CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

Thai Alert The Pick Of Dean's Quartet Courtesy GRNSW website CHAMPION trainer Richard Dean has a huge opinion of Thai Alert and Radio Star, (Hallucinate x Thai Again) who landed a winning double for him at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, along with that duo's litter mates Hendrix and Repeated. But although Radio Star trialled solo in a blistering 29.74sec at WP on April 28, Richard rates Thai Alert "the best of them all.'' Richard said this week: "Thai Alert clocked 30.02 winning from box eight on Saturday night but would have broken 30 had he not been forced to work his way across from the outside draw.'' Thai Alert had recorded 29.92 winning at WP on April 28 while Radio Star led throughout on Saturday in 30.02. "The four of them are all good, including Repeated who fell at his only Wentworth Park start,'' Richard said. "Repeated has not raced since that tumble on March 24 because he split the webbing on his foot that night.'' JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

NATHAN STEPS UP FOR CALL Courtesy GRAQ - David Brash 2 May, 2008. TOWNSVILLE owner Nathan Goodwin performed the unbelievable at Mackay on Thursday night. Her raced two dogs on the program and also called the entire 10 races. And for the two races in which he had runners, one of which was Murranji Mary a Mackay Cup heat winner, Goodwin boxed his dog then turned around and called the race. Goodwin arrived at the track to kennel his dogs and was approached by club officials to call the races. He was reluctant to allow anyone else to handle his dogs in the feature events, so got permission to box and then call the race. "Obviously I couldn't make it up to the racecallers box when I had my dogs racing, so I simply stood on the winner's podium near the starting boxes and called," he said. Rockhampton galloper Allakazan ran the quickest of the four heats of the Mackay Cup (456m). The Go Wild Teddy-Impish Osti bitch scored by a length and a quarter over Flying Mong with a length and a quarter to Tweed Scandal in third. Christine Pollard's bitch ran 26.65. Vicki Mifsud landed the second heat with Royal Avenue (Royal Assassin-Good One Cheli) who scored by a head in 26.87. He downed Emerald Assassin with three and a quarter lengths to Hasty Decision in third. It was his 11th win on the track. In-form Farmor Panda continued her great run of success with victory in the third heat in 26.72. The daughter of Solve The Puzzle-Farmor For Nat won for Wayne Scott by a length and three quarters over Serious Hondo with a length and a quarter to Rah Rah City in third. Farmor Panda has won two feature races on Mackay in the past few months. The final heat saw Townsville visitor Murranji Mary (Collision-Composure) scored by a length and three-quarters in 26.92. Rhonda and Nathan Goodwin's bitch downed Jessica Jade with four and three quarter lengths to relay in third. Goodwin won the Mackay Cup a few years ago with Alrow. The Cup will be run on Monday.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

CAIRNS STAR A WORRY Courtesy GRAQ - David Brash 2 May, 2008. ILLUSION Star is not at her peak but can still win the Cairns Intercity Challenge (544m) tomorrow night. Owner-trainer Susan Godfrey said the Hallucinate-Four Way Star bitch was perfectly suited in box eight. “But her first run back from a fractured hock was unimpressive,” said Godfrey. Illusion Star, winner of 17 races including 11 at Cairns, “took a long time” to run down some moderate performers when resuming on April 26 over 410m. The bitch was in training on the Northern Rivers of NSW for some months late last year until she fractured a hock when last at Casino in November. Godfrey took her home to Tully and her recuperation was long and intense. “We gave her eight to 10 weeks off and then brought her back slowly,” said Godfrey. “Her first three slips on the racetrack were sensational, but then she tapered off.” The Godfrey kennel has four of the seven runners in the Challenge in Cairns, Susan also has Over Quoted and Bro Man while her husband Denis has Wave Gromit engaged in the race. “Realistically she has lengths on the rest of this field,” said Susan. “And she is boxed perfectly. “But her run last week was unimpressive even though she won.” Godfrey said if Over Quoted jumped and led she would win the race. The Intercity Challenge grand final will not be run for several weeks, but it will be held at Cairns. The first two placegetters from tomorrow night’s race go into that grand final. Godfrey plans to ease up on Illusion Star after tomorrow night’s race before getting her ready again for the grand final, if she makes it. “Then, all going well, we will bring her down for some races at Albion Park,” she said. She pointed to a 30.08 win at Lismore last year by Illusion Star on the same night subsequent Group 1 winner Whippy’s Image ran 30.28 to win.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

