CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - FEBRUARY 2006

CRACK CARNIVAL BID 2 March, 2006.

COOMINYA trainer Ron Jackson reckons the Winter Carnival can't come quick enough. Jackson prepares handy middle distance galloper Crack Assassin who was a smart winner on the wet track at Albion Park on Thursday night. He scored by three lengths over Emma Lee Burns in 35.78 in a 600m 5th Grade with a neck to Allira in third. It might be a long way to Group racing from a 600m 5th Grade, but Jackson is hoping. His wife Cathy said after Crack Assassin had proved too strong for his rivals on Thursday night that the Group 1 Gold Cup was in the plans for the son of Royal Assassin-Cape Drina. “We've always had high expectations for him and Ron is looking for the distance races of the Winter Carnival as a long-range plan,” said Cathy. Crack Assassin is raced by the Lonsob Syndicate who had the dog reared at the Jackson property at Coominya. “We were working on him as a baby and he showed so much, was so keen, but when Brendan Rouse, one of the dog’s owners, told us how old he was we realised he was far too young,” said Cathy. “We immediately put him away again and let him grow up more.” Crack Assassin has always shown ability and the likelihood he would run on further. His record is now three wins and six placings from 11 starts. “He’s a very sound dog, he’s never had an injury since he’s been put into training,” said Cathy. “Obviously we don't know if he is good enough to take on the good dogs in the 710m races, but that’s the plan.”

SKILLINGTON STAYS PUT 23 Feb, 2006 - Courtesy GRAQ website by David Brasch

MARIE Russell has had her say. There is no chance Skillington will be leaving the kennel. Marie’s husband Andrew prepares the son of Royal Assassin-Enchanted Tears who won again at Albion Park on Thursday night. Two weeks ago, after Skillington had won a 520m 5th Grade, Russell said he thought the dog’s future was in Perth because he would be soon outgraded at Albion Park. “Marie cried for two days when she heard about that,” said Andrew. “That’s the end of any plans for him going to Perth.” Skillington scored in a 520m 4th Grade by a neck in 30.57 beating Token’s Spark with three lengths to Tricode Star in third. “I don’t know how he will handle third grade now, but I didn’t think he would handle fourth grade,” said Russell. Skillington is one of the most improved dogs in training taking his record to nine wins, four of them at Albion Park. “Box work,” Russell said of the reason for Skillington’s recent improved form. “We have been working on his box manners all the time lately and it has worked wonders on him.” Russell said he also felt the dog could not back up as well as most. “I think he races best with a week between races,” he said. “All I know is, he won’t be going to Perth.”

ENCHANTER IS A TRUE HOME-GROWN PRODUCT (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website)

THE toughest assignment in greyhound racing is to breed, rear, own and train your own pups. That's why Appin husband and wife team Mary and Vince Spiteri got a special thrill out of Enchanter's (Royal Assassin x Donington Reward) win in Saturday night's Virbac Vetsearch Rising Star final at Wentworth Park. It was Enchanter's fifth win and her second in just three Wenty 720m races. After the race Mary explained that the family had bred Enchanter, along with her dam Donington Reward. "And Donington Reward has a new litter sired by Winsome Revenge,'' Mary said,' "so we'll be pretty busy in the next 12 months or so. "We've been training since 1969 but always breed, rear and race our own. "We've won a few city races but tonight's win gives us our first cup final success. "At the moment we have six greyhounds in work, six puppies at home, and we both work, so our daughter has to help us out to get things done.'' Mary works at Hammondville Nursing Home while husband Vince works at Liverpool Hospital. Jeff Collerson -Sunday, 26 February 2006

VICTORY GLEN TO BY-PASS MELBOURNE FOR CANBERRA (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website)

ULTRA-consistent Victory Glen (Most Awesome x Katie's Victory) is to miss next week's Australian Cup semi-finals in Melbourne to be saved for the group three Toledo Trailers Classic beginning in Canberra on March 18. Trainer Dennis Victory will trial Victory Glen in the nation's capital next week to prepare him for the 530m heats. Semi-finals are slotted for March 25 with the final on April 2. Victory may be tempted to take Victory Glen's front-running litter sister Katie's Double to the A.C.T. following her break-through Wentworth Park win on Saturday night. Katie's Double led throughout in a strong fifth grade 520m race, literally running her rivals off their legs and then finding the line better than usual to win convincingly in a tidy 30.45sec. "She is definitely getting stronger yet isn't losing any of her early pace, which is pleasing,'' Victory said after Katie's Double's win. Jeff Collerson -Sunday, 19 February 2006

