Bailey Dargusch thinking long-term in the greyhound game

By Jordan Gerrans

Bailey Dargusch couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to his training career but the teenage conditioner is not getting carried away with a special first-up victory, instead focusing on his longevity in the sport.

Not long after celebrating his 18^th birthday, the popular industry participant scored a victory with his maiden starter as a trainer with Midnight Queen on Friday afternoon at Ipswich.

The son of prominent Queensland trainer Casey Dargusch thinks Midnight Queen will make it as a city-class chaser on a Thursday evening down the line at headquarters.

While there would be some temptations to go into training on a full-time basis after being around the industry for much of his life, Bailey will early next year start looking for an apprenticeship as an electrician. 

The enthusiastic youngster will finish high school this month and dabble in greyhounds over the summer months before aiming to establish himself financially in 2025.

He is keen to eventually train greyhounds for a day job.

“I will still have a couple of dogs on the side and mum will help out with those, I will do stuff with them, as well,” Bailey said.

“Once I have done my apprenticeship and do a couple more years of work – the plan will be to move out and start getting into the dogs.

“Even if the dogs aren’t performing, I will have some work to fall back on.”

From the three alley, Midnight Queen started as the pre-race favourite on Friday and she justified the punters optimism with a 25.20 second victory.

Ipswich race caller Anthony Jeffress was quick to praise Bailey's maiden training effort during the broadcast.

“Midnight Queen does everything right,” Jeffress said.

“Beautiful box manners, rails and wins.”

Bailey has grown up around the caper as his parents Casey and Alan own and operate Golden View Greyhound Complex at Churchable.

The keen dog man is widely regarded in the industry, underlined by the occasion when he picked up fellow trainers Tim Britton and Martina Kirillidis on the way to Albion Park after their car had broken down.

Long-serving Racing Queensland board member Dale Cartwright described Bailey as a "popular kid who is always on hand to help other participants”.

Midnight Queen is from a Bernardo and Rinadeena mating with her litter sister Pozzi Tonozzi also having one race start under her belt.

Bailey’s mum Casey owns Midnight Queen while also owning and training Pozzi Tonozzi.

Bailey has a soft spot for blue dogs so it made sense for him to take on Midnight Queen once his licence was ticked off following his 18^th birthday.

And, Casey kept her promise to her son that he could train the exciting bitch.

“Mum gave me this one to train if I got my licence in time and she was going to take the other bitch,” Bailey said.

“Mum kept honest to that as well even though my bitch is a lot faster.

“She could have taken this one because she is faster but she didn’t.”

Casey was at the races on Friday to share in the emotion with her son to see him grab a memorable debut victory.

Before he took out his trainers licence, Bailey was a regular face at race tracks around the Sunshine State as he handles, boxes and catches the kennel’s chasers.

“It has been fantastic, it has been so much help to us to have him there,” Casey said about her son late last year.

“He has showed such an interest in the dogs and he loves it.

“It is great that we can send him trialling and racing, knowing that the dogs are looked after, he knows what he is doing and we can stay home and focus on the dogs here, getting the work done that needs to be done.

“The dogs are being looked after and loved at the track. It is wonderful to have your kids interested in the same things as you and share that same passion.”

The Darguschs have had high hopes for Midnight Queen for some time.

With the feature Group 1 Ipswich Gold Cup to be contested at the Showgrounds complex on Thursday night, Bailey jokes that it felt like he won a race of that stature when his promising young bitch landed the prize last Friday.

“She went exceptional really,” Bailey said.

“We have had that many pup’s come through recently and she is one of the best of all of them.

“Ever since we broke her in, she has always been switched on and she has just gone on with it.

“Once I got all my nerves out of my system, it felt pretty good. After she won, I was just ecstatic.

“I know it was only a 431 metre maiden but it felt like I won a Group 1 or something, having her in my name and winning first start – it felt really good.”

Bailey prepares three in his kennel - Devil Don't Know, Derice and Midnight Queen – who have all started over the last week.

He may take on a few more in the coming months with a couple of promising pup’s coming through the ranks.

Midnight Queen heads back to Ipswich this Friday and Bailey thinks she can eventually make her way to competing under the bright lights of Thursday evening racing at Albion Park.

“I will give her a 500 metre run soon and then she will probably head to Albion down the line and hopefully get her into some decent races,” the young dog man said.

“She has the ability and plenty of early speed. If she can find herself an inside draw, she can be a handy little bitch.

“I think she is the quickest pup we have ever had come through and she is only 17 months old as well – they are only babies.

“She still is going to find a bit once she gets older and more mature. Once she gets more confident, she will improve a bit, as well.”