Gilbert ‘over-shoots’ runway in Capalaba Cup Final

By Pat McLeod

Ipswich trainer Garry Gilbert ‘over-shot the runway’ and has landed two runners in Sunday’s Group 2 Capalaba Cup Final. 

Not only has he got the in-form It Wasn’t Me exiting from box five in the straight track club’s top feature, he also has litter mate Whistle Away coming from the reserves bench into the Final (box four).

His second Cup slot has come via the scratching of All Lies Ahead (trained by Stephen Keep).

“I had targeted both dogs at the Cup Consolation, but I over-shot the runway,” Gilbert says with a laugh.

“The Consolation is worth really good money ($12,025 to the winner) and I thought that was a good target.

“It Wasn’t Me is a pretty good bitch, but there are probably five or six dogs in the Cup Final that have three lengths on her.

“I think it is brilliant that we are in the Final. She starts well and it won’t surprise me if she is leading early and they will have to catch her, but this is a very hot Final.

“I had hoped there would be no scratching’s to the field so that Whistle Away would get his chance in the consolation.”

Both It Wasn’t Me and Whistle Away come from the ownership of Gary Dodt, who has had a lengthy ‘partnership’ with Gilbert.

In fact, of the 11 pups from Dodt’s Fernando Bale and She's Whistling litter, six are in Gilbert’s kennels and make up his entire race team.

“I started training for Gary about 12 years ago,” Gilbert says.

“These days I just mainly train his dogs. He is a pretty hands-on owner who helps me train them.”

This current litter is showing plenty of promise.

All 11 pups have had race starts and all have won.

Their combined prize money is almost $300,000 and together they have won 75 races.  

It Wasn’t Me and Whistle Away have won the most prize money – It Wasn’t Me: 35 starts for 14 wins, six placings and $57,295 in prize money; Whistle Away: 31 starts, eight wins, 17 placings for $49,358.

Gilbert says he will need luck to be successful in his first ever Capalaba Cup Final.

“All the runners are pretty well boxed,” Gilbert said.

“Most are where they want to be. It Wasn’t Me likes the middle and that is where she is on Sunday.

“Her recent form has been good. She has won her last five, including a QGOLD at Capalaba. But, this is a very tough race.”

The darkest shadow over the Cup Final is reigning champion, Tom Tzouvelis’ Valhalla, who will jump from his preferred box eight. 

The ‘King of Capalaba’, whose prize money haul recently ticked over the $300,000 mark, is coming back into his best form for this race.

Tzouvelis also has Simply Express, coming out of box seven. 

But, there are big dangers on the inside as well with Bad Boy Wilson (trained by Dyllan Heddles and starting from box one) and Man Of Zeal (trained by Glen Goodwin and starting from box two) setting the equal fastest heat time (19.34 seconds).