Father and son greyhound training team on the rise

By Jordan Gerrans

Ipswich Cup winner Michael Johnston is relishing his return to the Queensland greyhound training ranks with his keen son Riley there every step of the way.

The Karalee-based Johnston has been back training for around 18 months after spending a dozen years away from the industry.

In his previous stint conditioning dogs, one of Johnston's highest honours was claiming the 2005 City of Ipswich Gold Cup over 520 metres with Raven Hill in 31.32 seconds.

He stepped away from training when his children were young.

Now 12 years later, Johnston and his son Riley are training in a partnership.

Earth Shaker has been the kennel's flag bearer in their short time back training and the Capalaba specialist will be looking to improve his already outstanding record on the grass in Sunday’s Young Guns Final. 

The Johnstons train a kennel of four – two in work with two others being broken in – and they are enjoying working with the dogs together.

“I missed it - as I was enjoying it previously - and my son said he would give me a hand with it all,” Michael said.

“We are doing it together. He is instrumental in our small kennel as I work and he fills in the gaps.

“I could not do it without him. He is keen to give his father a hand so the partnership is working out well.

“We are only a small kennel but we are poking along trying to get hold of a good a dog as we can.”

Earth Shaker has raced at all three South East Queensland tracks in the young stage of his career but he has most certainly found his niche up the straight on the grass.

He has won seven of 11 attempts – as well as placing on every other opportunity - and has run a personal best time of 19.51 seconds.

The blue brindle dog meets a hot field in Sunday’s Final but the Johnstons are optimistic their kennel star can figure in the finish.

He has drawn four for the $11,600 Final – an alley he is unbeaten from in one attempt.

Earth Shaker was a little slow away at the start in last Sunday’s heats and Michael says he will need to be at his best from the boxes if he is to go close to winning. 

To fight back and finish second after the sluggish start showed “tenacity”, Michael remarked.

“If he can begin well and find a bit of clear air early, he can run some time that will be competitive and might be good enough to win,” he said.

“This race became our target and there is a few other good races coming up over the next few months at Capalaba, as well.

“You just need to take them where you think they can win and place them as well as you can.”

After such a long stint away from the industry, Earth Shaker has helped re-establish the Johnston kennel.

The team have also enjoyed success with kennel mate Rowdy Remi over the last year. 

“He is a nice dog and has turned out to be a very nice straight dog,” Michael said of Earth Shaker. 

“We are trying to keep him sound.

“He is 35kgs, he is a big, long dog, and he just likes putting his best effort in up the straight.

“He has always shown good ability up the straight.”

The Tyson Barton-trained Phantom Jasper was the fastest qualifier from last week’s three heats, getting home in 19.74 seconds, and has drawn five for Sunday’s Final.