WINSOME DUO FOR AUSTRALIAN CUP (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website)

JOHN and Minnie Finn's outstanding duo of Saturday night's Wentworth Park winners Just Winsome and Winsome Min (History Lesson x Winsome Dollars) are off to Melbourne to tackle next Saturday's semi-finals of the group one Australian Cup. The $125,000 to the winner final is scheduled for Saturday week, March 4. Just Winsome's return to full health and top form could not have come at a better time. At Wentworth Park on Saturday night the dog did what many thought impossible, giving noted strong finisher Winsome Force, a former member of the Finn's kennel, a start and a beating. After the win John Finn explained that Just Winsome has just recovered from a bout of kennel cough. "This is the worst strain of kennel cough I've encountered. Veterinary surgeon Ted Humphreys told me as many as a dozen greyhounds have died as a result of it,'' Finn said. Just Winsome is a powerful candidate for NSW's quest to bring the Cup back north of the border, but Winsome Min is a handy "second stringer.'' "We are only taking her because Just Winsome is going because she is a heartache bitch, she just never begins well these days,'' wife Minnie added. But Winsome Min was able to zip over the WP 520m trip on Saturday night in 30.11, just .08 slower than Just Winsome recorded. And while Just Winsome is at home from a wide draw, Winsome Min needs an inside trap to show her best. Jeff Collerson -Sunday, 19 February 2006

LESSON WINS SOME MORE (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website)

FASTEST heat winner Winsome Lesson (History Lesson x Winsome Dollars) has overcome a moderate start to secure tonight’s South Coast Cup at Bulli. Last week, he posted a near record 26.09 when an all-the-way winner in his heat and, despite the rather moderate getaway when it mattered most, posted a respectable 26.44 in the $15,000 to the winner decider. In the recent Rooty Hill RSL Gold Plate, Winsome Lesson checked at the first turn when looking a likely winner yet, tonight, the son of History Lesson wrested the lead at the same point and the contest was as good as over. Cawbourne Frank worked home solidly along the rails to finish second, 2-1/2 lengths in arrears. The long-striding Magnificent Love also finished with gusto and was edged out of the quinella positioned by a mere half head. Win number 11 (at start 15) took Winsome Lesson’s earnings past $38,000 and he is certainly one of the most talented sprinters in the land. With a 30.09 win to his credit at Wentworth Park and slashing efforts also posted at The Gardens, Appin, Bulli and Dapto, there seems to be little this blue dog cannot do! Interestingly, trainer John Finn elected to by-pass the rich National Derby series which comes to a conclusion on Saturday … and he has been well rewarded. Peter Davis -Thursday, 9 February 2006

WINSOME LESSON OFF THE SCENE AFTER THURSDAY (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website)

SENSATIONAL puppy Winsome Lesson (History Lesson x Winsome Dollars), who blitzed a star-studded field headed by November Louis and Winsome Force in last week's Cyril Rowe Memorial Trophy heats at Bulli, will be off the scene after Thursday night's final. Win or lose, trainer John Finn plans to have the dog's problem leg pin-fired after the Bulli race. "We have been putting it off for some time but it can't wait any longer,'' Finn's wife Minnie said at the weekend. "If the pin-firing is successful the dog should be back in action in around two months.'' Winsome Lesson broke the Bulli first and second section records in his heat when he scored his 10th win in 14 starts. He covered the 472m in 26.09sec, just .07 outside Paua To Burn's course record. Jeff Collerson -Monday, 6 February 2006

DENNIS VICTORY'S EXCITING TIMES (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website) Jeff Collerson -Monday, 6 February 2006

THE next few weeks promise plenty of excitement for Bargo owner-trainer-breeder Dennis Victory. His dog Victory Glen (Most Awesome x Katie's Victory) is likely to start favourite in next Saturday night's final of the National Derby at Wentworth Park and that greyhound's dam Katie's Victory is close to whelping her second litter. "She is in pup to Bond and is due in the first week of March,'' Dennis said at WP on Saturday night. "Katie's Victory was no better than a handy racetrack performer but her first litter to Most Awesome has produced Victory Glen and Katie's Double so we're excited about the Bond puppies." Victory is unlucky not to have a finalist in each of Saturday night's group one classics at WP as Katie's Double was the unlucky runner of the third Futurity semi-final. Jeff Collerson -Monday, 6 February 2006

