CHARMER LODGE NEWS

APRIL 2009

Boxer to McDonald 27 April, 2009. Courtesy GRAQ website QUEENSLAND's fastest stayer Shadow Boxer has joined the Victorian kennel of Darren McDonald.  Shadow Boxer (Hallucinate-In My Dreams) trialled at Sandown on Saturday morning for McDonald. Trainer Greg Brennan and his partner Vicki Smith, who owns the dog, sent Shadow Boxer south with the Group 1 Sandown Cup his target. "I asked Darren about taking him some time ago and he was happy to," said Greg. "But we've kept him here to undergo his early staying career." Shadow Boxer has won 11 times and been placed in 10 of his 25 race starts. He has not started since running third to Lilley Criminal at Wentworth Park in the Easter Chase two weeks ago. Shadow Boxer will race with McDonald but will come back to the Brennan kennel for the up-coming Group 1 Gold Cup at Albion Park during the Winter Carnival. * Well performed and well bred Townsville bitch Camera Belle has whelped her first litter of pups, 11 to in-form sire Collision. The daughter of Hallucinate-Kathie's Memory has nine wins and 15 placings in her career. Owner Laurie Hogg will bring the bitch back to racing once she has weaned the five dogs and six bitches. She was fourth in a Townsville Cup and was put on the sidelines when she cracked a hock. Camera Belle is a sister to Margaret Quarrell's star Albion Park bitch Kathy's Recall. Some of the pups will be for sale at three months. Owen makes a run on Creek

APRIL 2009

TOP NSW trainer Owen Makin 20 April, 2009. Courtesy GRAQ website TOP NSW trainer Owen Makin has brought a team of seven dogs to run at Albion Park on Thursday night. And Owen has drawn three box ones with his team. Owen's daughter Tracey Bryant and kennel client Francis Dufty have most of the dogs. Owen is staying with Dave and Jack Irwin on the Gold Coast and will be in charge of the dogs while here. He expects to race in south-east Queensland for the next months. Heading the team is smart galloper Cradle Mountain who has already been placed at Cup level in country NSW. The son of Hallucinate-Ruby Red Lips has drawn the rails in a 520m 4th-5th Grade and takes on boom youngster Whata Surf. "He's probably the best of the dogs to come up with us," said Owen. "But Right On Ruby is a good galloper as well." Right On Ruby won in 30.14 when trained by Dave Irwin for Owen in April last year. The sister to Cradle Mountain has drawn a tough field of 3rd-4th Grade dogs including in-form Lots Of Moolah, Genista Thunder etc. She has been placed in a heat of the Ladies Bracelet and was also placed in the Dapto Lord Mayors Cup. Spoil Me (Solve The Puzzle-Summer Bliss) has also drawn the rails for the kennel. She comes up against Aunty Joan coming off a 35.06 win at headquarters last Thursday night. "Spoil Me has won off the rails but I prefer her out a little wider," said Owen. "But she can come out and will drift off at bit at the first turn." Rambling Ruby (No Intent-Ruby Red Lips) has drawn the eight in her 520m 5th Grade and the winner of six races is a smart galloper according to Owen. Hurry On Ruby, a sister to Rambling Ruby, has drawn the seven in another 5th Grade, and yet another litter sister Queen Of Tease is a reserve for the last race. Owen said all the team had trialled around Albion Park in preparation for Thursday night's races. 'Higher, higher' says Glen

APRIL 2009

GLEN Carrington reckons he's like the little boy on a swing. 16 April, 2009. Courtesy GRAQ website "Pat and I have had a few offers to buy Aunty Joan, but like the little boy on the swing, I've been saying 'Higher, Higher'," he said. Glen was justified in knocking back bids to buy Aunty Joan when she scored an impressive 600m 5th Grade victory at Albion Park on Thursday night. The daughter of Whisky Assassin-Oreo dashed right away in the straight to win in a fast 35.06. She won by four and a half lengths over Classy Cha Cha with a length and a quarter to Velocity Thunder in third. "We've had a few of the top trainers ringing up to see if she was for sale," said Glen. Aunty Joan's dam Oreo is the Albion Park 600m track record holder. "Aunty Joan is a very placid bitch and will be a broodbitch for us in the future," said Glen. "She's not like the rest of her line." Plans for Aunty Joan include a step up to 710m for the Winter Chase and Group 1 Gold Cup at Albion Park during the Winter Carnival. "A drop back to 520m for the Flying Amy Classic was also an option, but I don't think we will do that with her," said Glen. "We've always known she would stay and the 710m will suit her as well. A good staying bitch is very valuable." Glen Carrington is a huge fan of the finish-on lure. "It's the best thing that ever happened," he said. Aunty Joan, who does not turn two until May, has now won nine of her 30 starts and run 12 placings. Reign has riches in sight