GREAT JUDGE ADAM Courtesy GRAQ - David Brash 1 May, 2008. YOUTHFUL trainer Adam Hines hid after Blazing Rico brilliantly won a heat of the Flying Amy Classic (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. The flying Hallucinate-She’s Adams youngster ran 30.05 to win by two and a quarter lengths over Bogie Ace with a length to Smart Choice in third. Blazing Rico scored through a first section of 5.66 to break open the field and set up his victory. Adam Hines didn’t want to run the dog in the series and didn’t think he could win from box one. “I’m a bad judge,” Adam admitted. “The owners had a vote and wanted to run him in the series.” Adam’s reluctance stems from the fact Blazing Rico had hurt a groin when slipped post to post at Albion Park a few weeks ago. “He slipped 24.80 which was terrible. Something had to be wrong and we found he had hurt the groin,” said Adam. “I had to give him a couple of weeks off and could only give him one 300m straight run and a 300m circle trial. “I didn’t think it was enough to have him fit for this race. “And then when he came up with the rails, I didn’t think he could win because he is desperate for the eight box.” But Adam is now convinced his dog must be kept fresh to do his best. “It’s taught me how to train him,” said Adam. Blazing Rico is a highly promising young dog who has now won six of his nine starts. His syndicate of owners includes Broc Wright and Michael Crew who were at Albion Park for the win. The syndicate has since bought a pup from She’s Adams’ next litter, now six weeks old by Surf Lorian. Adam is confident his dog can break 30m seconds at Albion Park. Favourite Bogie Ace finished powerfully but was never a hope of running down the winner when he was running 30.05 in front.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

JACK SPRINGS UPSET Courtesy GRAQ - David Brash 1 May, 2008. GEORGE and Dorothy Joyce had the “best seat in the house” and would have been tickled pink that their promising youngster Fever Jack scored a smart win in a heat of the Flying Amy Classic (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. The son of Whisky Assassin-Mysterious Lee scored by two and a half lengths in 30.31 from Gnarley Babe with a half head to Grampian in third. George and Dorothy paid $2200 for Fever Jack and his litter brother Midnight Jack as four month old pups from breeder Terry Hines. But the Joyces are in their 70s and reluctant to go out at night time. Seven weeks ago they asked Barry and Sharon Morris to train the dogs. “George had broken them in and we finished off their education,” said Sharon. “George said Fever Jack was a very fast dog. He’s right.” George and Dorothy were keen for the litter brothers to run in the Eric Thomson Maiden series at the Gold Coast. Heats of that series start on Sunday night. “But we were keen to get them started and Fever Jack has already won a $2000 maiden series at Albion Park,” said Sharon. Barry believes the dog will develop into a high class galloper. “I will freshen him up and set him for the Tweed Galaxy. He’s got a lot of early pace,” he said. Barry and Sharon will send Fever Jack and Midnight Jack back to the Joyces after next week’s Classic final. “Sharon and I are going on a seven-day cruise on Saturday week,” said Barry. “The break will do these dogs the world of good. They are only 20 months old.” George Joyce has been a mate of Barry Morris for years. “George has been coming up to our property to help Barry for years,” said Sharon. Hot favourite, Group 1 Perth Cup winner Size Can Matter missed the jump and was checked at the first turn. He finished on stoutly for fourth but needed stitches in a wound to a foot he received early in the race when galloped on by another runner. Gnarley Babe was always handy and fought on strongly in the straight to just hang on for second.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

