Hoshino is flying but beware ‘The Bear’

By Pat McLeod

Hoshino may have nailed the fastest time at Albion Park on Thursday night, winning a heat of the Molly Campbell Silver Dollars, but training maestro Mick Zammit immediately anointed fellow heat winner Golden Bear as the dog to beat in next week’s Final.

“I believe Golden Bear is one of the best dogs in Queensland,” Mick Zammit said.

Hoshino posted a 29.92 second win in the third and final heat of the historic age-restricted race.

“I have an enormous wrap on that dog," Mick Zammit said.

Golden Bear (trained by Adam Mcintosh) won the second heat in 29.94 seconds.

They were the only two dogs to break 30 seconds on a track that offered a slower surface after several days of rain.

“This will be a very competitive Final with the box draw the key,” Mick Zammit said.

“My bloke needs to be near the fence, but of course it also depends on which dogs are around him. He is not a good beginner, but he can’t afford to give these dogs much of a start.”

Hoshino (from an Aston Dee Bee and Rasheda litter) came to prominence during the 2024 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival, winning a heat of the Group 1 Flying Amy Classic.

The dog’s mentors, Selena and Mick Zammit, gave the youngster a month’s break after that carnival, bringing him back for Thursday night’s heats.

“That was a good run,” Mick Zammit said.

Hoshino accounted for Big Boy Bentley (Ray Burman) and Spirit Boy (Craig Gardoll).

“He was probably a little bit underdone, but he is a very talented dog," Mick Zammit said.

“We gave him an ease-up for a few weeks because he had some good racing against some tough dogs and being a young dog, we just thought we would give him a break for a while.

“This one is a different sort of dog. He has trialled times that are airborne. You don’t see dogs go much quicker than that. But, there is a chance that he will eventually be a stayer, so we will see.”

Ipswich conditioner Mcintosh was pleased, but partly relieved after Golden Bear’s win over Autumn Storm (Tom Tzouvelis) and That’s Nuts (Ryan Ayre).

The Zambora Brockie and Golden Joy chaser finished second to Travis Elson’s Super Scrub in the Final of the Brisbane Young Guns at Albion Park in early May.

Mcintosh returned the speedster to the track at Ipswich, where he collected the Young Guns crown there.  

“He came out only fair, because he was a little bit fresh, but he worked hard and got the job done,” Mcintosh said after the win on Thursday night.

“That win was pleasing because we have come back to the scene of the crime from a couple of months ago. We have done a bit to try to overcome that, but it may have just come down to a lack of maturity.

“I'm still trying to work him out, but what we are doing at the moment seems to be working. He is young and still learning, so hopefully he stays sound and over the next six months we will see what we have got.”

Meanwhile, there was good news on Thursday night for Pam Field, the trainer of the first of the Molly Campbell Silver Dollars heat winners, More Than Money.

Field’s Aston Rupee and More Than Magic chaser navigated around the pack on the first corner and then scooted clear to win by three-and-three-quarters-of-a-length with Daysea’s Rory (Claude Dacey) second and Zephyr (Gerald Corrigan) third, in 30.21 seconds.

While that win was thrilling, there was some other news later in the night that will no doubt give Field even more joy to be in next week’s Final with the aptly named More Than Money.

“We have been in the Final of this feature a couple of times, but have never won it,” Field explained.

“I remember when the Molly Campbell first started, I was always intrigued by the silver dollars that are part of the trophy prize.

“I used to look at the coins and think, ‘It would be very nice to win those’. But, I haven't so far. I hope they still have them.”

Club officials have confirmed that the unique silver dollars will again be part of the trophy package.

Field was rapt with her dog’s performance in the heat.

“When you get through to a Final and you race against good dogs the pleasing part of that of course is that you know you are doing well,” Field said.

“More Than Money is a good, competitive dog who has just turned two. We are happy with him and he’s actually the only dog we have racing at the moment.

“Next week, all you can ask for is that the dog goes around safely and he's able to show his best.”

In other race action at 'The Creek' on Thursday night, Kahlo Hayze may have won over 600 metres, however trainer Sandra Hunt is eagerly looking for a reason to get back to 520 metre racing with her talented speedster.

“I hope there is a nice 520 metre race on pretty soon,” Hunt said with a laugh.

Kahlo Hayze initially gapped the field by up to eight lengths, mid-race, before tiring and winning by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Renald Attard’s Mrs. Musgrave in 35.19 seconds. 

“I think she has done pretty well. She has won two from two over the 600 metres," Hunt said. 

“The track was a bit soft, which didn't help her. She needs it like concrete for her to get the 600 metres.

“The only reason we came up to the 600 metres was because there were no 520 metre first eight races on at the moment. I could not take her to the Nationals, because she would not have coped very well there.

“She is not the type of bitch that can handle those sorts of situations very well.

“It certainly was a worthwhile exercise to come up over the 600 metres because she has won both her races at that distance and it is something we can go back to at a later stage.

“However, as long as there is a suitable race we will come back down to the 520 metres.”

Also, Dennis Barnes’ lengthy northern sabbatical looks like it may continue after more success at ‘headquarters’ on Thursday night.

Barnes scored a double with Heidi Mcgraw and Nangar Gypsy.

Barnes and wife Ann hail from the NSW Central West hamlet of Cudal, just west of Orange, but have a caravan ‘satellite base’ at the Grafton track.

They are certainties every year at the Grafton winter carnival with a team of dogs and this year have stayed on to campaign, with success, at Albion Park.