dog and I will do the trip because I have never been to the Melbourne tracks.

“I'm a little bit nervous about going down there, not knowing the place and not knowing anyone. But, I am certainly talking about it and thinking about it.”

What Franklin does know is that second place has given him and his dog options.

“He has come back from his short spell after the winter carnival a much better, more confident dog,” he says.

“He has some very good racing still to come. I am just so happy that I have a dog that has excited everyone, especially me.”