GOTTA LOVE THAT Courtesy GRAQ - David Brash 1 May, 2008. SANDOWN Laurels plans are already being made for promising young bitch Conjure Love. Trainer Greg Lennon said this after the Hallucinate-Mint Mojo bitch had stormed home to win her heat of the Flying Amy Classic (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. She scored by half a length in 30.39 beating early leader Nimbastic with two and a half lengths to Thunder Flight in third. Lennon has a huge opinion of the bitch, royally bred from the Group 1 Brisbane Cup winner Mint Mojo. Conjure Love was third in the Group 2 Vince Curry Maiden series at Ipswich earlier in the year. “She was so under prepared for that series,” said Greg. “She had some niggling problems that went against her and she did a great job to get to the final and run third.” Lennon says the next six months will see great improvement in the bitch. “We were in a bit of doubt about her getting a strong 520m when she was young because the damline is a real speed line, but she is getting stronger all the time,” said Greg. “She’s pretty good.” Lennon said the bitch had run a scorching 5.65 first section in a trial at Albion Park recently and he expects her to run those sort of times when she matures. “She’s just turned two,” he said. Lennon got the bitch to train through Chris Essex, proprietor of Big Dog Pet Foods. “Chris and the bitch’s owner Brendan Rouse played football together,” said Greg. “Brendan asked Chris to suggest someone to train the bitch for him and Chris suggested me. I’m glad he did. “Brendan bought Conjure Love as a future broodbitch. She’s that already.” Lennon will look to the Group 1 Sandown Laurels in a few months with Conjure Love. “She has to get her times down but I’m confident she will run around 30.15 soon,” he said. The bitch has now won five of her 12 starts and run three placings.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

MATT TAKES ON COUNTRY STARS; BOO FLIES Courtesy GRAQ - David Brash 29 April, 2008. TWENTY-year-old Matt Stephen has been training for only two months but already wants to take on the big time. Matt is doing just that with Buttonhole (Hallucinate-Ginger Legs) who will run in the heats of the Mackay Cup (456m) on Thursday night. “I thought I might be lucky and get her into an easy heat, but it hasn’t worked out that well,” said Matt. Buttonhole has drawn some very smart country gallopers at her first look at the Mackay Showgrounds track. Included in that is Morton Bird the Dale Johnson-trained Bundaberg star who has been at his peak in recent runs and comes into the race already a feature event winner on the track. Also in the race is prolific Rockhampton winners Westhot Texas from the Christine Pollard kennel, and Tweed Scandal, Billy Boon’s winner of 13 races. But Matt is hopeful his bitch will race well if not slightly confident. “She has a good record first-up on tracks and ran third in a heat of the Puppy Classic in Perth when Tom Tzouvelis trained her for me,” he said. “And she also won first-up at the Gold Coast.” Buttonhole was bought by Matt from breeder Chris Perry. “I gave her to Tom to train when I first got her because I wanted to learn as much as I could about training before I got started,” he said. “I originally got a giveaway and walked into Chris Essex’s Big Dog Pet Foods one day and asked for some advice. “Chris put me onto Mike Stephenson and he’s been a great help. “I’ve been hooked ever since.” Matt, a tiler by trade, has every reason to feel confident Buttonhole will race well on Thursday night in the Cup heats. “She trialled the best of the night at the Gold Cost last week and I’m really happy with her,” he said. He plans to camp in Mackay for the heats and “hopefully” for the final. Four heats of the Mackay Cup will be run on Thursday night with the final the following Monday.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

NERVOUS LYNNE Courtesy GRAQ website 24 April, 2008. LYNNE Ivanovic, back in the greyhound training mould for the first time in years, was a nervous wreck when she stepped onto Albion Park on Thursday night. But she had nothing to worry about because her dog Sam Beau Stanley led throughout to win a 600m 5th Grade at headquarters. The son of Hallucinate-Dooley’s Mist scored by three-quarters of a length from Intrepid Force with four and a half lengths to Trip Meter in third. The winner ran a fast 35.17 after carving out a 10.01 first section to set up the victory. Lynne picked up her dog only a couple of days after former trainer Shayne Parker. “I’ve been walking the dog and I’m as stiff as anything,” said Lynne’s husband Peter. “We haven't had a dog in our kennels since Beenleigh closed.” Ivanovic said an offer to buy Sam Beau Stanley had been refused a short time ago but the offer had been declined. He took his record to 13 wins and seven of those have been at Albion Park. He has now raced 41 times. Intrepid Force rattled home late in the race to run the winner to three-quarters of a length. Lynne was high in praise of the work done by Shayne with the dog and gave him all credit for the victory.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

