The gifted Moustache Mick a natural like his mother

By Jordan Gerrans

North Queensland trainer Rhonda Essery is dreaming of landing home-bred ‘kennel favourite’ Moustache Mick in next month’s rich Townsville Cup via Tuesday evening’s Wildcard Final.

The locals get the first chance to book their position in the Townsville Cup Final, to be run over 498 metres on September 6 with $112,500 on the line. 

The Townsville Wildcard offers direct entry into the premier event in NQ greyhound racing for locally-prepared chasers.

Moustache Mick has drawn the pink for Tuesday’s $24,000 contest after winning his heat in 29.29 seconds last week.

Moustache Mick is a son of Essery’s brood bitch Naturally Gifted who still calls her Burdell kennel home.

After two litters, Naturally Gifted has called time on her breeding career. 

The black bitch was a special dog for the Essery team, claiming 24 races as well as being placed on more than 30 other occasions.

“She won one race at Wentworth Park as a maiden and then one at The Gardens before the previous people that had her gave her away,” Essery said of Naturally Gifted.

“She did really well for us. She is asleep on my lounge.”

Moustache Mick and his six other litter mates from the Orson Allen mating that have made it to the track have all won races.

Moustache Mick and Purple Car are the stars of the litter so far, combining to win 20 races.

Purple Car just missed out on winning a place in the Wildcard Final as well after finishing second in her heat last week.

In last week’s run to book a spot in the Wildcard decider, Moustache Mick jumped cleanly from the six and found the front in the opening exchanges.

He was not headed again to land his ninth career victory – and arguably his most important so far – in 35 attempts.

“I was very happy with his run in the heat,” Essery said.

“In the eight for the Final, I like it out there as there should be a little bit of room to move as I think there is a lot of speed to the inside with dogs like Federal Remark and Eyes On Meg.

“With a bit of luck, hopefully Moustache Mick just jumps like he did last week and can stay clear of the field.”

The Essery kennel have won titles like the leading trainer in Townsville as well as the Listed North Queensland Cup with Samshu back in 2021.

But, the veteran conditioner admits there is still plenty of buzz around the place this week with a chance to cement a slot in the upcoming Group 2 Townsville Cup.

Essery is aided in preparing her team alongside husband Stephen and kennel lieutenant Sharon Burnett.

“It is so exciting, having bred the dog myself out of one of my own dogs,” Essery said of Moustache Mick’s Cup chances.

“The whole team is so excited, Sharon my right hand girl, she is with me all the way through everything and we delivered the litter

“He is a kennel favourite, a very good dog.

“He is still young and still has a lot of potential still in him, fingers crossed he can keep going.

“Fingers crossed he can run well but there are some very good dogs in this race.”

As they do most weeks the Essery kennel has a big number of dogs set to go around on Tuesday evening.

As well as Moustache Mick, the stalwart trainer is also hopeful Huey Luey and Gifted Jasper will be competitive in their races.  

The Hayley Wooler kennel went on a Wildcard heat winning spree on Tuesday of last week, claiming three of the seven, including Eyes On Meg posting the fastest time of the lot in 28.87 seconds.

Eyes On Meg will jump from the four in the Wildcard Final.