CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2007

Criminal Strikes At Richmond EXCITING youngster Lilley Criminal has dominated a quality field to secure tonight’s Wenty Leagues Novice Final at Richmond in a cracking 30.55 seconds. The daughter of Hallucinate was first to begin from box seven, rode a bump - in moving to the inside of the track- soon after the start and was in control of the contest at the winning posted the first time. She was untroubled to score by 4-1/2 lengths from 14/1 chance Shotgun Sparge while Mahogany Blaze was a further 3-1/2 lengths away in third place. Behind the placegetters, the chasing division found plenty of trouble with race favourite Skrat finishing last after striking trouble at the first turn and fastest heat winner Over The Edge only sixth. Lilley Criminal has now posted wins in four of her five lifetime outings and tonight’s outing will have been of great benefit to the black bitch. Prior to this win, she had no experience from outside the four box and, on what is now on the record, will be force to be reckoned with in upcoming age classic. At just 18 months of age, she is one of the most promising sprinters in the land

McMillan On A New Hi WITH five wins from just six starts, Highland Hi arrived at Wentworth Park for the first time tonight with a glowing reputation. Though not a quick beginner, the son of Hallucinate has cobbled together a brace of wins but none more impressive than his 30.18 effort on this occasion. Now prepared by Don McMillan, Highland Hi was only fourth in the middle stages and the well performed Ima Pettigo doing everything right in the lead but those with prior knowledge of the brindle dog’s finish were not concerned. Before the home turn, he had Ima Pettigo in his sights and raced by in the latter stages to score clearly in 30.18. At only 22 months of age, he already is an imposing talent and the manner in which he disposed of Ima Pettigo – the winner of seven from 10 including 30.44 at WP – will remain a vivid memory. Hallucinate has made his mark in recent weeks with the brilliant Lilley Criminal setting Richmond and The Gardens alight with near record wins. Lilley Criminal – a bitch – has a much different racing style to Highland Hi but there is little between them talent-wise.

Courtesy GRAQ website - David Brasch

BOB WANTS BIRTHDAY HIGH 16 April, 2007. Primrose Bride did not let Thompson down winning on city tracks in three states and was a feature race winner at Wentworth Park. Primrose Bride has just come on season and Thompson already has a frozen semen straw from US sire Kiowa Sweet Trey to use on her. This week Bob sent his highly promising young galloper Highland Hi (Hallucinate-My Girl Zani) winner of five of his six race starts, to Don McMillan to be trained in Sydney. "He could be the best greyhound I've ever had," said Bob. He admits although he has plenty of young stock on his property and bitches to be mated, he will be scaling down his training from now on. "We've got Super Size here waiting to come on season. The boys who part own her with me have already bought the straw to Surf Lorian to use on her," he said. "Then I've got a Big Daddy Cool-My Girl Zani pup, and three Token Prince-Primrose Bride's just broken in," he said. My Girl Zani and Primrose Bride are half sisters. All go back to Cooladine Suzy a bitch Bob bought from a breeder in Dubbo for $1000 as an unbroken 14 months old bitch almost 14 years ago. "Her mother Myreenie Sue was by an Irish Derby winner out of an Irish Oaks winner," he said. "I never could break Cooladine Suzy in, but her first litter (to Balligari) produced a Beenleigh Sprint Championship winner and she's been producing good dogs for me ever since."

JOHN HAS DESIGNS ON CUP 2 May, 2007. PROSERPINE trainer John McNamara reckons things couldn't have worked out better for the heats of the Mackay Cup (456m) on Thursday night. McNamara has the in-form track specialist Design Assassin (Royal Assassin-Special Design) drawn box one in the opening heat of the Cup. The $5000 to the winner final will be run next Monday. "That's the perfect box for him," said McNamara. "He is a mad railer and will not let anything up inside him." McNamara is supremely confident of success in the heat. "But I'm the world's worst judge," he said. Design Assassin has won 10 and been placed in nine of his 25 starts all on the Mackay track. He comes into the heat off a career best 26.57 in a top grade there last Thursday night, ironically also from box one. The previous week he had been a luckless second to Brother's Belle in the Mackay final of the Intercity Challenge. That pair will go to Cairns on May 26 for the rich final. "The trip to Cairns will be interesting because he has never been beyond 456m and has never run on sand," he said. McNamara trains the dog for Peter Hare and Glen Weston. Weston's brother had the dog in Sydney but sent him north. "He is not a bad dog," said McNamara. "Rising Seas is better but she doesn't begin as good as this bloke." Rising Seas is out with a toe injury at the moment. McNamara doubts the strength of Design Assassin but is confident he will win his heat because of his box manners. Design Assassin is a fabulous chaser according to McNamara and the dog's after race antics are famous at Mackay. "Every week he pushes through the catching pen curtain and races off down the back straight to get the lure," said McNamara. "I've now got three people in the pen trying to stop him." McNamara is concerned most with visiting Albion Park galloper Rose Festoon from the Kevin Bukowski kennel. The bitch has won eight races and two starts back ran 25.91 to win at the Gold Coast. "I can beat the rest, but I don't know about her," said McNamara.