Villante continues northern travel to 'Rocky'

By Jordan Gerrans

Villante was able to run into a minor placing in the Bundaberg Cup last month and the dog’s northern odyssey rolls along in Friday’s Group 2 Rockhampton Cup.

Churchable greyhound man Chris Brydon says his 18-time career winner just thrives on travelling.

In between trips to ‘Bundy’ and ‘Rocky’, Villante and Brydon made their way to Sydney for a heat of the prized Golden Easter Egg.

While the black dog did not advance through the rich series, the trip away just underlined Villante’s comfort in going far and wide trying to win feature races.

“He is just a really good traveller and is easy to do anything with,” Brydon said.

“He is a really easy going dog and these long trips away do not really worry him too much. I actually think he enjoys it.

“I was stoked to run second in that race at Bundaberg.”

The Brydon kennel were recently awarded with the Capalaba Trainer of the Year prize at the annual greyhound awards.

Villante – who not long ago ticked over to three years of age – has done his fair share of racing up the grass straight at Capalaba, winning on four occasions and running into the money on four more times.

“He is our favourite dog and he is going really well at the moment – we are really happy with him,” the trainer said.

“Hopefully he can improve just a little bit again in the Final at Rockhampton and get a little bit of luck around that first corner and then you never know your luck.”

It was only Golden Easter Egg Finalist All Natural who finished ahead of Villante in last month's Group 2 Bundaberg Cup.

All Natural will not be at Callaghan Park for Friday’s Cup in Central Queensland but Travis Elson’s Bear’s Bullet is a worthy replacement as the big-name chaser in the field.

The Group 1 Ipswich Cup champion from last year landed in the Rocky decider by finishing second to Heffernan Bale in last week’s opening heat.

Just three races later, Villante won through to his second regional Cup in 29.74 seconds.

Brydon thinks Bear’s Bullet will be mighty hard to hold out on Friday night over the 510 metre journey.

Villante headed north for the 2023 Rocky Cup series so had some familiarity with the surroundings last week.

Inevitable was the fastest qualifier for the Final, getting home in 29.46 seconds, and is being prepared by Sarina dog man Steven Scott after he purchased the greyhound from the Selena Zammit kennel.

Brydon was pleased with how Villante ran in last Friday’s heat.

“I was really happy,” he said.

“He is never great out of the boxes and he is the type of dog that needs luck going through that first corner.

“We were lucky enough to get it in the heat as he is quite strong, so once he got through to second down the back I was always confident he may be able to go close. I was rapt with it.”

Villante will commence from five in Friday’s Final with Brydon noting the draw should not worry his chaser as he is usually slow away from the machine.

Before Friday’s $112,500 Cup rolls around, the Brydon kennel have three runners in the city on Thursday: Billie Cash Kid, Garrison and Tails Bale. 

Tommy Shelby youngster Billie Cash Kid broke through for the first win of his career on Saturday after running eight minor placings previously.

“He is probably going to be up against it in a city novice race but he has drawn good in box one,” the trainer said of Billie Cash Kid.

“Hopefully he can punch up, find the front and keep kicking then he will be a place chance.

“His last few starts before he won his maiden was in open company in the auction series, which he raced well in as a maiden dog.

“It was good to finally get the win in the board as he has been knocking on the door for some time now.”