North Queenslander Stripey Two turns attention to summer carnival

By Jordan Gerrans

With a maiden feature victory added to his resume on Tuesday evening, the team behind promising chaser Stripey Two now have 2023 Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival plans with the up-and-coming dog.

Stripey Two claimed the Townsville Young Guns Final over 380 metres on Tuesday in a sharp 21.59 seconds as the race favourite.

Having only recently turned two years of age, the Mark Partland-prepared greyhound appears to have a bright future with six wins from his first 17 attempts.

Stripey Two is owned by fellow North Queensland greyhound trainer Michael Fusco.

Following the Young Guns decider, Fusco revealed the feature Country Cup was now on the agenda for the black dog.

The Country Cup is run over 520 metres at Albion Park on the first Thursday of February, with $26,500 on offer for the regionally-trained dogs.

“We have been looking at the big country race next year in the city,” Fusco said.

“That is a race that we would like him to get to.”

Long-time North Queensland dog man Rob Lound earlier this month noted the 2023 edition of the Townsville Young Guns was set to be a particularly strong one and Stripey Two looks set to race on to higher honours from the series.

Stripey Two would need to perform well in the upcoming Townsville Country Cup qualifier to force his way into the Final at ‘Headquarters’.

He will also need to continue to step up in distance.

Stripey Two – from an Orson Allen and Slick Raven litter – has been racing mostly over 380 metres with the Country Cup heats to be contested over the longer 498 metre journey.

The promising dog has run over 498 metres twice in his young career, including qualifying for the North Queensland Cup Final against older seasoned greyhounds late last month.

Stripey Two was fast out of the boxes on Tuesday night and was not headed from there on out before scoring by almost two lengths.

Fusco praised Partland’s patience with the young dog after he had some injury queries earlier this year.

“The dog is getting better and better, stronger and stronger with every run,” the owner said.

“He had a few injuries early on which frustrated Mark and me.

“We knew he had that speed and he just had to put it all together.

“Mark has been patient with him and the last four or five runs he has been sound.

“We always knew he had the ability and hopefully he is now in the clear from an injury perspective and his times are coming down and he is getting better. He is a nice dog.”

South Townsville-based conditioner Partland has always had high hopes for Stripey Two.

“I can only see him improving, he is strong,” Partland said following a heat of the NQ Cup recently. 

As well as owning Stripey Two, Fusco also prepares his own team of dogs.

Fusco – who was previously on the committee of the Townsville Greyhound Racing Club – has focussed on his business interests outside of dogs in recent months and will aim to ramp up his training early in 2024.

He is aiming to have a six-dog kennel operation from March of next year.

“Stripey Two is owned by a group of myself and a few builder guys,” Fusco said.

“There is about five of us in it, we are in it all together with the dog still being in my name.

“Mark is doing a good job with his dogs and I support him where I can.”

Also at Townsville on Tuesday night, Danny Preh’s kennel star Plum Tuckered continued her stunning run of form by breaking the Townsville track record.

She scored in a scorching 21.35 seconds over 380 metres in best eight company.

The previous track record was 21.38 seconds set by Senor Yogi on September 12 earlier this year.

Plum Tuckered has been in stunning form of late, claiming the City Council Mayors Trophy Final over 498 metres by six lengths earlier this month as well as winning the North Queensland Cup feature just seven days before that.