Derby decider highlights Dacey’s racing purple patch

By Pat McLeod

Claude Dacey knows his greyhound racing finish line is fast approaching, but prefers to focus on his current purple patch.

The 90-year-old conditioner has hit an amazing form spike, highlighted by ‘interests’ in three dogs in Thursday night’s Group 2 Queensland Derby at Albion Park.

Dacey trains Black Liar (box seven), owns the Tom Tzouvelis-trained Daysea’s Chief (box six) and had a major hand in the breeding of gun Northern New South Wales dog Spirit Boy (box one for Craig Gardoll).

And, of course, his biggest success story of the moment, Queensland Flame winner Daysea’s Rory, unluckily missed a Derby berth in the heats last Thursday night.

“Yes, I am really enjoying the run at the moment,” the Gilberton trainer says.

“I know that at my age I won’t be doing this for much longer, but I have been saying that for a few years now. I guess that I hope I not only keep saying it, but keep on doing it as well.”

Dacey and wife Norma are South East Queensland greyhound racing stalwarts – popular and respected.

They have had success throughout their long careers involved in the sport, however their current turn of fortune is incredible.

Daysea’s Rory may have taken them all the way to a third placing in The Phoenix Final, however Dacey says litter brother Daysea’s Chief ‘will be better’.

“I have been saying it now for a while, but take my word for it, ‘Chief’ will eventually be a better race dog than Rory," Dacey said. 

“He just keeps improving. His better distance may be over 600 metres. Time will tell.”

Dacey says Thursday night’s Derby Final is ‘very hot’, with heat winners Wreck James (trained by Darren Russell), box two, More Than Money (Pam Field), box three, Backcreek  Benny (Selena Zammit), box five, and WA visitor Italian Stallion (Jay Jacobsen), box eight, the obvious dangers.

“Daysea’s Chief is a chance, but if he could come out of the box a bit better, he would be a much better chance,” Dacey said.

“Black Liar will need a lot of luck. I don’t think he will be able to match it with the fast dogs inside of him.

“But, he has been finding his form of late. It has taken a while. He is from a litter bred by (Banora Point trainer and breeder) Will Griffiths. Will convinced me to put my dog Corykodi to stud, with his bitch Liar Teller.

“The result is a very handy litter including Black Liar and also (Mid North Coast Cup winner) Spirit Boy.

“Will sent Black Liar up to me a little while ago. It has taken me a while, but he has finally settled in and is now racing well. He is a strange dog, but like most, performs at his best when he is happy and he is very happy now.

“He broke 30 seconds at Albion recently (29.96 seconds) and that was unexpected, but just an indication of how well he is settling in. I believe he also will be better over 600 metres.”

Dacey says that if he is unable to win Thursday night’s Derby, his hopes are with Pam and John Field’s More Than Money.

“Pam and John are such good people and I am praying for them to win if I don’t,” Dacey says.

“They deserve a big win. More Than Money is a big chance. John puts that dog up my straight track every Monday morning.

“Since he has been doing that the dog has been winning at Albion Park, so he says he’s not going to change.”

Thursday night’s Albion Park program is packed with quality races.

The highlights are the Queensland Derby (race eight) and Bogie Leigh Futurity (race six), with both races worth $75,00 to the winner.

There are also four heats of the Group 1 Golden Sands over 600 metres and also the New Year’s Trophy over 520 metres.