Coonamble Kid will storm into Origin contention

By Pat McLeod

Trainer Chris Brydon is looking forward to seeing track specialist Coonamble Kid in Sunday’s Straight of Origin showdown at Capalaba.

There is no doubt the sideline passion will be there as greyhound racing celebrates the Origin flavour at Albion Park on Thursday night and at Capalaba on Sunday.

The straight track version pits four Queensland dogs: Coonamble Kid (trained by Chris Brydon), Lose Your Cool (Jeff Crawford), Panama Canal (Tony Brett) and Valhalla (Jedda Cutlack) against the Blues squad of  Phantom Jasper (Tyson Barton), Commands Respect (Glenda Dart), Shall Not (Darren Sultana) and Slingshot Rusty (Darren Sultana).

The 36-year-old Brydon, who is based at Churchable, west of Ipswich, was born-and-bred in NSW before moving to Queensland a couple of years ago.

He says when it comes to Origin he understands the passion and rivalry, but is neutral.

“I am certainly happy to be a Queenslander this week, having dogs in both the Straight Of Origin on Sunday and Thursday night’s Regional Origin Challenge (Top Gun),” he said.

“I think the whole Origin theme for greyhound racing is great. It opens things up for a bit of banter between trainers and it also brings even better dogs up here.

“It was great, an honour, to be selected for the Straight Of Origin race, but it was also great to earn our place in the Regional Origin Challenge, coming through the heats.

“So, given that I am in representing Queensland in both those races I'm a proud Queenslander this week.

“At the end of the day we need turnover for our prize money and I think having a bit of interstate rivalry kicks that along really well.”

Of his chances on Sunday, Brydon is realistic.

Coonamble Kid may be a sentimental favourite at the track, having recorded 13 of his 22 wins there, but the class of dogs in the race and box draws weigh heavily against him.

“Coonamble Kid has not got a lot of early pace, in fact he misses the start by two lengths almost every time he comes out of those boxes,” laments Brydon.

“He comes out terrible, and to be honest with you, I don't think he has a strong chance on Sunday.

“Of course, he will fight on, he is a very hard chaser. He will be running on if he gets a bit of clear room and is the hardest chasing dog I have ever had.

“So, yes, he will be definitely having a crack. But, we are in a class of race with really good dogs, with not a lot separating them all - they can all run mid-to-low 19 seconds. 

“They can all run home faster or as fast as we can and they will all be two or three lengths ahead of us, so of course we will be battling.”

Brydon has no doubt that the Darren Sultana-trained Shall Not will be a worthy favourite when the lids fly on Sunday.

“I really don't know how we will beat Shall Not (box one), to be honest with you,” he said.

“Because of the way the box draw has fallen, I think he is the dog to beat. I think he will get as much room as he wants and will just be too good.”

Brydon believes Jeff Crawford’s Lose Your Cool (box seven), whose seven career races have all been at Capalaba for six wins and a second, is Queensland’s best chance.

“Lose Your Cool is a very good dog. A big chance and has good early pace,” he said.

“The other two, Panama Canal (box eight) and Valhalla (box three), are both good dogs, but, I just don't think the box draw has suited them.

“Of the other NSW dogs in the Straight Of Origin, I don't know a lot of about Commands Respect and his race patterns, but Phantom Jasper is a very good chance. He has had five wins from six starts at the track.

“I think he is a massive danger and his trainer, Tyson Barton, is a very good trainer.”