SPUD JUST OFF RECORD Courtesy GRAQ website 22 April, 2008. GREG Kennedy was fully expecting the phone to be ringing hot when he got home from Ipswich tonight. Kennedy had just unleased Just Spud (Whisky Assassin-Paw Play) to run 24.79, just off the 12-year-old track record for 431m held by Reliability. Just Spud, who took his record to two wins from four starts, scored by 13 and a quarter lengths in the Maiden final. He downed Cosmo's Reward and Little Bond. Kennedy bred Just Spud from his former top grade Albion Park 600m performer Paw Play. "He was the only pup in the litter," said Greg. "Terry Hines (owner of Whisky Assassin) has been gracious and given us a free frozen semen because the bitch had only one pup. "We are waiting for Paw Play to come back on season and we will use the Whisky semen on her." Paw Play has a 13 months old litter to Black Enforcer just being educated. Kennedy believes he will be inundated with offers to buy Just Spud after his near track record run. "He's not for sale, but everything does have it's price and if the right price comes along ...," he said. "But if he doesn't I could also be tempted to send him to Victoria to be trained. Those big U-turn tracks down there will suit him perfectly." Just Spud won his heat of the Vince Curry Maiden at Ipswich in February with eventual winner Red Aces behind him. He had no luck in his quarter-final and then was galloped on when second in fast time to Supreme Level at the Gold Coast. He has come out of box five in his maiden heat and final victory at his past two starts winning brilliantly.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

Courtesy GRAQ website JIM ‘LOVES’ YELLOW RUG 17 April, 2008. JIM Conlon has known for a long time just how good Sleek And Smart is. But he’s got more than a little frustrated his dog hasn’t been always able to show it. The son of History Lesson-Sleek Model did that on Thursday night when he proved too strong for a 520m 4th Grade field. He scored by three-quarters of a length in 30.39 beating early leader Amalfi Rhythm with three-quarters to Red Jazz in third. It was his 15th win in 33 starts. “He has had wrist troubles most of his career, but his biggest problem has been that,” said Conlon pointing to the yellow rug on his dog. “He’s drawn five, six, seven and eight in most of his races and he just can’t overcome that in sprints.” Sleek And Smart backs up at Albion Park on Monday night in a 600m event. “That has got to be his future,” said Jim. “He’s won two 600m races on a Class three track. He’s top grade now over the sprints and he doesn’t have the early pace to match it with the top sprinters.” Sleek And Smart races with his front wrists taped for precaution after the problems he encountered with them as a youngster. He is the only dog Conlon, long one of the best greyhound trainers in this state, has in training. “But I’ve got four really well bred pups coming along at the moment.” He said he had given up his plans to “go fishing” as an alternative to greyhound training. “I bought a huge big boat with every thing on it, but still couldn’t catch a fish,” he lamented. Winners have never been a problem for Jim.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

