Charles ready to unleash the best of Saige Tenniele

By Jordan Gerrans

Already a Group 1 champion, trainer Kody Charles feels his top bitch Saige Tenniele is ready to show her absolute best after two lacklustre runs to begin her Queensland campaign.

The Group 1 National Sprint Championship Final winner from the middle of last year has not set the world on fire in her two Albion Park appearances so far – running fourth at her first look before finishing seventh last Thursday evening.

However, the Western Australian-based trainer thinks the performances were much better than the form guide suggests.

There was another disappointing effort back on home soil at Cannington before making the trip across, as well.

Ahead of Thursday’s prized Golden Ticket heats, Saige Tenniele and Charles – alongside kennel lieutenant Anita Watts – made a trip into Albion Park on Tuesday morning, which the team think will sharpen the dog up for her third appearance in the Sunshine State.

Charles and his quality bitch walked on the track for around 60 metres and gave her a feel for the lure.

“I got what I wanted out of it and hopefully it will give her a little bit of confidence for Thursday,” the visiting dog man said.

“She has just had a bit of a tune-up in the head.”

Charles has set-up camp at Rob Essex’s kennels for the summer campaign and has declared the preparation has been perfect so far.

The team have already enjoyed Group glory in their short stay. It is the Charles kennel's first venture across to Queensland.

Daddy’s Girl for Charles overcame local hope Kia Kaha in the $112,500 Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity Final last Thursday evening.

There were emotional scenes between Watts and Charles following the victory.

The WA trainer praised Watts and Essex for their efforts with his dogs while they have been in Queensland.

“Anita has been a big part of it,” Charles said.

“She has done her bit and plenty of credit needs to go to her, as well as Rob.”

Watts has worked with plenty of top dogs in her tenure in the sport but joked that Daddy’s Girl’s victory last week was as close as she has ever got to being involved with a Group 1 winner.

If Saige Tenniele runs up to her potential over the coming weeks, there is every chance the Group 2 Bogie Leigh Futurity result might just be bettered.

Saige Tenniele has drawn three in her heat for the coveted Golden Ticket of 2024.

The Golden Ticket has quickly become a popular event through the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival in recent years.

The heats of the Golden Ticket are conducted as four-dog shoot-outs on Thursday, with the Final run as four two-dog match races the following week – with the winner determined by the fastest time.

Charles – who has been involved in all three codes of racing across his life – feels the format should suit his speedster.

“I really expect her to go super on Thursday night and I expect her to qualify,” he said.

“In her first two runs, she has been unlucky and barring bad luck on Thursday – there is no excuses for the dog not to perform.

“The small field will certainly suit her and from the three, she should be able to find the fence and it will be ideal. She gets her chance to bounce back over here and show what we think is capable of.”

Saige Tenniele – from a Bernardo and Abstract Miss litter – has drawn Oh Minnie from the Jamie Hosking team and fellow locals Another Chance and Inconspicuous in her heat.

All-importantly to Charles, he is glad to have dodged Albion Park specialist Jay Is Jay this Thursday but understands the track record holder is likely to be waiting come the Final.

Bogie Leigh Futurity champion Daddy’s Girl has ended her summer campaign in the Sunshine State and has headed back to WA.

The interstate kennels have dominated so far this carnival with all three majors going to interstate dogs last Thursday evening.

Charles - a fourth generation racing participant - is hopeful that trend will continue and is keen to unleash his Group 1 star and for her to finally show her class on Thursday night and through the rest of the carnival.

“The initial thought is that when you do not qualify for the Final then you are disappointed but when I sat down and analysed the race, I think she was super,” the WA trainer said of her first-up run in the state.

“She got back to eight lengths behind them and got caught to just over two lengths on the line. I thought the run had plenty of merit.

“And, in her run the other night, I think she began too good for her and she was just wiped out on the first corner.

“Her run home time was still the second fastest of the race so I think when we analyse the race, I don’t think the dog has gone bad and she deserves to stay on with her campaign.”

Following Thursday’s heats, the Golden Ticket series progresses towards four two-dog match races where the fastest greyhound on the clock will be awarded the elusive Golden Ticket and receives an automatic berth in the Group 1 $375,000 Gold Bullion on February 1.