Col hoping for a Rising Stars birthday surprise

By Pat McLeod

Veteran South East Queensland trainer Colin Hamilton has a belated, and understated, birthday wish for when his perennial bridesmaid Red Sun contests Thursday night’s Rising Stars Final at Albion Park.

“It’s a very tough race, but I would like to think that Red Sun can at least run into fourth,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton turned 72 on Monday.

“I am pretty philosophical and whatever happens, happens. I never get overly confident with what the outcome of a race will be," Hamilton said. 

“There is a bit of prizemoney for fourth, so that would be nice.”

Of course, potential superstar Dalwhinnie (trained by Bill Butler) throws a giant shadow over the Final, especially after his heat win last Thursday in 29.65 seconds 

The recent Wentworth Park 520 metre record breaker has drawn box eight.

While impressed with those performances, Hamilton says no greyhound in bullet-proof.

“Nothing will run Dalwhinnie down if he gets to the front,” Hamilton said.

“That dog is just too strong. It is great to be in a race with this level of greyhounds competing, but I always say that in greyhound racing no dog is bullet-proof.

“There are so many variables – the box draw, who is drawn on the dog’s inside or outside and certainly what happens in the run.

“Dalwhinnie still needs to jump and cross seven dogs. So, it will be a very interesting race.”

Hamilton is fresh from a recent seven-week holiday, which began in Hawaii, continued with a cruise back to Sydney via Tahiti and ended with a relaxing couple of weeks at Rainbow Bay, on the Gold Coast.

“I have three dogs in my kennel at the moment and was able to farm them out while I was away,” he said.

“I have always had just a small kennel and most of the time just the one dog.

“That suits me because it allows me to get away for a holiday, even if it is just for the weekend.”

Hamilton said Red Sun was finally showing signs of changing a race pattern that has too often resulted in him wearing the bridesmaid’s tag.

Of his 37 starts, on 13 occasions he has finished second. He also has three wins and three thirds to his credit.

“He (Red Sun) didn't break in particularly well and has had some issues navigating through a field,” Hamilton said.

“But, he definitely has ability and speed. He sure can run.

“The positive is that in his recent performances he is getting through a field much better. He's pushing through a lot better now and that is quite unusual for a dog to change his racing pattern, especially when they've had more than 30 starts.

“His box manners are also improving.

“Somebody did ask me what box I would like in the Final and I said, ‘box five’. So, I am happy with what I have drawn (box six).

“He will stay in the centre of the track if he has to. He does have genuine speed, but what he is capable of is still unknown.

“I know that he will be coming home really well, because he does find the line. So, here's hoping.”

Hamilton also likes the chances of John Corrigan’s Uno Nangar, who reduced her track and distance personal best down to 29.80 seconds in winning her heat last week.

Form Brisbane trainer Tom Tzouvelis has three in the race – Prim And Precise (box one), Daysea’s Rory (box four) and Gretzky (box seven).