OVER FLO JOINS BLUE PAWS GRNSW Media Release - February 2, 2006

Blue Paws received another boost today with the nomination of champion sprinter Over Flo into the Incentive Scheme. The dual Group 2 winning son of Brett Lee and Flo Jo Tears was forced into retirement after shattering a leg during the running of the 2005 Topgun Series at The Meadows. He has since made a full recovery to now stand at stud. GRNSW Chief Executive George Bawtree, applauded Over Flo's nomination into Blue Paws: “This reaffirms the breeding industry's support of the Scheme. It is great to have another quality greyhound join the distinguished list of Stud Dogs that have been nominated into Blue Paws. I have no doubts that Over Flo will be a success at Stud.” Over Flo became the first Bob Payne Winter Stake winner to break the 30 second barrier when he led throughout the 2005 event to record a personal best time of 29.83 seconds. The best time recorded in the previous 14 finals on the sand at Wentworth Park was fellow Blue Paws Stud Dog, Solve the Puzzle's 30.03 second effort in 1998. Over Flo had an excellent record at Wentworth Park, breaking the magical 30 second barrier on no less than seven occasions. He also had the astonishing record of contesting 10 finals from only 34 starts. Nominated into the Scheme by owner Paul Head, Over Flo will stand at Steve and Maree Gyftos' Charmer Lodge at the very reasonable service fee of $990. Stud Master Steve Gyftos threw his support behind Blue Paws stating: “Blue Paws is without a doubt the best thing to happen to the greyhound racing industry in NSW in a long time. It will have a positive effect at all levels of the industry. Breeders, owners and trainers will all benefit from Blue Paws.” Over Flo joins Royal Assassin, Most Awesome, History Lesson and Addis Boy as nominated Blue Paws Stud Dogs standing at Charmer Lodge.

SOUTH COAST CUP FINAL PREVIEW (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website)

2006 SOUTH COAST CUP FINAL A star studded line-up will head to the start for next Thursday night’s $15,000 to the winner, Group 3 South Coast Cup final over 472 metres for the Cyril Rowe Memorial Trophy. Greyhound enthusiasts are set to witness one of the best speed contests ever assembled at the popular Bulli circuit. Thirlmere trainer John Finn and Appin’s Christine Oldfield will each have two runners in the final in which the eight runners engaged have amassed career earnings of more than $182,000. The box draw, which was conducted on track after the last heat, has added to the anticipation of the final with the majority of the speedsters drawn toward the outside. The field is as follows: Box 1 November Louis – second to begin in his heat, he chased home Winsome Lesson to be beaten by 1-3/4 lengths. November Louis is the winner of 7 races from 20 career starts and posted a personal best time at the track of 26.20 in the heat. November Louis has a record of 4 wins 3 seconds and 2 third from 10 starts on the track. Box 2 Bigbad Stefano – second in heat three to Cawbourne Frank, beaten 3-1/2 lengths. Returned to the John Finn kennels in late December after a stint in Victoria. Bigbad Stefano is the winner of 20 of his 56 career starts and boasts a record of 7 wins 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 16 starts at the Bulli track with a best time of 26.09. Box 3 Justa Guy – finished third in heat one beaten 3-1/2 lengths by Winsome Lesson. Justa Guy’s effort was very sound having shown his versatility by dropping back in distance from a 720 metre race at Wentworth Park only 10 days earlier. Justa Guy has won 13 races from 50 career starts and his record at Bulli is two third placings from only three starts on the track. Justa Guy recorded his best time on the circuit in the heats at 26.33 Box 4 Oska – finished second in heat two behind November Roman beaten 2 length. Oska is the winner of 8 races from 19 starts and has raced 5 times on the Bulli circuit for a win and 2 second placings. Being by staying broodbitch Georgia Belle, Oska will be finishing hard in the run to the line. Box 5 Cawbourne Frank – railed through to lead Magnificent Love in the run to the first turn in heat three before scoring an easy victory in personal best time of 26.30. Along the way Cawbourne Frank recorded fast splits of 9.90 and 19.56. The Stuart Dickinson trained greyhound has an enviable record at the circuit having now won 5 races from 9 starts at the track along with 2 second placings. Last Thursday night’s victory took his career record to 17 wins from 38 race starts. Box 6 November Roman – began brilliantly in heat two to lead all the way in 26.61 and record another personal best performance. November Roman is one of the less experienced greyhounds in the final having raced only 14 times now for 8 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds. The greyhound has a perfect record of figuring in the placings at the track, having had 10 starts at Bulli for 6 wins and 4 placings. He recorded an early split of 9.87 in the heat and his early pace should ensure he is prominent early in next week’s final. Box 7 Winsome Lesson – this rising star left track regulars knowing they had witnessed something very special in the heats when he smashed both the first and second section split records. Winsome Lesson recorded 9.75 and an astonishing 19.29 to the top of the home straight before recording an overall race time of 26.09, the best of the heats. Winsome Lesson has now won 10 of his 14 career starts and given a trouble free run to the first corner, he ranks as the nominal favourite for the final. Box 8 Magnificent Love – ran a creditable third in heat three to Cawbourne Frank. This February 2004 youngster is building good career statistics with 8 wins, 5 seconds and 5 thirds from 21 career starts. Magnificent Love has a personal best at the track of 26.37 and steps up as the rookie in Thursday night’s final. That said, regardless of next week’s finishing position, Magnificent Love is sure to be a greyhound to follow in the future. The reserves for the final are Jennifer Hawk and Bulli Gold Plate winner Winsome Force. A big crowd is expected to flock to the surfside circuit next week with local promotions being staged across Illawarra Radio Station i98FM and the Illawarra Mercury newspaper. Inquiries concerning this media release may be directed to Jeff Browne or Les Mellowship on 9649 7166. Les Mellowship -Friday, 3 February 2006

