By Isaac Murphy
Four-year-old veteran Tiempo Dinero joined the Peter Wilson kennel in March and is enjoying his Queensland swansong as a Capalaba track specialist where he will look to qualify for the National Straight Track Championships in this Sunday’s final.
Wilson said owner Dean Leydecker was keen to bring the veteran North to finish his career and only joined the kennel in March on fellow trainer Tony Brett’s recommendation.
“Ever since Dean brought the dog to me, we’ve got along great. He’s given me the freedom to pick where he’s most effective and that has happened to be Capalaba, it’s nice to have had a bit of success for both of us,” Wilson said.
“Most of the dogs experiences have been in Victoria on one turn tracks like Shepparton and Bendigo where he was a regular winner.”
“Obviously we don’t have the luxury of a one turn track here in Queensland. That’s when the decision was made to take him to Capalaba where he’s been far more comfortable up the straight having gone up the Healesville straight several times down south.”
Well versed around the 400-450 metre range, Tiempo Dinero needs every bit of the 366 metre Capalaba straight to do his best work, but with six wins from eleven starts he’s getting the job done.
“Despite his success at Capalaba you’ve always got your heart in your mouth with him, he’s not the quickest away at his age and relies on winding up and hitting the line strong 366 metre trip,” Wilson said.
“It was a big run in the heats last Sunday he jumped from an awkward middle box (4) and didn’t get a clear run at them till the last fifty, it was a big run.”
Tiempo Dinero’s next challenge is to snatch one of three qualifying spots for the National Finals where the Queensland qualifiers will come up against South Australia and Victoria’s best, the latter hosting at Healesville.
“I haven’t had a chance to sit down and work out where all the others will go in the final, but on paper he’ll be far more comfortable out in the seven, hopefully he gets left alone and can run over the top,” he said.
“There are some quality dogs in the field, heat winners Eli Red Fawn and Certification both have him covered for early dash, I’d be just as happy qualifying third as long as we get a trip to Healsville.”
Tiempo Dinero is four and a half in August and not slowing down, but Wilson says his challenge will come when he travels away from the comforts of Capalaba.
“At this stage of his career it’d be a huge result to make Nationals, but even if we get through it’ll be no easy task beating the Victorians on their home deck,” he said.
“Tiempo Dinero has raced solely at Capalaba since he arrived becoming a track specialist of sorts, he’s used to the same lure and start, so that’s something he’s going to need to adjust to.”
“As I said he has raced at Healesville before albeit a while back, but hopefully a bit of muscle memory will kick in and he’ll feel back at home.”
Wilson said he couldn’t be more thankful more the opportunity to train a dog with such great racing characteristics and see’s a slight comparison between himself and the chaser.
“It’s been a blessing getting this dog, he’s a bit like me we’re both getting on in our careers, but he tries his guts out and I can’t wait to get him spot on if we are lucky enough to represent Queensland.”
The Queensland Straight Track Final box draw is listed below.
1 – Run Blake Run – Jason Valentine
2 – Hollow Words – Amber Boody
3 – Eli Red Fawn – Craig Cassidy
4 – Dusty Delight – Warren Nicholls
5 – Certification – Greg Stella
6 – Dusty’s Charlie – Peter Burmack
7 – Tiempo Dinero – Peter Wilson
8 – Ricochet Radish – Doug Gladman