APRIL 2009

YOUTHFUL trainer Neil Falls 16 April, 2009. Courtesy GRAQ website YOUTHFUL trainer Neil Falls will keep Genista Reign ticking along with a few Group staying races his target in coming months. Falls said this after Genista Reign (Hallucinate-Smokey Whiskey) led throughout to win a 710m 4th-5th Grade at Albion Park on Thursday night. He ran a slick 41.90 to win by five lengths over Citi Heritage with a length to Irish Fantasy in third. Genista Reign put the writing on the wall for his win with a great fourth in a 720m Invitation at Wentworth Park last Saturday night. The dog ran a sizzling 15.97 first section and very few stayers break the 16-second mark in a 710m race. "He's had seven runs over a distance now and that is about as quick as he is going to run," said Neil. "He might have a little more improvement, but his biggest asset is he is a front runner." Genista Reign has now won 12 and been placed in 17 of his 42 starts. Falls is hoping to get a 710m start for his dog at Albion Park next week. "I was thinking of heading to Sandown for the Lizrene Classic but thought it best to give him a run against easy opposition tonight instead," said Neil. "The Sandown Cup is coming up and so are all the staying races at Albion Park. "I'll have to sit down and work out what we will do with him." Falls said the dog's best asset, his early pace was topped off by his great chasing instinct. "That's also a problem. He puts so much into his races over 700 metres that he is a spent force at the finish," he said. Assassin an Auction hope

APRIL 2009

THE Glenda Dart kennel 14 April, 2009. Courtesy GRAQ website THE Glenda Dart kennel reckons it could win the Ipswich Auction series with Silent Assassin. But it might not be until later in the year. Glenda runs the magnificently bred Silent Assassin (Whisky Assassin-Lukeamy) in the first semi-final of the 431m Auction series at Ipswich on Wednesday night. He comes up against star Albion Park performer Gnarraloo. But Glenda says Silent Assassin will be a much better proposition when the 520m Auction series comes around. "We've only had him for a few weeks and you can see there is a lot of improvement in him," said Glenda. "But he is not without a chance in the series now if he can get a few breaks." Owner and breeder Nicky Grimmond sent the dog to Dart to train for the Auction series and he made his race debut last week when second to My Girl Millie. Nicky's son Luke was training the youngster back in Victoria before he came north. "The litter is showing lots of ability but are only very young," said Glenda. "I believe one has won a few around Dapto in good time." Dart said Silent Assassin was an outstanding type who was very green. "He will develop into a very nice dog. I'm certain he will be a strong chance in the 520m series later in the year," she said. Silent Assassin was retained by Nicky Grimmond at the Ipswich Auction. A bidder went to $12,500 for him and Nicky bid $13,000 wanting to sell at the next bid. It never came and Silent Assassin was retained. Lukeamy is the former star galloper who won the National Futurity, Hobart Thousand and SA Oaks and was third in a Qld Futurity. Easter Chase is next

APRIL 2009

STAR stayer Shadow Boxer will head to Wentworth Park 6 April, 2009. Courtesy GRAQ website STAR stayer Shadow Boxer will head to Wentworth Park on Saturday night for the $20,000 to the winner Easter Chase (720m). Shadow Boxer (Hallucinate-In My Dreams) was an impressive 710m graded winner at Albion park last Thursday night. Brennan said he had been contacted late last week about a run with Shadow Boxer in the invitation only Easter Chase. "Apparently a couple, including Vintage Octane, have been injured and that got us an invitation," said Brennan. He was happy to accept and happier still that his dog was an impressive winner last Thursday night. "The usual staying stars like Lilley Criminal and Gunnadoo Magic will be in at Wenty," he said. The race will be run as part of this weekend's Golden Easter Egg final carnival. Shadow Boxer trialled 29.70 at his first look at Wentworth Park last year when contesting the Vic Peters series running home a record final section. Brennan is likely to take his Group 2 Qld Futurity winner Millennium back for a graded race on the same program. Millennium had no luck when unplaced in a heat of the Egg two weeks ago. and was involved in a unique experience. "She was knocked down at the start," said Brennan. "And this put her right out of business. "But going past the catching pen a dog inside her was trying to get off the track when it cannoned into her. "The other dog's muzzle got stuck onto Millennium's racing rug and it dragged up right to the outside rail. "The stewards said they had never seen anything like it before. "The rug was stretched two feet." Queenslanders fared well at Wentworth Park on Saturday night. Nicely Done was a smart winner of a 720m FFA beating Gold Slammer and Octane Al in 42.67 Her owner-trainer Bob Giltinan has sent her south to be trained by Bev Mahoney. And Paul Felgate's Spiral Glory has made the final of the Group 1 Easter Egg after running second to El Galo in his semi-final. Other Queenslanders Tricode Flojo and Size Can Matter were unplaced in their semis.