Time Keeper team 'tickled pink' ahead of Vince Curry semi-final

By Jordan Gerrans

Keely Hatch is ‘tickled pink’ with her first foray into greyhound ownership.

Hatch is the daughter of long-time trainer and industry figure Pat Dennis.

While she has been around the code for much of her life through her father’s interests, Vince Curry Memorial series heat winner Time Keeper is Hatch’s maiden runner as an owner.

“She was tickled pink,” Dennis said of his daughter.

“She has been in with the dogs all the time but she has probably been around the dogs rehoming them more than anything. She loves them as a pet.

“My daughter wanted to get interested in dogs so we sold her the dogs.

“We paid a bit of money for him as a pup so we thought the gamble was well worth it.”

The family paid $12,000 as a pup for Time Keeper.

Dennis presented debutant Time Keeper to score in 30.76 seconds on Saturday evening as the annual rich maiden series kicked off for 2024.

The Rocklea-based dog man only operates with a tiny kennel compared to some other trainers vying to win the prestigious Vince Curry title.

He prepares Time Keeper and kennel mate Ambivalent.

As well as training his small team of chasers, Dennis has also been the lure driver at several tracks around the Sunshine State over the years.

He is smiling to have a contender for the prestigious series.

“It is enormous, it is a race everyone wants to win,” the Rocklea-based dog man said.

Time Keeper won from the three alley in his heat last week and that will be the same position he will commence from in this Saturday’s semi-final.

The black dog led in the heat before scoring by almost eight lengths in his first attempt under race conditions.

“I was really pleased, the main thing I wanted him to do was lead,” Dennis said.

“Just the way the races and conditions were, it was a nice place to be out in front, so once he did that, it was all right.

“I was a bit concerned at the end as he had not been running the 520 metres right out but he seemed to improve a bit.

“That was his best run as he had not broken 31 seconds before that, he had gone close.”

In the weeks leading up to Ipswich series, Dennis was in two minds around if he was to start his unraced dog in the heats.

The son of Fernando Bale had trialled strongly in his first outing which gave the trainer a feeling of confidence around what he had in his kennel.

But, as Dennis details, the dog never really improved in his trials and appeared to ‘plateau’.

Dennis was not sure if he would progress to the Vince Curry as he says he usually does not like to run young dogs over 520 metres too early.

Time Keeper will soon turn 19 months of age.

Time Keeper posted a 31.03 second trial on a heavy track in his most recent outing before the heats which convinced Dennis that he deserved a shot at the rich event.

“He is a perfect dog to train,” Dennis said.

“He is a handy dog and I think he will win a few races, he does everything right.

“He goes into the boxes no worries and does the job. He seems to respond and improve.”

Hatch and Dennis picked up the dog from South East Queensland trainer Terry Medcalf.

Medcalf prepared Time Keeper’s dam Shot Clock. 

Shot Clock was one of Medcalf’s top greyhounds through 2016-2019, making Group Finals at Albion Park throughout her career, which yielded 20 victories from 47 starts.

Shot Clock proved to be versatile through her career as she could run over the sprint trips as well as up to 600 metres, which made Dennis interested in her progeny.

Four semi-finals will be run at Ipswich on Saturday before the big Final seven days later.

The Group 3 Final over 520 metres worth $112,500 ($75,000 to the winner) will be staged on Saturday, February 3, as the final event of the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival.

Ambivalent is on the comeback trail after a three month spell and will be targeted at the upcoming Ipswich Auction series races.