Hara’s trio on the march for trainer Jemma Daley

By Jordan Gerrans

Youthful trainer Jemma Daley envisions an array of feature racing for her promising “Hara’s” trio over the coming months.

Two of the trio were the first past the post in the Listed Ipswich Young Guns over 520 metres late last month.

And, now all three – Skye, River and Herbie – have qualified for the Listed Final of the Molly Campbell Silver Dollars at Albion Park next Thursday night.

Skye – the winner of the Ipswich Young Guns – was the fastest qualifier from the two heats run at Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club on Thursday of this week, leading the entire way over 520 metres in 29.82 seconds

River – who is a litter sister to Skye – finished third in the other heat, with Herbie – who is a close relation but not from the same litter – running second.

The trio were bred and owned by Tony Glover.

The Kurwongbah-based trainer, Daley, always had high hopes for the youngsters and the kennel has their eyes on several black-type races before the end of the year.

The Townsville Cup will be on the agenda for Skye following the Silver Dollars before races such as the Futurity.

“There is plenty more nice races coming up for them, now it is about placing them right,” she said.

“The Futurity is the main target while Skye will head up to the Townsville Cup, following the Molly Campbell.

“Her early speed for one will be good in a race like that.

“She will fly straight up after it and be in the care of my partner Tarquin Neal anyway, nothing will change for them.

“We will keep chipping away and hope they can hold together.”

The North Queensland Cup race was earmarked early on for Daley out of respect for the late Michael ‘Tricky’ Stephenson, who passed away in May of last year.

The late Tricky was a mentor of Daley’s as she transitioned from her experience with the gallopers to now running a sizeable and prolific kennel out of Kurwongbah.

The Group 3 2020 Cup in Townsville was the last feature race Tricky won before his death with Hara’s Panda.

Daley’s partner - Neal – also previously lived in Townsville and knows the track well.

Fawn bitch Hara’s Skye is building an impressive resume, winning half of her 20 career starts, as well as half a dozen other minor placings.

“She has always shown ability,” Daley said.

“She had a really good post to post on the Sunday before and she is just starting to put it together at the start of races.

“She has shown glimpses of it early on but it has just taken quite a few starts for her to put it all together.”

Skye and River are out of a litter Fernando Bale and Hara's Honey litter, while Herbie is from Sennachie and Hara's Annie.

The trio have amazingly all drawn next to each other for the upcoming Final, Skye in three, River in four and Herbie in the yellow rug.

Daley is pleased with the draw as she was keen to see Skye draw inside while also hoping they can keep out of each other’s way in the decider.

The Daley kennel has been in prolific form of late, preparing more than 20 winners since the start of July.

Neal – an emerging trainer himself – has been a huge aid, according to Daley.

“I have had these dogs since they were pups, I have not got any big names behind me, I have done this all myself,” Daley said.

“Proud is an understatement about the way these dogs are going.

“My partner Tarquin has really helped out; it has been a really big team effort.

“We have been trialling these dogs since late last year to get them ready for the Vince Curry and Tarquin has been there every step of the way.”

The other heat on Thursday night was claimed by Cynthia Elson’s Hello Mike.

Hello Mike has picked up the inside draw for the Final.

It has been a tough week for the Elson kennel after Magical Cyndie was ruled out of the Group 1 National Sprint Final at Wentworth Park later this month.

The bitch pulled up sore in a back muscle after winning the Queensland Final.