Warren Nicholls buoyed by kennel's youngsters

By Jordan Gerrans

After the recent retirement of long-term kennel star Days Of Thunder, Churchable’s Warren Nicholls is on the hunt for an outstanding youngster or two to fill the void.

The Queensland trainer will have an array of options to choose from in the coming months with the conditioner set to start as many as 20 debutants in the near future. 

Of the brigade that have already made their first race day appearance, Nicholls has high hopes for Kia Kaha and Inconspicuous who as a combination have won eight of their nine career starts.

Inconspicuous will be out to keep his unblemished career record alive when he faces a strong field for the prestigious annual Dave Brett Memorial Final over 520 metres at Albion Park on Thursday night.

The Dave Brett Memorial remains one of Queensland’s most revered novice and maiden series decades after its inception.

Inconspicuous was a heat winner of the series in 29.96 seconds on Wednesday of last week and has drawn four for Thursday’s decider.

From an Orson Allen and Common Ground litter, Nicholls was a little worried about Inconspicuous’ immaturity before his first start but the veteran dog man says his unbeaten youngster has just improved with racing.

After debuting in the first week of August, the white brindle dog has put three in a line and Nicholls thinks he will continue to grow and mature with more racing.

“He is coming along super, he is getting better every time you put him around,” the trainer said.

“At every start you can tell he has learnt something or got a little bit more mature.

“He has turned into a nice little race dog actually and he will be pretty exciting I think.

“He broke in above average but he was very immature and within the first couple of weeks he lost that silliness and has matured more so.”

Nicholls and the recently retired Days Of Thunder enjoyed a stunning ride over the last few years.

The combination saluted in the Group 3 Origin Distance race in 2022, won a Chairman’s Cup as well as placing in a Group 1 Queensland Cup.

While Nicholls and Days Of Thunder raced at Group level throughout the bitch's career, the trainer will break new ground on Thursday night.

The Dave Brett Memorial Final will be the first time Nicholls will have a starter in a feature maiden or novice level event.

“The box draw does not really worry me with the quick ones inside,” he said of commencing from the four alley.

“If we can get a sit behind them and get out of the way of the three dog (Distant Flash)

“Hopefully we can get to the rail like we did last week and we might be sitting pretty after that.

“The one (Hotel Whisky One) and the two (Speed Zone) can fight it out early and we can sit on their hammer.”

Inconspicuous’ kennel mate Kia Kaha is another newcomer from the Nicholls team that is tracking along nicely.

Kia Kaha has just one defeat on her resume from six career attempts.

She won in 30.25 seconds over 520 metres at her most recent win in the middle of September.

Nicholls estimates he has 20 newcomers set to start for the first time in the coming eight weeks and says he hopes he has ‘three or four handy ones in the bunch’.

“I think she will be something,” Nicholls said of Kia Kaha.

“We have got a couple of other pups that have broken in and look like they will be the goods as well so they will start soon.

“I am confident we will be right as we have a few handy ones coming through.”

Days Of Thunder has run her last race on the track but she will continue to give plenty to Nicholls and proud owner Clinton Gill as a brood bitch.

She collected $336,365 in career stakes, which is $250,000 more than any other chaser Nicholls has ever prepared, according to statistics on The Greyhound Recorder.

Meanwhile, star Sunshine State chaser Black Comanche made a winning return to the track on Wednesday afternoon at Capalaba.

Black Comanche had been off the racing scene since November of last year after suffering a hock injury in a heat of the Ipswich Gold Cup.

The Group 3-placed Black Comanche had won 15 times from 33 attempts before the setback, which appeared likely to end his career.

He returned with a stylish 19.92 second performance up the Capalaba straight on Wednesday in a best of the day time through seven races.