Kline rapt to be a chance of a holiday to SA’s vineyards

By Pat McLeod

Brent Kline won’t ‘put the cart before the horse’, but admits a trip to South Australia would be the perfect tonic for him, his wife Michelle and emerging straight track racer, Sheezel.

The Ipswich-based trainer and his chaser are in the frame for a Finals berth in the 2024 National Straight Track Championship at SA’s Murray Bridge track on August 24 after an impressive second to champion Valhalla in the state heats at Capalaba on Sunday.

Valhalla, the ‘King of Capalaba’, won the first of two heats impressively in 19.39 seconds with Sheezel second and I’m Peakin’ (trained by Jedda Cutlack) third.

The first four from each of Sunday’s heats progress through to the Final next Sunday, with the first two placed dogs from that event winning through to The Nationals.

“A trip to The Nationals would be really nice,” Kline said.

“I have been lucky enough to have had good city class dogs over the years that have competed in feature races away in different places and they come back better race dogs.

“And, better still, if we were to win through to The Nationals, my wife and I can jump on a plane and have a short holiday. I have heard there are some pretty good wineries down that way.”

Kline said the Queensland Straight Track Championship Final, next Sunday at Capalaba, was a pleasant, but unplanned calendar change.

“Sheezel is out-graded on the circle at the moment and he had a couple of grades available at Capalaba, so we thought there was nothing better than to put the family in the car, getting the picnic rug out and running a couple of dogs at Capalaba on a Sunday,” he said.

“That is what we have been doing for the past month and he has just been getting better and better every time he goes there."

Sheezel’s record at Capalaba is five wins and four placings from nine starts.

“If you had asked me a month ago whether The Nationals were in my calendar I would have laughed at you," Kline said. 

“I was hoping Valhalla wasn't going to be in my heat, but he was and he started so well and there was no catching him after that.

“But, we have made the Final, we will come up against Valhalla next Sunday and if we can make the Final as well then we will be rapt.

“I hope that for his sake Sheezel does have that trip to Adelaide. The reality is he will be racing against the nation's fastest dogs up the straight and if he is lucky enough to make the trip then he probably won't feature in the top five.

“But, it is more about the big picture and it would be great if he could get that travel experience under his belt.

“But, we won't put the cart before the horse. We will just see what happens next Sunday and if we are good enough to go down there then we will be excited.”

Kline said a higher honour would be a just reward for the Beast Unleashed and Isla's Style dog.

“Sheezel is not the fastest dog going around, but he is so reliable,” Kline said.

“Every time I put him out of the boxes, he puts his bum down, head up and he chases like a demon.

“We know that he has a crack. He is the same around the circle as on the straight. He is so versatile.

“We are super proud of him, especially because we bred him and his mother is still at home.

“We are really excited to be there every week and watch him run and have a crack.”

Sunday’s other heat was taken out by Jemma Daley’s Hara’s Buddy in 19.67 seconds with That’s Hot (Jedda Cutlack) second and Bye Bye Swiper (Casey Dargusch) third.

The Finals of the Queensland sprint over 520 metres and distance over 710 metres championships will be held at Albion Park on Thursday night.

The winners of these races will contest the National Finals at Adelaide’s Angle Park on the night of Saturday, August 24, following the straight track championship meeting that morning at Murray Bridge.