CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

VINCE CURRY FINAL BOX DRAW Courtesy GRAQ website 26 Feb, 2008. DESPITE a wet track, fastest qualifying winner Champ Ali dominated the semi-finals of the Group 2 Vince Curry Maiden (520m) series at Ipswich tonight. Box draw for next Tuesday night's final is: 1 Conjour Love 2 Champ Ali 3 Red Aces 4 Morayfield Flash 5 Shock And Awe 6 Lady Moscato 7 Tonic's Pride 8 Spiral Burrows Reserves 9 Suave Encounter 10 Makushla Coming off the rails, Champ Ali a son of Whisky Assassin-Precious Amy scored by six lengths in the second semi-final in 31.10. Raced by Garry Coombe and trained by Tony Brett, Champ Ali downed Spiral Burrow with a length and a half to Makushla. Such was his domination, Champ Ali's time was much quicker than the opening semi-final won by Conjure Love in 31.64. Conjure Love (Hallucinate-Mint Mojo) scored by a half head over Red Aces with two lengths to Shinzo in third. The winner is raced by Brendan Rouse and trained by Greg Lennon. Both Red Aces and fourth placed Sky Larking were luckless in running. Top trainer Dave Robartson, whose home-bred El Galo runs in Saturday night's Australian Cup final at The Meadows, won the third semi-final with Tonic's Pride. The son of Exceptional-Double Guess is from a litter already making a name for itself and includes Jacabby and Working Wonders. Tonic's Pride ran 31.15 to win by three and a quarter lengths over Lady Moscato with five and a half lengths to Heathery Hill in third. Former Mackay based Mick Boody got his second runner into the final when Shock And Awe (Bombastic Shiraz-Queen Of Tigers) scored in the fourth semi-final. Boody also bred and trains Red Aces, runner-up in the first semi. Shock And Awe downed Morayfield Flash by two and a quarter lengths in 31.29 with a length to Suave Encounter in third.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

TRAVELLING SHOW 21 Feb, 2008. COLE Sherwood is a persuasive young man, just ask Northern Rivers trainer Dean Turley. Dean and Cole are heading to Perth in a few months time for the Perth Cup carnival. Cole will take litter brothers Lucky Alive and Pump It Up for the Group 1 Perth Cup, and Dean is planning on taking Fast Dream for a distance event during the carnival. Fast Dream (Hallucinate-Rapid Midnight) paid for her part of the trip by winning her 710m debut at Albion Park on Thursday in a 4th-5th Grade in 42.49. She scored by a length and a half over Ruby Lavelle with 35 and a half lengths to Be My Baby in third … yes, that margin was 35 and a half lengths. Turley was supremely confident his bitch would win at her 710m debut. “I thought the runner-up was the one to beat,” said Dean. “And when Ruby Lavelle headed my bitch near the 600m boxes I lost a little confidence. “But she fought back and the win was good.” Fast Dream was winning her fifth race in 19 starts. While the success of Fast Dream was high on Dean’s priority, highest was the fact his broodbitch Twirly Girl had just whelped a litter to the Turley’s stud dog Excite Ability (ironically the sire of Lucky Alive and Pump It Up). Twirly Girl is the dam of Australia’s latest sprint sensation Whippy’s Image winner recently of the Adelaide Cup and The Temlee. Turley bought Twirly Girl on behalf of a client some months ago. “She has whelped 13 pups, five dogs and eight bitches and about four or five of them will be for sale at three months,” said Dean. “We’ll sell them for $5000 … contact me.”