WINSOME TEACHES RIVALS A LESSON (Courtesy of the GRA NSW website)

THREE odds-on favourites have taken out heats of the Cyril Rowe Memorial series at Bulli tonight. Winsome Lesson – the unlucky runner in the Rooty Hill RSL Gold Plate at Bulli last month – accounted for the well performed November Louis in a near record 26.09 in the opening heat. The son of History Lesson is one of the fastest hounds in the land and took his record to 10 wins from just 13 starts in a career best effort at Bulli. November Louis, however, was denied by only 1-1/4 lengths which also represented a personal standard at the spacious Slacky Flat circuit. Christine Oldfield would not be denied in heat two with her sparingly raced son of Brett Lee – November Roman – proving too good in 26.61. He accounted for a late-closing Oska by two lengths while Jennifer Hawk was a further 2-1/4 lengths away, third. Box one was the right alley to Cawbourne Frank in heat three and the Stuart Dickinson-trained speedster was comprehensive in his 26.30 win. He got clear at the first turn and held on resolutely to score by 3-1/2 lengths from Bigbad Stefano. Magnificent Love was third, another 1-1/2 lengths away. On calculated times, the two fastest thirds to qualify for next Thursday’s final will be Just A Guy (heat one) and Magnificent Love. While the Group 3 series highlighted proceedings, the performances of Banklee and maiden Lake General should not be passed over. Banklee, from the Don McMillan kennel, was ultra impressive in winning race four - a moderate grade five affair – by more than 10 lengths in a fast 26.46. He has won two of three outings and has unlimited potential. Lake General, another son of Brett Lee, overcame a moderate start to win over 400m in 22.97. The time might not have been earth shattering, but this fellow has been only lightly raced and will make his mark at Wentworth Park in the not too distant future. Peter Davis -Thursday, 2 February 2006

SKILLINGTON FOR PERTH 2 Feb, 2006 - Courtesy GRAQ website by David Brasch

CONSISTENT Skillington could be headed to Perth to do his future racing. The son of Royal Assassin-Enchanted Tears got through on the rails to score a narrow win over 520m in 5th Grade class at Albion Park on Thursday night to push himself into fourth grade. He scored by three-quarters of a length over early leader and hot favourite Judge Bros with a neck to Fire Boy in third in 30.69. It was the seventh win from 41 starts for Skillington but he has also run 28 placings. His record at Albion Park is a highly consistent two wins and 16 placings from 23 starts. Owner-trainer Andrew Russell said his dog was engaged at Albion Park on Monday night and after that he would rise to fourth grade and could struggle at headquarters. “I’ve got a good mate called Jason Gunning in Perth and I might send this dog to Perth to him to be trained,” said Andrew. “The 530 metre distance at Cannington will suit him perfectly.” Skillington’s only other Albion Park win was over 600m but Russell is adamant that distance is too far for his dog. “It really stresses him,” he said. Russell switched tracks recently and Skillington landed two wins at Ipswich in low grade events. “I thought the hot favourite Judge Bros would win easily going on his recent Ipswich form,” said Russell. “But it’s a tough rise from Ipswich class to Albion Park.” Russell has only Skillington and a 15-month-old Token Prince pup in training. “I’d love to have a kennel full of dogs like Skillington,” said Russell. “He has a 90 percent win and placings strike rate to runs. He’s just a great earner for us.”