Darguschs wayward arrival is on the straight road to success

By Pat McLeod

Casey and Alan Dargusch’s week-long holiday in Bali has felt just that little more relaxing on the back of an exciting, but slightly wayward, kennel addition.

Last Sunday, the day before jetting to their island getaway, recent arrival Victory Road upset Capalaba ‘king’ Valhalla in the straight track’s Grand Prix Final. 

The narrow win, in a smart 19.66 seconds, didn’t come as a complete surprise to the Churchable couple, who operate the Golden View greyhound complex.

“We were quietly confident that at some stage Victory Road could run some very quick times at Capalaba and challenge the likes of Valhalla, but we didn't expect it to happen as soon as last Sunday,” Casey said.

“We knew that he was a good chance in the race, with where he drew (box six). He is not quick early, but like Valhalla, he is a very strong finisher.

“That win last Sunday over Valhalla was certainly a very nice scalp to take. So, surprised, but in some ways not surprised because we know how quick he can run.”

The arrival of Victory Road (from a Premium Share and Corporate Storm litter) came via their friendship with former Churchable neighbours, and highly regarded greyhound conditioners, Christine and Dave Robartson, now based in Mandurah, Western Australia.

“Dave was just frustrated at how wide he (Victory Road) was running on the circle,” Casey explains.

“He just wasn't performing the way that he knows he can because of his wide running.

“He asked us if we wanted another straight track dog, and we said ‘yes’.

“Victory Road is a very fast dog. The times that he has run at Cannington are phenomenal.”

The Darguschs have also accepted Victory Road’s litter brother, Derice, as a gift from the Robartsons.

Derice is almost as quick, but also shares his brother’s wayward running style.

Casey said the increased prize money and feature race opportunities in straight racing added to the allure of the new arrivals.

“There are great opportunities now in straight track racing, especially compared to the prize money we used to race for up the straight,” she said.

“Having a handy straight track dog these days more than pays for itself.

“We certainly are considering features such as the upcoming Capalaba Cup for Victory Road.

“He still has plenty of improvement in him. He has only had half a dozen looks at the track with a couple of trials and four races there.

“I have no doubt that he can run some very fast times at Capalaba.

“We are hopeful that he can reach that next level and I think he can.

“If he can improve his first and middle sections then that would go a long way to achieving some big goals up the straight, because he is a very strong dog.

“Without sounding too cocky, but considering the times that he has run at Cannington it gives me a bit of hope that he can get down to the really quick times.”

Casey and Alan fly back from Bali Saturday night, just in time to see Victory Road’s next assignment, a best eight, at Capalaba on Sunday.