Barnes rates Golden Sands win as ‘best ever’

By Pat McLeod

Dennis Barnes has placed Thursday night’s win by Nangar Gypsy in the Group 1 Golden Sands Final at Albion Park at the pinnacle of his stellar greyhound training career.

“This is number one, the biggest race that I have ever won,” the highly-respected conditioner from Cudal in Central Western NSW said after the win in 34.97 seconds. 

“I rate it so highly because it is such a special race and a special place.

“We love coming up here. It is a great track, great prizemoney and the carnivals are always run so well. But, why this win stands out is because we have been coming here for years and we have never won a big race.

“We have made plenty of Finals and have run placings, but have never won the big one. This is unbelievable. We have finally won a big one. It is fantastic.”

The win, and its $100,000 pay cheque, is also the perfect tonic for Barnes and wife Ann after he spent two days in Orange hospital over Christmas.

“I had a bit of a health issue, but I am fine now, just terrific,” Barnes said.

“Fortunately, I had (Northern NSW trainer) Dave Irwin to help me out.

“He looked after the dogs in the lead-up to this series. I could not have won this without him.”

Thursday night’s Group 1 showdown, in very wet conditions, developed into an epic duel between Nangar Gypsy (box one) and Anthony Azzopardi’s Gold Scotch (box four).

The pair jumped together and were head-to-head down the home straight the first time.

Along the back straight Gold Scotch edged ahead and appeared to have stolen the race.

However, Nangar Gypsy refused to throw in the towel and fought back in the run to the line before securing a one-length win over Gold Scotch with Tagovailoa (trained by Tom Tzouvelis) a further length and a half back in third.

“That was a good run, a very good run,” said a delighted Barnes of the Aston Dee Bee and Nangar Silk chaser’s performance.

“I was more confident close to the finish line that she would win than I was coming around the bend. I thought she was gone then.”

Barnes also had veteran Nangar Rocket in the Final, who placed fifth.

Tom Dailly’s $2.20 favourite Ethanol Water struck plenty of trouble early and was never in the race.

Barnes had initially planned to take his dogs home on Saturday, however he hinted post-race that those plans may change.

“I don't know ‘what now’,” Barnes said.

“I will just enjoy this for a while. I'm not 100 per cent sure if I will be up for other races in the carnival. We just have to sit down and have a think about it, but I think we will be.

“We might go home or we might even be here next week. I will see what the wife says.”

Despite the heavy rain and a very wet track, the four Group 2 Golden Ticket four-dog heats on Thursday night were compelling racing.

However, it was the visitors who stole the march on the locals taking six of the eight spots for next Thursday night’s four, two-dog match races.

The fastest dogs are matched in the Finals, according to their heat times, with the fastest dog on the night crowned the winner and given the ‘Golden Ticket’ through to the Group 1 Gold Bullion Final over 520 metres on January 30.

Quickest heat winner on Thursday night was Thomas Dailly’s Smooth Plane with a 29.99 second run.

Just two locals, Wreck James (Darren Russell) and Danger Zone (Travis Elson), have scored a place in the match races.

Russell did get his wish of the outside draw in the Final.

Wreck James will jump from box three in his clash with WA’s La Sagrada (Krystal Shinners).

“He (Wreck James) is learning, slowly and at the moment he prefers the outside,” Russell said.

“He has had just 11 starts (six wins and three placings) and has had little experience compared to some of these other dogs.

“But, he has got genuine ability. Some of the times that he has trialled are just unbelievable.

“He only turned two a couple of weeks ago and will learn so much from this series and this carnival. He has the world at his feet at the moment and I just hope he can keep producing.”

The Group 2 Golden Ticket (520 metres) box draw for next Thursday night:

Match Race one:

Box one - Danger Zone (one)

Box three - Blue Kermaro (two)

Match Race two:

Box one - La Sagrada (three)

Box three - Wreck James (four)

Match Race three:

Box one - Warm Cockles (five)

Box three - Lakeview Emily (six)

Match Race four:

Box one - Smooth Plane (seven)

Box three - Good Odds Cobber (eight)

Reserves:

Mossy Boots (nine)

More Than Money (ten)