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

Miagi Strikes Gold FOR the first a lap of the famous Wentworth Park track, Miagi looked a mere mortal in tonight’s Winning Edge Gold Cup. The track record holder was chasing Lou Lou Token and, after a moderate getaway from box four, worked hard to be third after 300m. Through the pen, Miagi passed Solito and leader Lou Lou Token was within sight - and the son of Hallucinate made his move. With gazelle-like bounds the black dog strode clear and tore away to score by an impressive 8 1/2 lengths in a slick 42.54. This was Miagi at the peak of his powers and a sight to behold. You No Miss finished with gusto to snare second in the shadow’s of the post while Lyn’s Daisy also made ground late to edge Solito out of third place by a neck. Early leader Lou Lou Token faded to finish seventh. Miagi’s record stands at an impressive 16 wins from just 27 starts which includes nine from 11 at Wentworth Park. The win came 24 hours after Flashing Floods was rightfully announced as the 2007 Australian Greyhound of the Year yet there is no doubt Miagi is the best stayer in the land. His dominance is absolute and only injuries stand in the way of this fellow etching his name alongside the all-time greats of the staying caper.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

Miagi To Tackle Melbourne ``cold'' Courtesy GRNSW website MIAGI, (Hallucinate x Deloris) who continued on his winning way in Saturday night's Winning Edge Gold Cup Prelude at Wentworth Park, will head south for the group one Gleeson & Tonta at The Meadows on February 23. Miagi will miss this Saturday's The Zoom Top over the same Meadows trip because it clashes with the Winning Edge Gold Cup final at WP. Miagi seems to have a mortgage on Saturday's WP event and will then head to Melbourne. ``He won't have trialled at The Meadows before the Gleeson & Tonta but I'm not too concerned about that,'' trainer Warren Harper said at WP on Saturday night. ``The dog won at The Gardens without the benefit of a previous look at the place and it is a tricky track, just like The Meadows. ``Miagi is a freak and can handle anywhere but I can't wait to get him to Sandown because I think he will really excel on that roomier course.'' JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

Miagi Dominates Gold Cup Prelude CHAMPION stayer Miagi (Hallucinate x Deloris) might to not have the final three in consideration for NSW or Australian Greyhound of the Year honours in 2007 but he confirmed his place as the best stayer in the land in tonight’s Wentworth Park Gold Cup Prelude. The black dog began beautifully from box six and was clear of his rivals at the first turn. The contest, well before that point, was as good as over with the time and margins the only issue. In the end, Miagi saluted by a massive 7-3/4 lengths in a fast 42.44. Solito with-held and in the late-closing Gold Slammer for second place by a head. Miagi has been beaten only once in eight starts at the track including a record breaking 42.03. The Group 2 Cup was to be a heat-and-final affair but due a lack of nominations – realised because of a clash with the Zoom Top at The Meadows next weekend – the $25,000 to the winner final will is now open to the best eight nominated. There is no doubt Miagi heads that list and, regardless of the box from which he will start, odds on favoritism is assured. JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

Bartrim Bale For Richmond Derby JEFF COLLERSON BARTRIM Bale, (Hallucinate x Gold Rush Bale) the Bulli 472m record holder, has recovered from the torn ligament in a sesamoid that put him out of the current Triple Crown Lodge National Derby series at Wentworth Park. But he is back and providing he ``stands up'' will contest heats of the group two World 4 Pets Richmond Derby on February 15. ``I've decided to keep him away from Bulli for a little while,'' trainer Brendan Wheeler said on Saturday night. ``The Richmond Derby is the plan and the dog trialled a nippy 22.70 over 400m at Richmond last Wednesday. ``He ran off on every bend so I was happy with his time.'' JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

