By Alex Nolan
As a punter, Mark Saal knows the difficulties King Of Cool faces from box six in Thursday night’s Dave Brett Memorial Final at Albion Park.
As a trainer, he’s even more acutely aware.
King Of Cool is out of a litter by Saal’s noted stayer Babs Kramer, by Zambora Brockie, that the Cranley-based trainer admits is still a work in progress.
Each of the litter have been forced to overcome leg issues throughout their young careers to date, including King Of Cool, who exits box six in the prestigious maiden event.
“I haven’t had to work on a litter like this before,” Saal admits.
“They’re approaching 20 months old but they are at the stage of 18-month-old dogs.
“They’ll pay their way, but it might be a time thing.”
King Of Cool has started in the market in three races to date, including a last start second to She’s Some Fox in a heat of the series at Albion Park last Wednesday.
After stepping only fairly from box three, the black dog set out to challenge for the front and chased gamely but could only get within almost two lengths.
Saal is known as a keen form student of greyhound racing.
He said if he wasn’t boxing a greyhound in the race, there’s one dog he’d be willing to back.
“The seven Starline Express is perfectly drawn outside of us,” he said.
“He could be a long way in front going out of the turn and they say 70 per cent of leaders win races.
“Mine will improve.
"He’s not a bad box dog but he didn’t handle it well last week.”
Saal had initially planned to breed a litter of stayers when he decided to buy a Zambora Brockie straw to mate with Babs Kramer.
The daughter of Barcia Bale was a winner of just one from 30 starts but was well known for running on late over the staying courses in South East Queensland.
Breeding expert David Brasch’s overview of Zambora Brockie on the Greyhound Recorder suggests Zambora Brockie goes best with daughters of Barcia Bale, when they have Brett Lee in their pedigree, and a double dose of Bombastic Shiraz.
King Of Cool’s litter ticks all three boxes.
“I bought a Zambora Brockie straw four years ago because I knew I was going to breed with her,” Saal said.
“She’s got the perfect cross to him. I did think I’d be breeding a litter of stayers, but it hasn’t turned out that way.
“They’ve got ability but I don’t think we’ll see it until they’re about two-and-a-half.”
Saal, who didn’t have a runner at the races between February and August this year, said he wasn’t one to overextend his breeding activities.
However, it has been a busy year, with his 2020 Bogie Leigh Futurity winner Pump It, producing a litter by Barcia Bale.
“I hadn’t raced for six or seven months since Pump It’s last start in February,” Saal said.
“I don’t mind a little break every now and then.
“I was never going to breed again but I had to breed from Pump it.
“The pups are five-and-a-half months old now.