Smorgasbord of talent displayed on QGOLD Finals night

By Pat McLeod

Two veterans, another two youngsters eager to showcase their true ability and a boom litter all stood out amid a smorgasbord of riches during Thursday’s QGOLD Finals night at Albion Park.

The official opening night of the 2024 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival included seven Finals across a variety of classes and distances for Queensland-bred chasers.

The headline act, the QGOLD Winter Chase Final over 600 metres, was scripted as the continuing rise of Cyndie Elson’s Cyndie’s Cyndie, however the track-hardened Blue Hornet forced a re-write.

The versatile Ray and Mary Burman-trained chaser proved he is far from a spent force after 82 race starts.

The Sennachie and Champagne Sally chaser made the most of box one, blitzing the start and was never challenged, scooting to a six-and-a-half-length win over Cyndie’s Cyndie, with Blue Steel (trained by Jamie Hosking) third, in a time of 35.24 seconds. 

A quietly rapt Mary Burman applauded Blue Hornet’s career, which has now amassed $282,010 in prize money from 26 wins and 29 placings.

“He is always competitive in the major races and although he hasn't won any of the bigger races I am still very happy with the results,” Mary said.

“Hopefully he will continue to improve during this campaign as we now go into the heats of the (Group 2 600 metres) Cyndie’s Magic (at Albion Park next Thursday night).

“There is no doubt he is still a class dog and can compete at this level. He is three years old and we are also considering moving him back up to 700 metres later in the carnival.

“Having said that, I think the 600 metres is his best distance.”

Another greyhound revisiting glory days on Thursday night was Greg Deering’s Times Three, who just edged out Karen Kleinhans’ Mystical Lulu in the opening QGOLD event, the QGOLD Blitz Final over 331 metres.

Times Three, a career ‘shorts’ success story, shot to prominence early last year when he moved up to the 520 metres with instant success, finishing third in the Group 1 Gold Bullion behind Hello Mike and Jay Is Jay.

A continuing issue with the eye-condition pannus has severely interrupted his race career, however owner and trainer Deering said the Zambora Brockie and Kinslee dog has recently been revitalised.

“He just seems to want to chase again,” Deering said, before offering a ‘what if’ scenario.

“Before that he has just looked terrible, but for some reason he has decided to chase again. I wouldn't say that he is back to where he was, but he is still getting his wins so I'm happy just to let him go and do his thing.

“I am not sure in what direction I will head with him because he is now eligible for Masters. If he keeps running and keeps improving back to where he was, well, who knows?

“I threw him in the deep end and he came third in the Gold Bullion, so we will just see what happens.”

Thursday night proved to be the perfect platform for two younger chasers to truly show their headline ability.

Ryan Ayre’s That’s Nuts claimed the QGOLD Rookies Final over 520 metres, while Brian Baker’s Waikarie Molly exerted her dominance in the QGOLD Bolt Final.

“I have got a pretty big opinion of this dog, so while I am a still a little bit disappointed with the run, I am relieved to get the result,” Ayre said.

That’s Nuts claimed a three-quarters-of-a-length win over John Watts’ Royal Voltage with Cheers For Bella (Tony Apap) third.

“I just think he (That’s Nuts) has got a 29.80, 29.90 second run in him and he just hasn't quite developed and put it all together yet on race day," Ayre said. 

“He has shown me a lot off the track. I will take him ahead slowly and maybe develop him towards a race like a Townsville Cup or something like that.

“He is certainly not ready to take on the dogs that are coming here over this carnival.”

That’s Nuts suffered a laceration during his Vince Curry campaign and then was kept off the track with a back injury.

Baker said he now had a decision to make, whether to keep Waikarie Molly over the 395 metres for the upcoming ‘Thunder’ feature race on Super night at Albion Park (June 16 and 20) or to head back up to the more lucrative 520 metre carnival races.

“She just came out humming. I am really happy with the run and she has run the time,” Baker said of the 22.49 second performance.

“We just have to make a decision in which direction to go to now for the remainder of this carnival. But, she is a wonderful dog, a joy to train.”

Baker had even more reasons to celebrate on Thursday night, with his ‘breeding barn’ in the spotlight.

A litter mate of Waikarie Molly, the Karen Kleinhans-trained Mystical Beck, claimed the QGOLD Stayers Final over 710 metres.

That win was a career highlight for Kleinhans.

“I have never won anything like this,” Kleinhans said.

“It makes all the hard work you put into them worthwhile. I love my dogs. They mean everything to me and this one (Mystical Beck) will definitely get a cheeseburger and a big ice cream on the way home.

“That was a mighty run and a personal best . She is a little workaholic. She loves to work hard. Around the kennels you wouldn't know that she is there. She is very quiet, except on race days when she is all business. As far as ‘What’s next?’

“We will just have to see what races are coming up, but in a way I believe she can step up to the next level because she is a real little professional.”

Successful trainer and breeder Travis Elson has moved his focus to next week’s heats of the age-restricted Group 1 Flying Amy Classic over 520 metres after his super-quick litter dominated Thursday night’s QGOLD Emerging Sprinters Final. 

A total of six of Elson’s Fernando Bale and Nan's Magic litter were on show, with Travis’s Scrub taking out the Emerging Sprinter’s crown with litter mates Super Scrub third and Aidan’s Queen fourth.

Sandra Hunt’s Mustang Hayze was second.

Also on Thursday night’s program, other members of the litter, Hope’s Zone, ran third in the QGOLD Blitz Final, Danger Zone was fourth in a race while Speed Zone was just edged out after a terrific battle with Tony Brett’s Daintree Idol later in the program. 

“I will certainly nominate all six for the heats of the Flying Amy,” Elson said.

“I put them in the Young Guns and we pulled that off and we have put them in the QGOLD and got a good result, so why not?

“The whole litter has got speed and that puts them out there with a good chance. We can't run the times that some of the dogs can that will be competing in the Flying Amy, but they can get out in front and away from any trouble behind.”

Sean Galloway’s grand masters performer Springtime Gold won the QGOLD Veterans Final. 

“I expected her to jump out better than she did last week, so I thought surely she can't miss the kick two weeks in a row,” Galloway said.

“And, she didn't. I also thought if she was close enough, she is certainly good enough. And, she was.”