By Jordan Gerrans
As one of the speediest bitches to ever get around Albion Park, veteran Ellangowan trainer Frederick Swain is looking forward to getting kennel star All Hands Off back to Brisbane this week.
The Northern Rivers trainer has been restricted to NSW racing with his small kennel of dogs in recent weeks, with All Hands Off having her last three starts at Lismore or Grafton.
With Northern NSW-based trainers returning to Queensland this week, Swain, who is almost 70 years of age, will be back to Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club to a track his bitch loves – winning 10 races from just 17 starts.
All Hands Off, from a Barcia Bale and Fay's Magic litter, has a career best time of 29.49 seconds around Albion Park over 520 metres, which puts her in the conversation with elite dogs such as Sequana and Black Opium.
Ahead of her return to Albion Park in a Best Eight race on Thursday night, Swain notes All Hands Off broke the track record around Grafton in a trial recently.
“I think she will go pretty well,” Swain said.
“She is beginning much better now, her first sectional the other night at Lismore, they do not usually run those times so I am hoping she can come out of the boxes at Albion Park and try and get to the front if we can.”
In the 10th event across the 12- race program on Thursday night, All Hands Off faces a small field – with boxes three and six empty – which her experienced trainer thinks can be trickier than racing against a full field at times.