Sir Truculent set for Gold Cup success

By Isaac Murphy

Recently crowned South Australian Greyhound of the Year Sir Truculent is doing his state proud, romping into the final of the Listed Gold Cup for trainer Wally Harkins.

The dog affectionately known as Barney produced a staying masterclass in last week’s heats for caretaker Tony Brett, and Harkins - who knows him better than anyone - thinks you’ll see the best version of the distance dog in Thursday’s $113,000 Listed Final after a rushed preparation.

“Three weeks ago, he pulled up with a slight sprain in his wrist after racing at Angle Park and I was working on that feverishly to get him up there in time for a lead-up run to the Gold Cup in the Clem Jones,” Harkins said.

“There was no structural damage, and I was able to get him there, but he’d hardly had any work, I knew he was underdone and certainly wasn’t panicking when he didn’t perform first-up.

“Tony knows it’s not about the lead-in, it’s about getting a spot in that final and he was light and day winning his heat second up.

“From everything I’ve been told, he’s had a great week up there and should be raring to go come final time.”

Sir Truculent is one of the country’s most recognisable names, and as constant winner at Angle Park on Thursday night, Harkins has recently expanded his horizons with great effect.

“He’s been a once in a lifetime dog for me, if you’re breaking 43 seconds as a stayer at Angle Park in your career you’re going well - he’s done it 15 times in 2020 alone and won South Australian Greyhound of the Year just over the weekend,” Harkins said.

“He’d checked every box here at home, so I sent him over to Melbourne for the Top Gun Stayers and Bold Trease where he was nosed out of a Group 1 against Australia’s best stayers, that’s when I knew he’d stack up against anyone.

“I got home one day shortly after his Melbourne campaign and there was a package waiting for me from Racing Queensland outlining the staying races coming up and I thought it was a pretty nice touch, soon after a mate got me in touch with Tony (Brett) and he was off again.”

Once again, Barney is proving he can mix it with anyone anywhere, and Harkins is happy with a rails draw come Thursday.

“I’ve always thought he’s a box one dog; he hasn’t drawn it a huge amount over his career, so it’s been a bit hard to get a read on it, but I would have taken it any day of the week in the Final,” he said.

“He’s not your out the back last type of stayer but he’s generally off the speed, if the rails open he’ll just pick up ground throughout the race and has the sense to go around dogs like he did in the heat.

“I’m hoping dogs like Here’s Tears and Big Boy Bruce can string out the field and go at each other out in front while he gets warm mid-race.

“He runs an extra 20 metres at home and along with Sunset Bourbski he’ll be the strongest late.”

The story of Harkins and Sir Truculent is a feel-good tale, with the boutique trainer finding his champion after 40 years in the business.

“I’ve only got a small kennel on a house block in the suburbs here in Adelaide, so I’m only allowed to have four dogs at once and fortunately he’s one of them,” Harkins laughed.

“I bred him myself (Worm Burner/Establish) and while the whole litter have been handy racing all over Australia - including Aristocratic Gal who is a good bitch in Queensland - he’s been something else, I couldn’t be prouder.

“He’s only just turned three and despite everything he’s accomplished I think his best is in front of him this year.

“After Queensland we’re heading back to Victoria for the Zoom Top and other top races.”

Harkins does plenty of training for other owners and in a huge stroke of luck, managed to re-acquire Sir Truculent after selling him as a pup.

“It’s funny he didn’t break in particularly well and I sold him to a bloke for $2000 on the premise that I would train him in South Australia,” he said.

“The owner had him for his first seven wins, I think his prize money was around $27,000 at that stage and I’m not sure the circumstances, but he called me and said he wanted to sell the dog back for the price he bought him which I jumped at.

“He’s now gone on to win over $170,000, so someone was looking out for me there, I’ve had him in my name ever since and certainly won’t be letting him go.”