Pick of a slow litter is now a flaming success story

By Pat McLeod

There are few things that the 90-year-old Claude Dacey hasn’t seen in greyhound racing, but the jet-propelled improvement in Daysea’s Rory leaves him smiling with disbelief.

“You should have seen him when he was breaking in,” Dacey says shaking his head.

“Him, and the whole litter, were shockers. I didn’t think they would even make it to the race track. Their times were terrible.

“To say I was disheartened back then would be an understatement. But, then they just kept improving, just kept improving.”

Dacey, based out of Gilberton, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, slowly began to gain a higher opinion of the home-bred litter, especially when two of them, Daysea’s Rory and Daysea’s Chief, trialled exceptionally well at Grafton.

Close family friend Tom Tzouvelis had also seen the bubbling talent in the pair.

“I knew Tommy had a high opinion of the two dogs, so I put them with him because he is the best,” Dacey said. 

“I have known Tom and his family for a very long time. Years ago, they lived close to where we are and they had a trial track. I had some construction vehicles including a bobcat and an excavator.

“I would often go around to his place and help out and in return I would be getting favours back off him including trialling our dogs at his place.

“Tom's dad (Nick), and I were very good mates.”

Dacey has a high opinion of Tzouvelis as a trainer. 

“I think the recent improvement in Daysea’s Rory is largely because of Tommy's expertise,” Dacey said.

“I hadn’t picked up a groin issue that the dog had. Tommy did and has been working on it. You can see the improvement in him.”

That improvement took Daysea’s Rory to two wins under Tzouvelis – the heat and Final of the Rising Stars over 520 metres at Albion Park.

Now on Thursday night, again at ‘HQ’ the acid test of how much Daysea’s Rory can improve.

He will contest the Queensland Flame over 520 metres, an invitation race of the best eight sprinters in Queensland.

The winner not only collects $60,000, but also entry into The Phoenix on December 21 at The Meadows in Melbourne, which offers $1 million to the winner.

Dacey is excited by both races.

“The field for the Flame is very good,” Dacey says.

“You have dogs like Jay Is Jay. An absolute champion. Mick (Zammit) is a great trainer, he knows his job and will have that dog at the best that it can be on the night.

“But, I think on current form Magistrate (trained by Greg Stella) is the biggest worry. He comes out like a bullet and he leaves any trouble behind him.”

However, Dacey ‘likes’ the chances of Daysea’s Rory, who will jump from box four. 

“I don't think you have seen the best of ‘Rory’,” he said.

“I think Rory can go faster at Albion Park than he did last Thursday (29.79 seconds). The more he races, there, the more he will improve.

“Box four is fine. I believe he is definitely in the top four in this race. I'll give him a very good chance, but Magistrate is the one I worry about.

“In greyhound racing, there is a lot of luck, but you also have to be in the right position to make the most of that luck.”

One thing is certain, Dacey won’t be at Albion Park on Thursday night, or even at The Meadows should his dog win through to The Phoenix.

“I would love to win through to The Phoenix. I think the whole concept is very exciting,” he said.

“But, I don’t go to the track these days. I am not one for the limelight. I prefer the background.

“My wife Norma and I will both watch it on TV. You will be able to hear her screaming from there.”