VINCE CURRY QUALIFYINGS 9 Feb, 2008. TOP trainer Tony Brett produced the fastest heat winner of the 24 run in the Vince Curry Maiden series (520m) at Ipswich on Saturday night. It was the royally bred Champ Ali, a son of Whisky Assassin and Precious Amy, a Qld Futurity finalist who was a daughter of Bobniak-Flying Amy. Champ Ali, who had already raced five times without winning but was placed in three of those, ran 30.61. He ran a middle section of 13.07 which is just .05 outside the second section record held by El Galo. Results of Saturday night's Vince Curry Maiden (520m) qualifying heats: 1 Sky Larking (Larkhill Jo-Tricky Creek) 30.99 2 Wise Old Fool (Just The Best-Fools State) 31.56 3 Tonic's Pride (Exceptional-Double Guess) 31.37 4 Hope She Can (Bombastic Shiraz-Jessica's Hope) 31.19 5 Agrodun (November Fury-Dimple's Choice) 31.29 6 Witch Lad (Lindale Blue-Witch A Mite) 31.43 7 Shock And Awe (Bombastic Shiraz-Queen Of Tigers) 31.17 8 Set To Impress (Collision-Ten Gun Salute) 31.34 9 Lady Moscato (History Lesson-Lady Kero) 31.10 10 Champ Ali (Whisky Assassin-Precious Amy) 30.61 11 Rumble Eclipse (Spiral Nikita-Spiritual Rumble) 31.39 12 Red Aces (November Fury-Dimple's Choice) 30.93 13 Cube State (Just The Best-Fools State) 31.42 14 Makushla (Surf Lorian-Rutile Rhapsody) 30.95 15 Upper Crust (Elite State-Debjon Girl) 31.49 16 Yikes (Collision-New Guess) 31.47 17 Just Spud (Whisky Assassin-Paw Play) 31.32 18 Power Shift (Collision-Tears Of Jupiter) 30.95 19 Sheza Lobo (Hallucinate-She's Adams) 31.29 20 Midori Star (History Lesson-Mystery Woman) 31.31 21 Driving Daisy (Token Prince-Woops A Daisy) 31.39 22 Excellerator (Spiral Nikita-Brittney Bale) 31.06 23 Adrian's Hero (Pure Octane-Nice Portrait) 31.31 24 Conjure Love (Hallucinate-Mint Mojo) 31.35

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

A SERIOUS DOG 7 Feb, 2008. BARRY Morris knows a good dog when he sees one and he and wife Sharon have had plenty of their own. So when he was singing the praises of Serious Dreams after he had won a heat of the Young Guns (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night, rivals should take notice. The son of Hallucinate-She’s Adams led throughout to win by three and three-quarters of a length in 30.16. He downed Hitech Blackjack with three-quarters of a length to Sneaky Shiraz in third. But while Morris is high in praise of Serious Dreams, he warns that his litter sister Evil Adams is even better. “In fact, she could be as good as any we have had,” said Morris. Morris was surprised that Serious Dreams had won his heat so stylishly. “Sharon kept telling me all day he would win, but I didn’t think he would get across from the wide draw,” he said. He led through a 5.73 first section and then broke his rivals hearts with a 11.68 middle section to set up the win. “There is a lot of improvement left in this dog.” Serious Dreams has already been a finalist in a Young Guns at the Gold Coast behind National Derby final hope Lucky Alive. The litter is just 21 months old and also includes recent Albion Park and Gold Coast winner Blazing Rico. Barry and Sharon raced Serious Dream’s great grandmother, champion producer Brindle Cheli, and her grandmother Pugsley Adams. Evil Adams hurt a hip in a recent Gold Coast win so Morris gave her a little time off after the win. She slipped 24.60 at Albion Park on Wednesday at her first look at the track. “We will bring her into Albion Park soon,” said Morris. “She is an Ipswich Auction dog so that is her immediate aim.” Unfortunately Serious Dreams is not an Auction dog.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2008

WITHEREN'S WORRY TOP flight bitch Witheren's Girl may not race again. The Placard-Berella Shantal bitch hurt her off-side wrist when second to kennelmate Gozo Tess at Albion Park last Thursday night. "She was very proppy on it for a few days after the race," said trainer Ron Ball. "We will get an x-ray and she what damage has occurred. "The wrist is quite swollen." Witheren's Girl has lobng been one of the state's top gallopers. Her record is 17 wins and 29 placings for $53,000 in stakes. She has won 11 times at Albion Park. "I rang (owner) Bill crooks with the news last Friday morning," said Ball. "Every effort will be made to get her back to the track, but it doesn't look good." Witheren's Girl has been a top class galloper but luckless in big race finals. She was third in the Ipswich Gold Cup, third in the Winged Runner Trophy and fourth in the Qld Futurity. "Obviously she has huge potential as a broodbitch," said Ball.