CUP OR DERBY? Courtesy GRAQ website 17 April, 2008. WILEY trainer Mick Menken has a problem. Menken landed his first Thursday night Albion Park winning double when Hi Ransom won the Best 8 (520m) and Stone Cold Sober won a 600m 4th-5th Grade. The problem is with Stone Cold Sober (Hallucinate-Kalka Kate). Menken had planned to set his three-dog team of Hi Ransom, Stone Cold Sober and Inastare for the up-coming Group 2 Qld Derby. But with Stone Cold Sober winning impressively at his past two 600m starts, Menken is now looking at switching his program to the Group 3 Big Dog Qld Cup at the same time. “The heats of the Qld Cup will be run on the night of the Derby final,” said Menken. “I think this dog will be best suited by sticking to 600m and aiming for that.” Menken had to pinch himself to see if he was living a dream at the moment. Stone Cold Sober ran 35.17 to win by two and three-quarter lengths over Jett Black Bob with a length and three-quarters to Sam Beau Stanley in third. It was his 12th win and sixth at Albion Park. Hi Ransom (Brett Lee-Hitech Star) wore down early leader Super Hornet to win the Best 8 (520m) in 30.30 by a head. Berella Diva finished on stoutly to get third two and a quarter lengths away. Menken admitted he was “feeling guilty” about running Hi Ransom every week in tough top grade races but the dog continues to handle it. “He’s going too good,” said Menken. “How can I pull him up now. If only he could handle the turns here, he would break 30 seconds easily.” Menken has had trouble keeping Inastare, already a Group 1 finalist at Albion Park late last year, sound. “He hurt a pin and I put him away,” he said. “Just as he was about ready to race again he hurt the other pin. “He’s a week away from galloping again. He’s my best chance of the three dogs for the Derby.”

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

MOSCATO EYES RICHES Courtesy GRAQ website 14 April, 2008. EXCITING youngster Lady Moscato is being pointed at a number of up-coming feature races. And the daughter of History Lesson-Lady Kero could end up in the kennels of top Victorian trainer Jason Thompson. She has raced six times for three wins and three seconds. Her latest run was a 30.56 win at Ipswich early this month. She had finished a luckless second to Red Aces in the Group 2 Vince Curry Maiden final there in March. And she is already an Albion Park winner. Wright has mapped out an ambitious program for the bitch. First there is the Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park late in May and early June. "I'm probably then likely to send her to Jason for the Sandown Laurels," said Bob. The Group 1 Laurels is set down for June. Thompson has been training Becton, an older half brother to Lady Moscato. Becton has returned to Wright's kennels to be prepared for the Winter Carnival feature races at Albion Park. The No Intent-Lady Kero dog won at Sandown and The Meadows while in work with Thompson.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

DEAN HAS A DREAM Courtesy GRAQ website 10 April, 2008. DEAN Turley has a dream and his smart staying bitch Fast Dream can make it come true. Turley is desperate to win a race at Wentworth Park and he has set Fast Dream (Hallucinate-Rapid Midnight) for a race there on Monday week. He said this after Fast Dream had led throughout to win a 710m 4th-5th Grade at Albion Park on Thursday night. She scored by two lengths in 42.42 beating Come Up Uno with a length and three-quarters to Red Bikini in third. It was her seventh victory in 24 starts. Fast Dream had two recent runs at Wentworth Park and Turley says it was more like a nightmare than a dream for the bitch. “She was looming up to win but was run off the track at her first start there, and then at the second run she was flattened at the jump and had no chance after that,” he said. \Fast Dream then came back to run a handy fourth to Kath’s A Star in a top grade last week. “I freshened her up a bit for this race so she would lead and once in front I thought she was a good thing,” said Dean. Fast Dream led easily and opened up a good break on the field into the back straight. She easily held off Come Up Uno in the straight. Turley is planning to nominate Fast Dream for a 710m next week at Albion Park and will then take the bitch to Wentworth Park the following Monday night.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

