Big prizes to go on the line at Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club's 50th Anniversary celebration

By Jordan Gerrans

Matthew Heilbronn feels an extra sense of pressure heading into the Group 3 50th Anniversary Trophy Final on Thursday night, in what is a massive occasion for the industry in Brisbane.

As well as the $48,000 on offer for the winner of the feature Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club anniversary event to be run over 520 metres, a brand new Mitsubishi ASX car will be given away to one lucky patron at the track on Thursday.

The car is valued at $30,000.

When patrons spend $10 or more on food or beverage at Pacers and Chasers, they will receive an automatic entry into the Mitsubishi ASX car give-away.

Eight individual entrants will be drawn on Thursday night at approximately 8pm and will be allocated a greyhound in the 50th Anniversary Trophy race event through a random draw.

The entrant drawn with the winning greyhound in the 50th Anniversary Trophy race event will be deemed the winner of the Mitsubishi ASX vehicle.

The Raceview-based Heilbronn has heat winner Dulceria jumping from box five in the Final and says while winning the race with his star bitch is key, the thought of the new car for someone at the track on Thursday is in the back of his mind.

“The patron that has got the car, they are probably going to love you more than what you are winning the actual race,” he said with a laugh.

“There is that added pressure to perform.”

The Rockhampton Cup winner from earlier this year – Dulceria – is rated a $9 chance with the TAB to claim the anniversary trophy, with Extra Malt the favourite at $3.30 on Wednesday afternoon.

If Heilbronn, who is a third-generation greyhound trainer, was to win the car, he says he would give it to his mum.

“Hopefully, my dog can nail it for the person – hopefully, it is me – and I can get a double banger, the race and the car,” he said.

The club’s big anniversary celebration was set to be held earlier this year but was pushed back following the devastating floods that impacted the Albion Park facilities for some time.

It is a significant event for the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club, according to Chairman Les Bein.

“We have planned a very gala event for the 50^th,” Bein said.

“Everyone will remember the night; I can assure everyone of that.

“We want to make it a “wow factor”, it will be pretty special.”

BGRC CEO Luke Gatehouse is especially excited to hand over the new car.

“It will be a great celebration,” Gatehouse said.

“Someone in the crowd on the night will win a car.”

Black bitch Dulceria scored in last Thursday’s heat in 30.04 seconds around Albion Park, making it the 14^th of her career.

She was able to land on the rail from the red rag and was too strong in the concluding stages, overturning early leader Supreme Machine, who is set to jump from box two in the Final.

“She always runs from box one pretty good, she always performs form there,” Heilbronn said.

“She loves the rail.

“When she sees the rail, the faster she goes as she is guided by the rail.

“Once she gets that open space, that is when she really puts the foot down.”

With a Townsville and Rockhampton Cup already on her resume, the kennel will aim to add the Group 3 50th Anniversary Trophy this week.

“She is keen as mustard, I went and trialled other dogs and she would not eat her breakfast until the other dogs came back to the kennel as she thought she was going next,” the trainer said.

“She is rock hard fit; I have been running her Monday and Thursday.

In what shapes as a wide open Final – with five dogs rated as a $5.50 chance or shorter with the TAB – Heilbronn believes the start will be all-important.

“Everyone ran run a 5.50 second first section in the race, it is about how you spit off the corner,” Heilbronn said.

“Supreme Machine is an up-and-coming dog and can probably lead them all again.

“Impact is the step above but it is a matter of if they get across – that first corner will sort everyone out.

“This is the best of the Queensland dogs at the moment in this field.”