Planets are aligning for Vincent in Dave Brett Memorial

By Pat McLeod

The planets are aligning for ex-military man, now greyhound trainer, Mathew Vincent.

The Brisbane-based mentor has promising youngster Hotel Whisky One coming out of box one in the prestigious annual Dave Brett Memorial Final over 520 metres at Albion Park on Thursday night.

By chance and design, Vincent’s future is tied to the Brett greyhound dynasty.

Victory on Thursday night would be an early indicator that connection is about to bear even more fruit.

“Hotel Whisky One is out of Flying September, my most successful dog so far,” the 40-year-old explains.

“Flying September’s sire was Zabdon Ferrari (53 starts for 19 wins and 19 placings for $146,981 in prize money).

“Tony Brett (the late Dave Brett’s son and highly successful trainer in his own right) trained Zabdon Ferrari.

“So, it always has been a special thing for me to try to breakdown those breeding lines and also try to win those same races, the races where Zabdon Ferrari contested.

“For instance, I have always wanted to go and try to win the Townsville Cup (won by Zabdon Ferrari in 2016).”

Vincent believes that the Zabdon Ferrari and Flying September connection will hopefully be the cornerstone of what will be a successful and enduring breeding line.

“I have always had only about two or three dogs at a time,” he said of his eight-year greyhound career.

“It is just a case of finding the right one and I believe I have with the mother (Flying September).

“As (successful owner and breeder) Clint Kratzmann, who just lives around the corner, says to me, ‘You are set for the next 15 years when you have a breeding line like this’.

“There are seven pups in this litter and I have kept five of them. All but one has raced and that final one has her first start at Albion Park on Wednesday.

“Flying September was a good race dog for me. She became quite sick midway through her career.

“We nearly lost her and yes, there were some emotional moments as we fought to save her. But, the end result has been amazing. What has panned out, this litter, is just incredible.”

Vincent believes Hotel Whisky One could develop into something special, but he is careful not to put potential ahead of performance.

“Hotel Whisky One was always a really quiet dog when he was being broken in and I spoke to Casey Dargusch (Golden View greyhound complex at Churchable) about being concerned that he would be no good,” he said.

“But, she told me that the quiet ones are normally the best.

“I am really happy with him so far. He chases really hard - would run through a brick wall. I was rapt with the (Dave Brett Memorial) heat win.

“He has drawn box one in the Final and I am very happy with that.

“He has pace and hopefully should be able to hold the rest of the field out.”

Vincent said his late grandfather, Stan Vincent, trained greyhounds in the UK and ‘had a couple of champions’.

“I had always been interested in becoming involved in greyhounds,” he says.

“We grew up behind the Nowra dog track and would often be at those meetings when we were little. I was in the artillery in the army, in Townsville, and left in 2009.

“I became involved in greyhounds in 2016 and they have been a real positive for me. Of course they do have their ups and downs and I do put pressure on myself. If the dog wins on Thursday night I will be the one crying.

“(Race caller) Anthony Jeffress owns the local pie shop near where I live and I am always there. I told him that if Hotel Whisky One won his heat I will be crying.”

When the dog duly saluted Jeffress announced: ‘Matty Vincent, get the tear in the eye because Hotel Whisky One is home. You’re in the Final.”