Queenslander catching the eye of punters at Albion Park

By Jordan Gerrans

The dog might be one of the better ones in Garry Gilbert’s kennel but he cannot bring himself to say his race name.

Queenslander has been a popular greyhound around Sunshine State tracks over the last year, delivering his connections eight victories from just over 30 starts.

But, as Gilbert hails from south of the border – Casino to be specific – he is a rusted on Blues man, despite living in Queensland for the best part of 30 years.

The black dog was named by his owner Gary Dodt and even though Queenslander won a heat of the popular Publican's Cup on Thursday night at Albion Park, Gilbert still cannot bring himself to say the greyhound’s race moniker.

“I have a bit of fun with it,” Gilbert said.

“I have trouble pronouncing his race name, when the stewards ask me what his name is, I tell them that I have no clue.

“I like to stir everyone up, we have had some fun with it.

“When Gary named the dog, I was quick to ask why he named the dog that.”

Queenslander in the greyhound code is not the only animal with that name racing around the state.

Premier Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan has a galloper named Queenslander, with the mare winning her first race at Ipswich earlier this year.

Gilbert and Dodt have worked in a partnership together for many years in the dogs.

They had great success with a bitch named She's Whistling, who won a dozen races.

Being a big rugby league man, Dodt felt the moniker fit perfectly for his boy, who comes from an Orson Allen and You Angel You litter.

“I just always followed the football over the years and that, it was just Billy Moore’s catch cry really,” Dodt said.

“I just took it from him, really.

“It was around the Origin time last year that I started naming the dogs and thought Queenslander would be a great name for a dog.”

The name catches the eye of the public, Dodt thinks.

There has been times he has been walking back from catching the dog at Albion Park and he has heard “Queenslander” screams from the grandstand.

And, because of the easily recognisable name, the owner reckons the dog’s odds are always much shorter than they should be in races, such is the attraction for punters to say they backed a Queenslander.

Queenslander has finished in the money in more than half of his 32 career starts and he has been able to do all that mostly from outside draws.

Amazingly, he has never drawn the red rag in a race.

Gilbert believes he would have a much better strike-rate if he were able to get the one position from the start more often.

He has been handed the green rug on nine different occasions and will jump from the five in the Final on Thursday coming.

The Tivoli-based trainer thinks it is an even field for the decider but does not rate his dog’s chances from the five.

“This will be his 33^rd start and he has never drawn the inside,” Gilbert said.

“He was lucky to get across from the four on Thursday night in the heat as he is a much better dog when he is drawn to the inside.

“He will need a miracle to get across from the five in the Final.

“I thought we were due to grab the one in the Final as we had never got it before, but we did not.”

All of the races on Thursday were branded with names of pub’s from around South East Queensland for the annual Publican’s Cup.

The winning pub from the Final gets their name etched on the perpetual trophy and all the bragging rights that are associated with it.

The first three dogs home in the Final, the pub that has those dogs gets a 12-month sponsorship package with the club.

The heat Queenslander won was represented by the Marburg Pub, which Dodt is a regular at and he says the victory added extra significance.

“It was a really good as I am an old local in the area and played cricket for the club,” Dodt said.

“I have known the publican Danny forever, probably since I was ten years old, so it was great to win the race in that name.

“It is an old traditional pub and Danny has had it for years, his father owned the pub before him so there is that tradition.

“It is a great country pub.”

Queenslander has drawn Zillmere Sports for the Final while the Marburg Pub will be represented by Hello Mike, who is set to jump from box four.

Anthony Short’s Hidden Agenda was the quickest of the four heat winners on Thursday evening, scoring in 30.06 seconds.

Hidden Agenda has drawn seven for the Final and will be running for the Carina Leagues Club.

The 2022 BGRC Publicans Cup box draw and venue allocation has been confirmed for next Thursday night's $15,700 fifth grade Final.

1. Fernando Grand - Kedron-Wavell

2. Tomahawk Hayze - Norths St Joseph’s JRL

3. Adulate - Aspley Leagues Club

4. Hello Mike - Marburg Pub

5. Queenslander - Zillmere Sports

6. Tricky Trenear - Walloon Hotel

7. Hidden Agenda - Carina Leagues Club

8. Cash View - Aspley Leagues Club