Rusty chasing another chance at winter feature success

By Pat McLeod

A year on, trainer Rusty Dillon is preparing for another winter greyhound feature.

The Bundaberg Young Guns Final over 460 metres on Monday may not be up there with last year’s Flying Amy Classic at Albion Park, but for Dillon the small fish are always sweet.

The popular conditioner from Postmans Ridge, at the foot of the Toowoomba range, has Easy To See in the decider and likes the youngster’s chances.

“His biggest asset is that he gets out of the boxes pretty quickly, especially for a big dog,” Dillon explains. 

“Almost always he puts himself into a race. He did that in the heat on Monday and had every chance after jumping well and putting himself in a good position.

“Another Level (trained by Gerard Bowe) is a pretty strong dog and got up underneath my dog and got about half a length to length ahead.

“But, then Easy To See came back and was just beaten in a very close finish.”

Dillon actually has ownership interests in two runners in the Final, Easy To See and litter mate Paris Will Wait, trained by Kevin Bryant, who is based at Tiaro on the Fraser Coast, just south of Maryborough.

Dillon and Bryant are part of the syndicate that owns six of the 11-pup No Easy Beat and Nurse Meg litter.

Paris Will Wait ran a best of the night 26.23 seconds in winning Monday’s other Young Guns heat.

“It will be a very competitive Final,” Dillon said. 

“There is a lot of talk about how close this Final will be, but we are happy to have two runners in the Final and two quick beginners.

“I'm a little confident that Easy To See will be a little improved from that run. He hasn't been around that tight circuit for a little while and so should be improved.

“Obviously whatever gets around that first turn in front will have a big advantage. It would be nice to see the brother and sister turning for home together.”

Monday’s Bundaberg meeting was a good one for Dillon, with another member of the litter, Paris Can Wait (Kevin Bryant) winning the opening race, a maiden over 460 metres.

A fourth litter mate, Big Easy Al, trained by the third member of the syndicate, Tracey Parker, placed second in race nine and then the Dillon-trained Unique, owned  by well-known industry identity Desley Williams, won race three. 

Dillon recently raced four of the dogs he is involved with – litter mates Big Easy Al, Power Of Max, Easy To See and also Unique – during a three-and-a-half week southern trip to see his mother, who lives at Tooradin, near Cranbourne, Victoria.

“We raced at Geelong, Sale and Warragul with the dogs more than paying their way and all have come back better race dogs,” he said.

“Trips like that can freshen up and focus race dogs, who seem to improve by racing at a different track.”

This time last year owner and trainer Geoffrey Scott-Smith, from Pakenham, Victoria, a good mate of Dillon’s, brought up two quality chasers, litter mates Dundee Rebel and Dundee Smokey for the Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival. 

They were left in Dillon’s care, who then guided Dundee Rebel to victory in the $150,000-to-the winner, Group 2 Flying Amy Classic.

That night is the high point of Dillon’s greyhound career to date.

“Winning the Flying Amy last year with Dundee Rebel is such a fantastic memory,” he said.

“Especially for my good mate, who has been so good to me over the years sending good dogs up for me, so loyal.

“He showed so much faith in me leaving his dogs with me for that carnival. It was a great night, one that I definitely will never forget.”

Dillon isn’t in Thursday night’s Flying Amy Classic this time around, But, is looking forward to his chance of success at Bundaberg on Monday.

“It doesn't matter if it is the brother (Easy To See) or the sister (Paris Will Wait),” he said.

“Same litter and same owners, so I will be just as happy either way.”