Townsville dog Henryk Bale's stunning form reversal

Images: Louise Partland

By Jordan Gerrans

It was not long ago that Henryk Bale was set for the second stage of his career through the Greyhound Adoption Program.

The dark brindle dog had done his earliest racing in Victoria before making his way to Townsville and after a run of indifferent performances, the decision was made that he would head to GAP, which finds suitable homes for retired greyhounds.

Mareeba trainer John La Rosa had watched the out-of-form chaser race in the weeks leading into that decision and thought there was more racing left in his legs.

La Rosa spoke to his mate and fellow North Queensland trainer Graham Thomson and the deal was done for Henryk Bale to keep racing on under his care.

Around a year on from the kennel change, Henryk Bale has shot himself into Townsville Cup contention with a slashing victory in a heat of the Townsville Wildcard on Tuesday evening.

The Townsville Wildcard provides direct entry for a local kennel into the big Cup next month.

Thomson was at the track as well and was a happy man to see La Rosa and Henryk Bale (pictured) win a heat on Tuesday night, as he came from last to pinch the contest in 29 seconds.

La Rosa notes that the dog came to him in excellent condition and Thomson has been a big part of his recent success.

“I wanted to take Henryk on,” La Rosa said. 

“I wanted to give him a go, I thought he had more racing in him before he went to GAP.

“I looked at buying him initially when he was for sale in Victoria.

“Graham was happy with that and really wanted him to keep racing.

“He had other dogs coming into his kennel so he had to make room.”

Henryk Bale’s heat was the slowest of the three from Townsville Showgrounds on Tuesday but that did not matter for La Rosa, he was stoked to see his dog win a race of that stature.

He makes the five-hour drive from Mareeba to Townsville to race his dogs every week after starting  as a trainer about a decade ago.

From an Allen Deed and Houston Bale litter, Henryk Bale is a consistent dog – running in the money more than 30 times – but Tuesday’s triumph was just his sixth career victory from more than 80 efforts.

Henryk Bale came from near last on the final turn at Townsville to weave his way through the field and score by almost a length over 498 metres.

La Rosa describes him as a “fighter” and as a dog who has a “big heart”.

“I knew he was a good dog, he can finish his races off, but after getting touched across the back and coming from last like he did, I got very excited,” La Rosa said.

“I think the 500 metres is a little short for him, he comes home like a trooper and has run over 600 metres and more before.

“He has had a couple of good runs over that longer distance but he has run into Free For All dogs like No Regrets, who had the track record at the time.

“He is more of a distance dog as a little fella.”

La Rosa has just three dogs in his kennel and believes having a small team allows him to care for his chasers.

“It is a different atmosphere at my kennel, it is a bit quieter and they get one on one attention all the time,” he said.

“My daughters will often come around and they love the dogs and really look after them.”

Paulie Walnuts – who is prepared by leading Townsville trainer Bradley Belford – and Michael Fusco’s Time To Roll were the other two heat winners on Tuesday.

Time To Roll (pictured) was the quickest of the three, stopping the clock in 28.66 seconds.

The Townsville Wildcard, which is run over 498 metres, is forming part of the Townsville Cup program for the first time in 2022.

The new Listed event is for locally trained greyhounds and will provide the winner with automatic entry into the Group 3 Townsville Cup Final on September 9.

The Townsville Wildcard Final on August 23 will carry total prize money of $25,000 ($15,000 to the winner). 

With many Brisbane trainers already expressing their interest to travel to Townsville for the Cup, following the Group and prize money elevation, La Rosa thinks the new series is an excellent addition to the local racing program.  

La Rosa is excited to have a dog in the Final of the Townsville Wildcard with a chance to progress through to the Cup.

“I had no idea about the Wildcard concept and I spoke to other trainers about it before I nominated, but it is a great thing for us up here,” he said.

“I am ecstatic, winning a heat as we did on Tuesday night and then the Final coming, as well.

“The other two heat winners were faster than mine and they are high-quality dogs, but hopefully my dog will be up there in the finish.”