Shima Shine dominates on Brisbane’s biggest stage

By Isaac Murphy

Shima Shine has confirmed his status as the new pin-up boy of greyhound racing, claiming the Group 1 Gold Bullion and pocketing $150,000 in prizemoney for Victorian trainer Andrea Dailly.

The triumph adds to his legacy as Australia’s best sprinter, with his second Group 1 in a matter of months captured after a devastating display of sustained speed.

The dog was a deserved $2.50 favourite after his dominant heat win a week earlier, but the money came for the TAB Top Gun champion and his backers were cheering early as he put up blinding first and second sectionals, breaking the hearts of his rivals with an overall time of 29.51 seconds.

Queensland trainer Greg Brennan has been a long-time friend of Andrea and husband Tom, and took the reigns as caretaker trainer when the dog arrived before the heats.

The veteran dog man said he’d never seen one quite like Shima Shine.

“I’ve followed the dog for a long time being close to the family and admired him from afar, it was a real honour to be able to play some part in this win,” Brennan said.

“I just had to keep him on the right track, he arrived in brilliant order having never been to Queensland before - he walked around like he owned the place.

“Andrea and Tom had really basic straightforward instructions on how to have him in tip top shape to race, I followed it to a tee and he’s delivered.”

The dog has earned champion status and Brennan said in claiming his second Group 1, he put the entire country on notice that he was the sprinter to beat.

“Even with the big crowd and fireworks tonight he just had that calm aura about him, he’d been there before and nothing was going to distract him,” Brennan said.

“It’s about building his legacy and he’s now won a Group 1 in Queensland, Victoria and was a runner-up in the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park - he’s got a lot of racing left but he’s going to be one hot stud dog.

“It’s been a great experience for me to just be around him but he goes back to Melbourne with another Group 1 under his belt and will be full of confidence heading into the Temlee in ten days’ time.”

Group 3 Golden Ticket Winner Crazy Cool ran a magnificent second for local trainer Rob Jacobsen and Queensland fans, tearing over from box eight and pushing Shima Shine right to his limit.

Three states were represented on the podium with Western Australia’s Tommy Shelby running another Group 1 placing adding to his status and setting up a rematch in the Temlee at the Meadows Saturday week.

South Australian champ claims Gold Cup

The $113,000 Listed Gold Cup for the stayers also brought the best from far and wide and it was the pride of South Australia Sir Truculent who ran them into the ground for Wally Harkins and Tony Brett, grabbing the biggest win of his career.

Brett spoke glowingly about the dog commonly referred to as Barney, saying it was a pleasure to have a stayer of that calibre under his care for the last three weeks.

“I just couldn’t be happier for the dog and Wally, the dog was so close to a Group 1 in Victoria before coming up here and he’s proven once and for all he’s one of the best stayers in Australia,” he said.

“He’s fitted in seamlessly at home, very low maintenance and has just taken improvement week by week.

“I really have to thank Wally for trusting me with the dog; I know he’s not mine, but you treat them like one of your own and I haven’t had a stayer like him for a long time, it’s been a great change of pace for me.”

Sir Truculent ran a slick 41.70-second time, with a rare quick beginning the key to his half-length win.

“Sunset Bourbski was the bitch we were worried about coming into the race, she was the only one with that late turn of foot that could maybe come over the top of him,” Brett said.

“To see him jump into a clear second and then surge to the lead down the back had me feeling pretty confident, but gee I was nervous late when Sunset Bourbski was jumping out of the ground.

“Thankfully he runs 731 metres at home most weeks and wasn’t stopping, he found the line just in time.”

Dailly almost swept both races, with Sunset Bourbski producing another amazing finishing surge coming from near last to just miss out in the shadows of the post.

The bitch has yet to win at Group level, but it seems only a matter of time until she knocks over a big race.

Jeff Ahern’s Burnt Ends ran one of the bravest thirds you’ll see, after the middle-distance dog led up early but was soon swallowed up by Sir Truculent.

Townsville take out the Country Cup

Townsville trainer Rhonda Essery had left no stone unturned in her preparation for the Country Cup with Stratford, and the dog didn’t let her down with an emotional win in the Final.

“We thought we had everything spot on with him, his post-to-post was great, he ran a ripping race here on Monday night, but for it to all come together tonight is something else,” Essery said.

“We saw this race a long time ago and said we think we have the dog who can go and win it; to have pulled it off is surreal - it’s the highlight of my training career.

“I have to give a huge thanks to my husband Steve who’s at home taking care of the dogs, he’ll be racing again tomorrow, I couldn’t do this without his sacrifice.”

Hope a sure thing over the shortcourse

It’s not often the state’s quickest sprinters get to show their wares over the 331 metres on a Thursday night, but the gun field assembled for the Queensland Shortcourse Final was worthy of a place on the card.

It was Sandra Hunt’s Hope Sure Can who padded her outstanding record, adding an 11^th win from 14 starts.

“I’m in a bit of shock, she’s more of a 395-metre bitch but I saw the race coming and she’s always been lightning out of the boxes, so I thought why not give it a go,” Hunt said.

“To be first out against specialist 331 metre dogs is a testament to how quick she is, if you find the front in these races then you’re pretty happy.

“She’s won a lot of races and given me plenty to cheer about, but this is a marquee win for her - I’m constantly amazed at her confidence.”