Donna Darcy proud to fly the Queensland flag in Flying Amy

By Jordan Gerrans

The sense of achievement in being the sole ‘local’ runner in the Final of the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic is not lost on Magistrate’s connections.

In a stacked field of quality for the 2023 edition of the Flying Amy, the vast majority of runners are visitors to the Sunshine State for the winter carnival.

Prepared by trainer Greg Stella at Park Ridge, Magistrate is owned by Donna Darcy and partner Vince Mackenzie-Ross, who have in recent years retired to Ballina after previously living and training north of the border.

Magistrate was aided by an inside draw in last week's heats to run 29.82 seconds, which was the fastest heat time posted on the evening. 

The son of Fernando Bale has not been as lucky in the decider, drawing the seven alley.

Despite receiving “no favours” with the box draw, Darcy feels a strong sense of pride to be flying the Queensland flag in the Final.

“To be the lone Queenslander, it is a bit daunting,” Darcy said on Tuesday morning.

“I definitely do feel pride that we are the only Queensland dog.

“I had Greg’s wife ring me twice after the race and we both agreed that we were so, so proud of the dog and the achievement to reach the Final.

“I am proud of the dog and Greg and his wife – they are masters of their work.”

Stella recognises his black dog faces a huge task in Thursday’s Final, which will be raced for $225,000 in 2023, up from $150,000 last year.

“Box draws are a big advantage and he certainly took advantage,” Stella said following the heats.

“He wasn't the best dog in the race, but he has run a personal best.

“I was first reserve in the Flying Amy Final last year with Black Comanche and that was the best I had done in this race. So, this year we have gone one better and we are actually in the Final.”

Darcy has been involved in the sport for decades, first getting a taste of dogs through her partner Vince’s brother and parents some 40 years ago.

Darcy recalls winning feature races at the old Gold Coast track many years ago when she was a hobby trainer alongside her partner.

These days, they are happy to watch on as owners of dogs and leave the training to Stella.

They will make a rare trip to Albion Park on Thursday evening for the Final.

The connections do not often travel north for big races fearing they might become a “jinx” for the result.

They were on hand at Ipswich earlier this year when Magistrate was a dominant winner of the Group 3 Ipswich Auction Series Final over 520 metres.

The non-attendance of big races stems from the Group 2 Queensland Derby of 2019 when Certification – who they owned – finished almost 14 lengths behind Simon Told Helen.

Certification started the feature event as a $8 chance behind red-hot favourite Simon Told Helen.

“We do not often come up because we do not want to be a jinx to everything,” Darcy said with a laugh.

“We had another dog – Certification – a while back in a big Final at Albion Park and he finished down the back and we were at the track for that.

“We said that we were never coming back for another Final following that night.

“We have decided to come up this time as we have some business to attend to, as well.

“My heart will be in my throat the entire time I am there.”

Darcy and Mackenzie-Ross raced Magistrate’s mother Inspired Hope.

Inspired Hope was also trained by Stella and won seven races from 22 starts before running her last event in the middle of 2020.

Magistrate is the leading greyhound from the Fernando Bale and Inspired Hope litter, recently ticking past $100,000 in career stakes from around nine months of career racing.

“We always liked him,” Darcy said of Magistrate.

“He has gone amazing. Greg always had a good feel about him and it is amazing where he is.

“Greg has always got fantastic results for us.

“Magistrate needs to get out and go from the draw on Thursday but he has all the visitors to the inside of him.”

As well as the Flying Amy Classic on Thursday, Albion Park will host the Finals of the Carnival Chase and Dashing Corsair, with both to be run at Group 3 level.