Ardle orders ‘same again’ in Townsville QGOLD Final

By Pat McLeod

North Queensland trainer Heath Ardle has already tasted QGOLD success and would like a second helping.

That scenario is certainly on the menu on Tuesday night with Ardle responsible for two entries in the $15,400 QGOLD Final over 380 metres in Townsville.

“I love it,” was Ardle's enthusiastic appraisal of the QGOLD concept for Queensland-bred greyhounds.

“It certainly promotes breeding and has been a real positive.

“I won one of these races at the start of the year up here, so yes, it’s a good concept.”

That win, in February, just like Tuesday night’s Final, was worth $10,010 to the winner and was taken out by Ardle’s most successful dog to date, Mali’s Gonzales.

In an interesting twist, there is a growing ‘sameness’ around this race.

Back then Ardle had two runners in the Final, over 498 metres.

Both were unfancied chances in the betting and both were coming from outside boxes -  Mali’s Gonzales started at $21 and jumped from box seven and Mali’s Whitey started at $90 from box eight and finished fourth. 

On Tuesday night Ardle doesn’t rate his dogs’ chances and both are in wider draws – Bilinga Beach (box five) and Mali’s Red Hot (box eight).

“Both of mine are good young dogs, but you have got some pretty handy, top-grade dogs in this race,” Ardle said.

“Danny Preh’s dog (Plum Tuckered) was half-a-length off the track record a few runs back.

“We are in there with a bit of a chance if we get some luck. The box draws didn't really do me any favours.

“Bilinga Beach is travelling a little better than the other dog, but either way I would need a fair bit of luck to win it.

“There is a fair bit of speed on the inside, which means they could jam up a little bit, and we could get away.

“Or if mine get in behind them, because they both rail well, and something happens on the corner. That is the only way I can see either of my dogs being successful.”

Plum Tuckered had her first 23 starts in South East Queensland before being sent north to Townsville trainer Danny Preh in August.

In her 15 starts so far at the Showgrounds track she has recorded five wins and eight placings.

On October 13 the Fernando Bale and Crazy Bonnie chaser scorched over Townsville’s 380 metre distance in 21.40 seconds, just outside Senor Yogi’s (trained by Tony Parker) record mark of 21.38 seconds. 

Plum Tuckered finished third in last week’s heat (behind Pacific Holly, who is one of two Tony Parker dogs in the Final).

She then backed up last Friday, winning over the 380 metres in 21.76 seconds.