Quick performance confirms Pam’s ‘fastest ever’ chaser

By Pat McLeod

Veteran South East Queensland greyhound identities Pam and John Field are celebrating the fastest dog of their lengthy training careers, after More Than Money sped to a new level at Albion Park on Thursday night.

In a solid, but abridged best eight race, the home-bred sprinter scored by five and a half lengths in a best of night 29.74 seconds – the only greyhound to break 30 seconds on the program.

In his wake was Sharyn Jackson’s Mr. Springtime and $1.45 favourite Kahlo Hayze, who struck trouble while attempting to navigate through the six-dog field.

“This is the fastest dog we have ever had,” Pam Field said.

“We have trained dogs that have broken 30 seconds before, but I am sure we have never had one that has gotten down to that time. I did not expect him to win, but I think the vacant box inside (box three) really helped him.

“I think that allowed him to settle early and get away to a good start and then he was on the bunny and of course that really helps.

“That is an incredible personal best for him. That first section (5.48 seconds) is by far the best he has gone. He has really put in. He worked really hard.

“He recently turned two and is blooming. We have also got him at his best weight, which is 32.5kgs. His best times have always been around that weight.”

Tom Tzouvelis may have been in Townsville preparing his team for a Cup assault there, but he also maintained his incredible winning run at Albion Park, with ‘comeback kid’, Showpiece, taking the honours in a fifth grade heat over 600 metres on Thursday night.

The Konomi and Sherbini chaser was one of six winners for Tzouvelis at Albion Park the previous Thursday night and continued that form with a three-quarters of a length win over Gattlin Glass (trained by Trevor Lindsay), with $1.45 favourite Professor Snitch (Ian Hoggan) third.

Senior Tzouvelis kennel trainer Jedda Cutlack said Showpiece was finally getting a shot at her right distance.

“Showpiece has been frustrating across her career,” Cutlack said.

“The litter, as they came through, they were all good. She was probably one of the better ones, but then there were injury issues and then she came on season, and eventually we sent her back to her owners to retire after dropping a back muscle.

“But, she wasn’t ready to retire, has returned to racing and is really excelling again.

“To win was special because we always thought 600 metres would be her best distance and she showed us that is probably the case.”

Race veteran Daysea’s Rowdy kept a good field in his rear-vision mirror with an excellent start in a race over 520 metres.

The litter brother to track great Jay Is Jay showed the tenacity of a champion to win by three-quarters of a length over the very slick Zephyr (Gerald Corrigan), with Khatanga Tex (Col Hamilton) third, in 30.35 seconds.

“That was a very nice win. He just got out in front and was strong enough to stay there,” Rob Dacey, son of trainer Claude Dacey, said. 

“He is a very consistent dog. You know that he will give everything that he has.

“This was a very good field, but we thought he would at least place because he just seemed to be feeling really good.

“He is such a great natured dog and fantastic to have around the kennels.”

Daysea’s Rowdy’s prize money tally moved to $143,870, after 15 wins and 36 placings from 77 starts.

The Tim Britton kennel rearranged the deck chairs in Thursday night’s 710 metre free for all race.

The Churchable-based Britton has dominated the distance feature in recent weeks at Albion Park with rising star Red Dirt Road winning six-straight at track and distance.

However, that winning run came to a halt, courtesy of veteran kennel mate First Picked, who scored by four and three quarters of a length, with another from the same kennel, Shine A Light (Martina Kirillidis) second and Red Dirt Road third.

First Picked (from a Benali and Erelda Bale litter) had run second to Red Dirt Road in her past three outings, but turned the tables in a respectable 41.83 seconds. 

In earlier racing on Thursday night, wily trainer Sean Galloway quinellaed a free for all (600 metres) with litter sisters Springtime Rose and Springtime Girl.

The veteran pair (from a Fernando Bale and Spring Time Girl litter) outshone the $1.50 favourite, Amendola (Tom Tzouvelis), with Springtime Rose taking the honours in 34.99 seconds.