Queensland dog in Cannonball bid

By Jordan Gerrans

The Queensland-owned Isurava might just be on the verge of completing a long-held ambition in the time-honoured Cannonball at Richmond.

Isurava is owned by Brent Kline and was prepared by the Karalee-based conditioner until a couple of starts ago.

Isurava – a Group 1 Finalist earlier in his career in Tasmania – has since been transferred to the kennels of Andrew Bell for the last three weeks at Werombi south of the border.

Bell was initially keen to buy the dog from Kline for the Cannonball series but the Sunshine State dog man knocked him back. 

But, they came to a compromise and Bell has taken on the 21-time career winner for the series and Isurava has landed in Friday’s Final after running second in a heat.

“Andy thought he would go well in the series,” Kline recalls.

“It is a race Andy has wanted to win for some time and the field has attracted some quality dogs.

“He thinks he has the dog that can win it.”

Isurava won two on the bounce at Ipswich before heading south earlier this month.

Kline and Bell are not close mates but have known each other for many years and have been friendly since the NSW-based trainer purchased a dog from him some time ago.

Isla’s Ivy was the name of the dog Kline sold to him, which aided Bell in his pursuit of the Goulburn trainers’ premiership that year.

Bell identified Isurava a long way out from the Cannonball, which is one of the time-honoured features on the Richmond club's calendar.

“It’s a race I’ve always wanted to win, the Cannonball,” Bell told The Greyhound Recorder recently.

“A few years ago it lost its place a bit with its relevance but it’s good to see it back up to $15,000 to the winner this year.

“Over the years I’ve run a few placings in the race but haven’t managed to crack it for a win.

“It’s generally a good, seasoned dog that wins this race. Being fast usually isn’t enough.”

From the seven alley, Isurava ran into second in his heat in 22.69 seconds, beaten by the quick Speeding Fine.

From all reports, the red fawn dog has come through the heat run well ahead of the decider.

The Queenslander has drawn the red for Friday’s Final, which Kline says is good on paper, but may not be as helpful as it seems.

Kline believes the race will be won in the moments after the boxes rise.

If all goes to plan from an Isurava perspective, Kline is confident he can run 22.30 seconds on Friday and be right in the finish.

“It looks like we have drawn well but he is a wide runner,” he said on Thursday morning.

“We would have preferred to draw outside of Vamoose (who will jump from four) but he begins well.

“Isurava does not like the quieter lures, which are being used at Grafton and Richmond, he has found it hard to work it all out.

“The positive of being in box one is that he is closer to the lure and hopefully it is louder for him and he can get his timing right.

“If he jumps well, he will tend to drift a metre off the rail so he will come up to where box three is.

“It is exciting to be in the Final and we are looking forward to it.”

Isurava is a $5.50 chance with the bookmakers as of Thursday afternoon with Vamoose the public elect at $2.05. 

Isurava may head to Wentworth Park for a race following the Cannonball Final but that will hinge on how he comes through Friday’s run.

The Kline kennel have been ticking along nicely lately, preparing 12 winners from their last 50 starters.

“They are going ok, I have got a few older dogs and a few younger ones that are just starting out as well,” the trainer said.

“I am doing a lot of pre-training at the moment, more pre-training and less racing right now.”