Kleinhans' Mystical run with Beck

By Jordan Gerrans

Win, lose or draw - Karen Kleinhans’ demeanour does not often change at the race track.

The Burpengary-based conditioner was once told by someone else within the greyhound industry that even if her dogs get beaten, she is still happy.

In recent weeks, Kleinhans may have been a little happier than usual after Mystical Beck came from the clouds. 

The brindle bitch was a QGOLD Final winner over the staying trip last month in 42.26 seconds before going to another level and claiming a heat of the Group 3 The Dashing Corsair to qualify for Thursday’s Final.

Kleinhans refers to herself as a ‘novice’ trainer after only holding a licence for five years and understands her bitch faces an almighty task of toppling staying star Valpolicella in the rich Final.

“She has exceeded all expectations,” the Burpengary trainer said of Mystical Beck. 

“I have never been in this kind of situation as a trainer. Whatever she does on Thursday night – even if she just comes a place – then she has done all we have asked of her.

“I am so proud to be here as I never thought I would have a dog to race in these kind of races.”

Karen has taken over the majority of the duties at the Kleinhans' kennel after her husband Lester faced several health challenges over the last couple of decades.

Karen was a handler for some 20 years before taking on the training licence after Lester stepped away.

She has prepared some good dogs over the years, including Mystical Lulu who won five races on the trot at one stage while Waikarie Bell was another stayer she prepared.

From a Tommy Shelby and Wheatacre mating, Mystical Beck might just surpass those couple and the rest once she has finished her racing career.

Still only two years of age with 33 starts under her belt, Kleinhans is optimistic there is still plenty of high level racing to come from her ‘Beck’.

She has drawn the pink for Thursday’s Final, an alley she has won from twice as well as being placed on three other occasions from five attempts.

“It has been very satisfying as I work hard with my dogs,” Kleinhans said.

“I know my dogs inside out and it is really rewarding to get to this stage.

“It is hard to describe the feeling I have when she goes over that winning line – she tries her little heart out.

“She has that much heart and she is such a hard chasing dog.

Experienced trainer Brian Baker has worked closely with the Kleinhans team in recent years and bred the Tommy Shelby and Wheatacre litter.

Kleinhans was quick to thank Baker and his family for all their help over the years.

Baker thinks there is more to come with Mystical Beck.

“She is green as grass over the longer distance, but her potential is yet untapped,” Baker said.

“She will get under 42 seconds and she is not near her best yet.

"One of her biggest assets is that she is such a relaxed dog, in her racing. She is all-business, but not stressed.”

Wheatacre never raced past 520 metres so Kleinhans was surprised to see the brood bitch produce a promising stayer.

To be racing in Group events over the 2024 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival, Kleinhans is beaming.

The trainer says her top bitch never set the world on fire running over shorter trips but as she was always a back marker, she thought about stepping up her distances as she progressed.

Mystical Beck won at her first look over 600 metres and the bitch’s staying future was locked in from there.

She is yet to finish outside the money in five attempts over 710 metres.

“I never thought she would be a distance stayer – I had questions when we put her up to 600 metres,” she said.

“She has blown me off the map with what she has done.

“She is good out of the boxes and is such a calm dog.”

Superstar Valpolicella will be heavily favoured to kick off her carnival campaign with another Group triumph on Thursday night ahead of what shapes as a big winter campaign for the bitch.

Valpolicella will commence from the five and is edging closer to the magical $1 million in career stakes milestone.

“She will be very hard to beat,” Kleinhans said of Valpolicella.

“She is the fastest staying bitch in Australia.

“If Beck comes a place for me in the Final, I will still be rapt with what she has done. She is only a baby and still has a lot of races left in her.”

Valpolicella is a $1.40 chance with bookmakers as of Wednesday for the Final with Mystical Beck on the next line of betting at $4.

Mystical Beck was late last month named in Queensland’s State Of Origin squad for the 2024 series.