Previous trainer gives 'Creek' newcomer a ringing endorsement

By Pat McLeod

Queensland country conditioner Eric Conroy has received a ringing endorsement before debuting top New South Wales sprinter Modern Swinger at Albion Park on Thursday night.

The message to Conroy from the dog’s previous trainer, Nowra’s Chris O’Brien, was short and to the point: “This will be the best dog that you have ever had.”

O’Brien should know.

He has had the collar and lead on Modern Swinger for all of his 32 starts for 13 wins and six placings for $81,650 in prize money.

Those wins include last year’s NSW National Sprint Championship Final over 520 metres at Wentworth Park.

“He (Modern Swinger) is a very good dog,” O’Brien said.

“He has had a couple of very minor injuries. But, he is ready to go again. I am disappointed to lose him. He is just a very lovely animal, a beautiful dog. I miss him already.”

O’Brien said there was a very simple reason why the dog had been sent to Conroy in Queensland.

“The owners decided to sell,” O’Brien said.

“But, I will be watching on Thursday night.’

Conroy, who is based in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, does the majority of his racing at Bundaberg, but is keen to bring quality dogs to Albion Park.

His career highlight was taking local dog Springview Magic through to victory in the $75,000-to-the-winner 2023 Bundaberg Cup.

“At the moment I'm trying to get better dogs in my kennel. I want to be competitive,” Conroy explains.

“If the right dog comes along, I will buy it. I saw this dog was for sale and I thought I would give him a go.

“What impressed me about Modern Swinger, was in one of his most recent runs he got into all sorts of trouble and finished out of a placing, but didn’t stop trying.

“He just kept going. He certainly didn't give up."

Conroy says his new kennel star is a very keen chaser.

“Other than that, I don't know too much about the dog. I rang up the connections and made them an offer," Conroy said. 

“I approached them before his last start (a heat of the Bulli Gold Cup), but they wanted to hang onto him for that race.

“I paid $22,000 for him. That’s no secret, but it’s the most I have ever paid for a dog.

“My plan now is to race him at Albion, although originally I had bought him with a consideration of aiming for the Bundaberg Cup (the Final is next Monday).

“But, I decided to keep him at Albion. Thursday night is a good field so it will be a good first up test for the dog.”

Modern Swinger will exit from box one in a best eight race at 'The Creek', which includes successful Group performer Magistrate (trained by Greg Stella), Col Graham’s form chaser Seven Sinners, and Cyndie Elson’s evergreen race bitch Cincinnati Lana ($147,790 in prize money).

Although this will be Modern Swinger’s first race at Albion Park Conroy has trialled him there twice.

“I have given him two post-to-posts at Albion Park and he improved by three lengths for the second one,” Conroy said.

“He ran a pretty smart time, so I am very happy with the dog.

“He likes box one so I'm very happy with the draw. This is a strong field with Magistrate the biggest danger, but I believe my dog can be very competitive in this race.”