DERBY PLANS STILL ON Courtesy GRAQ website 10 April, 2008. STONE Cold Sober will press on to the Group 2 Qld Derby at Albion Park during the Winter Carnival despite successfully stepping up to 600m on Thursday night. Genius trainer Mick Menken said this after the son of Hallucinate-Kalka Kate led throughout to win a 600m 5th Grade in 35.12. He scored by a length over Sam Beau Stanley with a length and a half to Classy Cha Cha in third. “I’ve found out he can run 600m,” said Mick. “He had to lead to win and when he jumped in front I was very confident.” Stone Cold Sober had run last at his only other 600m start on March 20. “When he ran a 9.96 first section and then a 11.96 second section I knew they would be lucky to run him down,” said Menken. The dog will now continue to campaign over 600m before being freshened up. “He will have a short break before I put him into the Derby,” said Menken. “He will be one of the oldest runners in the Derby.” Stone Cold Sober has now won 11 of his 31 race starts and five of those have been at Albion Park. Menken admitted he had only switched Stone Cold Sober back to 600m this week because he was likely to be engaged in the top grade over 520m against his kennelmate Hi Ransom. Menken is heading home to Gunnedah on Friday morning to see his new-born granddaughter. He will also take handy Albion Park performer Mumstop Stanley to Gunnedah to be trained by Beryl and Joe Kennedy for the final stages of the dog’s race career. “He will get another 12 months of racing down there and there are a few Cups races coming up down there that will suit him.” Beryl Kennedy is in her 70s. Her late husband Jack Millard raced and trained legendary Australian galloper Chief Havoc. She has been a great friend to Mick Menken for many years.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

JOVIAL JIM'S COAST CELEBRATIONS Courtesy GRAQ website 9 April, 2008. JOVIAL Jim Madigan went home from the Gold Coast on Tuesday wanting to start a petition to keep the track open. That's because Jim trained three winners on the program, all from the same litter, and also watched as another of the litter won for the Darren Russell kennel. The litter is by Hallucinate from Madigan's former brilliant spinter Shazoni the winner of 16 races including the Group 3 Singleton Sprint. Shazoni, a litter sister to top stayer Jack A Dandy and Group winner Montana Sky, was a multiple Albion Park winner. Madigan had four starters, the four he kept from the 13 in the Hallucinate-Shazoni litter, at the Gold Coast on Tuesday and won with Lil's Illusion, Bobalong Friend and Shy Shazoni. Darren Russell won with Draks. "Lil's Illusion broke in the best of my four but she hurt a ligament in her hock in December at Lismore," said Madigan. "Shy Shazoni is probably the best of them now and she will run a strong 520m as she gets older." Bobalong Friend has now won four of his six starts including his past three. "He fell over at Grafton four runs back and it was that bad a fall I didn't think he would get up," said Madigan. "But he did, and he's unbeaten since." Russell has a high opinion of Draks who won in 25.90 in a Maiden. "Darren said he would break 26 and they would have to be pretty good to beat him," said Jim. "He's a good boy that Darren."

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - APRIL 2008

THAT’S RIGHT RUBY Courtesy GRAQ website 3 April, 2008. SYDNEY galloper Right On Ruby will continue to campaign around Albion Park for the immediate future after her brilliant win there on Thursday night. Now trained by Dave Irwin at the Gold Coast the daughter of Hallucinate-Ruby Red Lips brilliantly won a 520m 5th Grade (520m) in 30.21 easily the best of the night. She scored by three and a quarter lengths over Spell Fire with five and a quarter to Real; Exciting in third. It was the bitch’s 10th win. Owner Francis Duffy sent the bitch north to be trained by close friend Irwin with the Group 2 Qld Futurity series as her target. Unfortunately she was badly checked at the home turn when fourth behind Jacabby in her heat. Duffy was full of confidence with the bitch for Thursday night’s race. “This is a very good bitch who defeated the Easter Egg winner Blazing Token when winning the Parramatta Leagues Club Cup at Richmond,” said Duffy. Duffy said the bitch does not handle Wentworth Park as well as he would have hoped. “At the moment our immediate plans are for her to stay with Dave in Queensland to keep racing at Albion Park,” he said. “But she will come home eventually.” Right On Ruby’s dam Ruby Red Lips was a high class galloper who ran 29.40 winning at Dapto and made the final of the rich Dapto Auction series during her race career. “Right On Ruby will be a broodbitch for us in the future,” said Duffy. Duffy said only Dave Irwin was ever likely to train the bitch. “We never give anyone else our dogs to train, but Dave is different and she was never going to go to anyone else up here,” he said. Irwin was in NSW with speedster Elite Oriental for the Maitland Cup and could not be at Albion Park to handle Right On Ruby.