Boom sprinter Kahlo Hayze staying local

By Pat McLeod

Nathan Trigg may be in a win-win situation with outstanding young sprinter Kahlo Hayze, but one of those wins is unlikely to be in the upcoming Nationals series.

Kahlo Hayze was arguably the standout local sprinter of the recent Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival with victories in the main Cup Consolation, a Cup Prelude and a heat of the QGold Emerging sprinters.

She was also second to Zipping Megatron in her Brisbane Cup heat.

However Trigg, who bred and owns the Orson Allen x Dolcetto Hayze chaser, isn’t keen on a Nationals campaign.

Kahlo Hayze will contest a Best 8 (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night, but is an unlikely starter in the heats of the Queensland National Sprint (520m) the following week (August 1).

The state final will be held at ‘The Creek’ on August 8, with the winner going through to contest The Nationals Sprint Championship at South Australia’s Angle Park on Saturday night, August 24.

Trigg says he is concerned that if Kahlo Hayze was to win through the State series, an away trip may have a detrimental effect on the youngster.

“The Nationals at the moment are not in the frame for Kahlo Hayze,” he said.

“I will be honest, and people may wonder why, but we have decided at this stage, probably ‘no’.

“The rationale is difficult to explain, but she is not the type of bitch that we want to send away to travel at the moment.

“She has a few of her own little idiosyncrasies, and we would hate to upset her current form and confidence.

“Yes, it would be great if she was able to win (the state crown) and then go away for The Nationals, but it is a catch-22 scenario.

“I'm just concerned that the trip away will affect her. The whole litter has some little, quirky traits.

“It is a hard decision and there were discussions this week around this.

“We might change our mind, but at the moment The Nationals for Kahlo Hayze is unlikely.”

That dilemma aside, the Bundaberg-based Nathan and wife Tracy Trigg combination are experiencing a stellar ride with this current litter.

The seven ‘pups’ have all experienced race success with their combined prize money now at almost $400,000.

But the undisputed star is Kahlo Hayze who has amassed a prize pool of $197,150 from her 30 starts for 17 wins and five placings.

While the exceptional bitch is a track success story under the tutelage of South East Queensland trainer Sandra Hunt, Nathan Trigg has already identified her as the next super bitch for their breeding barn.

“We are stoked with the way this litter is going, really stoked,” he said.

“I always had an opinion of Kahlo Hayze, knowing what she had done at home, in trials, her temperament etc.

“When she got to Sandra’s she probably didn't hit her stride straight away and then I started to think that I had given Sandra a bum steer.

“I very rarely talk a dog up, but I had talked this one up a bit.

“But she has since come along.”

Trigg said he was now hopeful of success on and off the track with Kahlo Hayze.

“Yes, it is a bit of a win-win situation,” he said.

“She is doing well on the track, but also ticking all the boxes as far as what we are looking for in our next brood bitch.”

Trigg also praised Hunt’s contribution.

“We were looking for someone to take on a few dogs to make it a little easier for us instead of travelling down to Brisbane,” he explains.

“(Yandina trainer) Travis (Elson) put us on to Sandra and the result has been great. She has done a fantastic job for us.

“It couldn't have worked out better. Her training and feeding routines are very similar to ours so it is an easy transition for the dogs.

“What stands out about Sandra is that she goes to the race meeting every week to win. “Obviously the dogs can't always be winning, but you know that if she's taking the dog there she's going there to win.

“She's there with purpose. We can't thank her enough for what she has done.”

Kahlo Hayze (Box 6) faces a stiff test to continue her three-on-the-trot winning run on Thursday night.

Major threats include Cyndie’s Cyndie (Cyndie Elson – Box 8), Cluster (Selena Zammit – Box 7), Dino Way (Michael Lalicz – Box 4), Seven Sinners (Col Graham – Box 2) and Bear’s Bullet (Travis Elson – Box 5).