Gladmans and Tyanna Belle set for The Phoenix thrill

By Jordan Gerrans

Queenslanders Doug and Heather Gladman are set for a once-in-a-lifetime experience this weekend at the second running of The Phoenix at The Meadows.

That is the view of Graham Hall – who represented the Sunshine State in the inaugural running of the mega-rich race last year.

The Gladmans qualified veteran bitch Tyanna Belle for the $1.65 million race through the Queensland Flame earlier this month, just like Graham and his wife Leanne did 12 months ago with Spotted Elk.

The two Sunshine State representatives have travelled different paths to the feature race in terms of preparation and trials at the Melbourne track.

But, according to the Marburg-based Graham, one thing is certain that both kennels will never be the same again following on from the trip away.  

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we may never have again,” Graham said of being involved with The Phoenix.

“The night itself was just so well put together by everyone involved and we really enjoyed it.”

Hall and Spotted Elk ventured south to Victoria well before the race itself, trialling twice on the Meadows circuit so the 2021 TAB Queensland Greyhound of the Year could prepare herself for the new surrounds.

The Gladmans have opted to do the opposite, declaring they will fly down on the day of the race and head into the rich race without a trial at the track.

“She is a wonderful traveller,” Doug said recently.

“I will not trial her on the track, she only free gallops between races and always in our minds is doing the best for her. The dog is more important.

“But, just to be in the race is wonderful.”

After a quiet year on the racing front for the Hall kennel, focussing in on their breeding interests, Graham reflected on his The Phoenix feel from this time last year on Thursday morning.  

“There was real euphoria leading up to the race,” Hall said.

“We had a table that was allocated for us with 10 people on it that we could invite for the night of the race itself.

“It was a really big build up to the race so the days leading in, we just wanted to keep things ticking over and steady.”

Tyanna Belle – who holds Racing Queensland’s slot for the race – has drawn the seven alley for the 525 metre contest on Saturday evening.

Just 12 months ago, Spotted Elk famously drew box two before eventually running into second place behind impressive winner Wow She’s Fast in the first-ever running of the race.

“The box draw was a magnificent event and something I have never seen before,” Hall said.

“It was quite an experience to be involved in a box draw like that.

“The people at The Meadows were fantastic to us, we were allowed to do whatever we wanted around trials and getting around the track – it was magic.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Queensland’s hope Tyanna Belle is rated a $61 chance as the longest odds runner in the race.

The white and black bitch was able to lead and win in the Queensland Flame from box two and Graham believes that if the Sunshine State is to go one better in 2022, then Tyanna Belle is going to need to do the same again on the biggest stage of greyhound racing.

“I would hope that Tyanna Belle can get herself up front really early,” he said.

“She is like most little girls in races that like to lead and get to the front and if they can do that, they can provide a little bit of cheek.

“Hopefully she can get a nice clear passage across.”

Spotted Elk – who is a 17-time career winner – has not been seen at the race track since the middle stages of February this year.

Instead, she is focusing on a new and more important job after she whelped her first litter of pups.

The bitch produced four dogs and five bitches to sire Hooked On Scotch.

Graham says all nine puppies are going great and they are progressing well.

“She has adapted to being a mother very well,” Graham said.

“It is a line that we are trying to develop, we like the line and are confident with it.”

Graham trains in partnership with his wife Leanne.

According to Leanne, Spotted Elk has moved towards motherhood perfectly. 

“It is going really good, it is lovely,” Leanne said.

“She is a great mother, which is a big help.

“They are going really good and everything is going forwards."