Wounded Bear bounces back as Elson says 'Hello' to summer features

By Alex Nolan

Seven days after Travis Elson believed his Bogie Leigh Futurity aspirations had been quashed when Bear’s Bullet suffered a paw pad injury, the trainer marveled at his youngster’s tenacity to hold out Victorian star Kelsey Bale and win the opening heat of the series at Albion Park.

It was the first leg of a satisfying Thursday night double for Elson, who later claimed the New Year’s Trophy when Hello Mike blitzed his more experienced rivals in the highly anticipated clash with Orchestrate and Shipwreck amongst a field of classy sprinters.

Elson now moves into the pointy end of the Golden Greys Summer Carnival with live hopes in a handful of its most prized features.  

Bear’s Bullet has drawn box four in next Thursday’s $75,000 Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity Final, while Hello Mike will be aimed at the Group 3 Golden Ticket looking to score a free pass into February’s Group 1 Gold Bullion.

Bear’s Bullet entered the first of two Futurity heats on Thursday night after a week of rest due to sustaining the minor injury in an uncharacteristic fifth in the TAB Christmas Stocking Final.

“The trouble I had to get her here today,” Elson lamented.  

“She had a lot of trouble last week in that Stocking final. She was actually first out and about to cross to the rail when the inside dog drifted off and collided with her and she just didn’t look comfortable.

“In the morning I got her out of the kennels and she was on three legs. I thought ‘that’s my Futurity gone’. She’d taken a bit of skin underneath the pad, so I just had her in the kennel all week using ointment four times a day to heal that skin up.

“I’m stoked for her to do what she’s done. She literally walked five metres out of her pen to do a wee and back in for the last seven days.”

Further merit was added to the performance due to the fact Bear’s Bullet managed to hold off last-start Laurels Classic winner Kelsey Bale after a tense photo finish.

With both bitches recording an official time of 30.01 seconds, the judge determined the local had held on by 0.03L after examining the print at length.

Hara’s Pandora and Emerald eyes rounded out the top four and have drawn boxes two and seven respectively for the final.

Bear’s Bullet and Kelsey Bale are likely to top betting markets for the return bout next Thursday but Elson is confident his charge has more fuel in the tank.  

“I’ve got a week on my side now and (the injury) was looking really good over the last two days as it was healing up,” Elson said.

“It just means I’ll be able to get a run into her up the straight for that little bit of extra fitness.”

That fitness could prove crucial if she is to hold out the likes of Kelsey Bale once more, who drew the outside box for the final. 

But Gibbons is also confident Kelsey Bale can go to another level.

“If she doesn’t get any trouble I think she’ll be the one to beat,” he said, noting the bitch may have felt the effects of a warmer climate in Queensland.

“Coming around the back (tonight) I thought she was going to get there but I think she’ll run home a lot stronger next week.”

Kelsey Bale will be Gibbons’ sole hope of claiming the final after his other fancy Yahiro Bale was wiped out with Dolly Dutton early in the second heat.

The race was eventually taken by the John McCarthy-trained Balmy Nights in 30.30 seconds, with Smart Houdini, Hara’s Opal and Embrace rounding out the four in that order.

Balmy Nights has drawn the prized box one for the final, with Smart Houdini in box six, Embrace in box five and Hara’s Opal in box three.

Later, Elson confirmed Hello Mike’s lofty Summer Carnival goals after his seven-length New Year’s Trophy demolition, stopping the clock in a Best Of Night 29.72.

Two weeks earlier, Hello Mike had the industry talking when he won a fourth-grade event in 29.49 seconds – the equal seventh-fastest time recorded at Albion Park.

Pinging to the lead from box one, Hello Mike established an unassailable lead early as his rivals scrapped it out for the minors back in the ruck.

Shipwreck dived at Orchestrate to grab second.

“The freshen-up helped him get out and go,” Elson said of Hello Mike.

“He was two weeks fresh but he’s had an eight-week preparation leading up to where he was at.

“The dog just needed a break so we can look forward to those good races coming up, the match race and the Gold Bullion if everything goes well.”

Elson left Albion Park for the final time in 2022 with 99 wins for the year, falling agonisingly short notching 100 winners for a third consecutive season.

For the son of industry stalwarts Bill and Cyndie Elson, the heads of a family entrenched in the greyhound code, such milestones are more ‘nice to dos’ rather than set goals.

“We’re not a huge kennel so that’s a massive thrill for us to get the winners we do with the dogs we have,” he said, noting his family’s love for the industry.

“It goes from Mum and Dad to my wife, my kids, they’ll all be watching the dogs tonight screaming at the telly.

“The New Year’s Trophy is a good race for us but we could win a race on a Monday night it’s still a buzz.”

But nothing would give Elson more of a buzz than if he were able to take Hello Mike – the fastest dog he has ever trained – to the highest level over the coming months.

He believes it would give family patriarch, Bill, a timely boost in his fight with dimentia, as reported in CHASE this week. 

“He’d be watching for sure,” Elson said.

“He’d be grinning and saying we’re on track.

“He rings every couple of days and asks what box have we got and will be over the moon with the run tonight.”  

Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity Final – Box Draw

1. BALMY NIGHTS

2. HARA’S PANDORA

3. HARA’S OPAL

4. BEAR’S BULLET

5. EMBRACE

6. SMART HOUDINI

7. EMERALD EYES

8. KELSEY BALE

9R. IVY PEARL

10R. CARAMEL QUEEN