Overflow Beau the first of many to head north for the summer

By Jordan Gerrans

Craig Chappelow believes he will be one of a glut of southern trainers who will look to the Sunshine State chasing summer riches with the Golden Greys Summer Carnival on the horizon.

The Oakdale-based Chappelow is in line for black-type glory on Thursday evening at Albion Park in the Group 3 Rising Stars Final over 520 metres with smart heat winner Overflow Beau.

With high-level feature racing such as the Bogie Leigh Futurity, Golden Sands, Queensland Derby, Golden Ticket and Group 1 Gold Bullion fast approaching in Queensland, Chappelow thinks many of his southern mates will also join him in looking north.

Top trainers Tom Daily, Jason Thompson, Jack Smith and Dennis Barnes, among others, are all expected to campaign classy greyhounds through the upcoming Golden Greys Summer Carnival.

Chappelow is hopeful of snapping up the Rising Stars Final on Thursday before returning for a tilt at the Derby and has not ruled out staying on if the promising Overflow Beau can continue to impress.

“It has been like that for the last 12 months with Queensland’s prize money and the way it is all run up there,” Chappelow said.

“There is a lot of Sydney trainers looking to go north.

“Just in recent times, I have started to see people use Queensland as another option after previously always going to Melbourne.

“With the prize money and the different initiatives in Queensland, it is on a lot of people's radars, that is for sure.”

The plan is for to use the Rising Stars series as a trial period to prepare Overflow Beau for the higher level racing in Brisbane in the coming months.

Chappelow’s son of Fernando Bale was sharp in last Thursday’s heat of the Rising Stars series as the blue dog had not trialled on the surface before the event.

He claimed his heat in 30.15 seconds from the seven position and will commence from slighter wider again in the Final.

Overflow Beau put the writing on the wall that he had a promising future with his early runs in NSW, running strong sectionals and going close to track records, as he has won seven of his 12 race starts.

“He has no little quirks or anything, he is a determined sort of a hard chasing dog,” Chappelow said.

“He is the right dog to have a go at some of these younger age races with.

“He proved it last week as he did not trial on the track, I thought it was a really good effort with it being his first time away.

“He ticks every box right from when he was broken in, he did everything right.

“His runs back home have given me the confidence to come up to Brisbane with him and chase these younger age races.”

Rival trainers are wary of Overflow Beau ahead of Thursday’s Final.

Veteran dog man Doug Gladman has Hudson Bay in Thursday night’s Group 3 Rising Stars Final and has his eye on the NSW visitor.

“I certainly have an opinion of Jen’s Joy (trained by Jamie Hosking) and also the Sydney dog,” trainer Gladman said. 

The Sunshine State has been a happy hunting ground for the Chappelow camp over the decades.

Chappelow -  a fourth generation Sydney greyhound trainer – first recalls making the trip north back in 2005 with former top class race bitch Frosty Fruit and they have travelled up consistently over the years since.

“She won a heat of the Futurity in 2005 and she was beaten half a head in the Final,” he remembers about Frosty Fruit.

“That lit the fire as far as coming back to Queensland to take on the Futuritys and races like that.”

Group 1-champion Embrace was a regular in Brisbane last year for Chappelow but the astute trainer notes the black bitch seemed to run best back home in NSW following trips to Queensland.

Overflow Beau and litter sister Overflow Jill – who will also go around on Thursday night at Albion Park – will camp at the Dargusch kennel at Churchable on Wednesday evening after making the long drive up. 

Chappelow would have preferred an inside draw for Thursday’s Group-level event but believes Overflow Beau will be able to make his way across safely from the wide alley.

“As long as he can go across without any interference then I think he can get up to the first turn and get a good run from there,” he said.

“He will need a bit of luck to get across but I think he can do it.

“He has a good record from the eight. He will need to step it up early to get across.”

A total of $45,000 is on offer in Thursday's Final. 

Overflow Jill is in a fifth grade race over 520 metres on Thursday evening in her first Queensland start.

She has won three of her eight career starts and been placed on three other occasions.

Conditioner Chappelow has Futurity plans with Overflow Jill in the near future.