CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

Princess's Slashing 720m Trial BULLI 515m record holder Princess Bale sounded a warning to Rapidvite National Distance Championship hopefuls at Wentworth Park tonight when she posted a near record 42.15 in a solo trial over 720m. The daughter of Hallucinate has won at WP in a smart 42.58 but this solo offering was quite special. Her first section of 16.11 was only .01 outside the best ever posted at the track and her second section (for a lap of the track) was 25.03 which missed the previous mark by .02. While much different to competing at the elite level against a field of eight, Princess Bale offering is the fifth fastest ever posted at the track with record holder Miagi (42.03), Texas Gold, Royal Riddle and Total Denial the only dogs (all ‘boys’) to have gone faster.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

Branded Readies For National Sprint and Distance! DESPITE having already won 11 races from 28 starts including a slashing 30 seconds ‘flat’ at Wentworth Park, the best of Branded might be yet to come. A May 2006 son of under-rated sire Over Flo, Branded dominated a handy field to score by a clear 6 3/4 lengths in a smart 35.95 seconds over 618m at Richmond tonight and on the score of staying promise, tenacity and reliability at the start, the white and black dog ticks all the boxes. He was away from box two safely on this occasion, trailed only outsider Maria's Conquest at the post the first time and took control of proceedings as the field sped through the catching pen. A procession followed. Fame Story edged Maria's Conquest from the Quinella position in the latter stages while the well supported Andy's Ghost and Irinka Olivia could only manage fourth and sixth respectively. Trainer James Coyle has set Branded only four tasks at a middle distance for three wins and a luckless fourth to Borat in strong company at Canberra on July 15. Grade five wins over a middle distance at Gosford, The Gardens, Maitland are still available for Branded but the National Sprint and Distance Championship is next on the agenda for Branded … but which one will he contest? He’s nominated for both and his presence in the Distance title would add spice to an already appetizing series.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

David V. Repeated Bruce and Julie Fletcher were sent a little winter treat when their greyhound Repeated (Hallucinate x Thai Again) made it six wins from ten starts with an exhilarating performance last night, running 30.03 in wet conditions at Wentworth Park. Having only nine race starts and weighing in over 36 kilograms normally wouldn’t be the form you would like leading into a Wentworth Park Free-For-All but the giant black dog trained by Richard Dean defied convention with an all the way display. Jumping smartly from box eight, Repeated hunted over to be trailing Elite Impulse into the first bend but after that greyhound ran wide, the youngster railed up and led for the entire trip with just under five lengths to spare on the line from Eluthra. It is important to put into perspective Repeated’s effort in heavy track conditions. He ran home in under 16 seconds and clocked 30.03 for the 520 metre journey, the next best efforts on the night being Spring Smile in 30.33 and Lone Stone in 30.51. Repeated’s litter brothers Thai Alert, Hendrix and Radio Star have all featured recently at the top level of Sydney racing with dam Thai Again throwing some wonderful offspring for the Fletcher’s. Still only 25 months of age, Repeated has it all in front of him and will feature next in the New South Wales heats of the National Sprint Championships on Saturday 16 August.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

Miagi Resumes In Style THOUGH unsuited by the 450m trip, multiple track record holder Miagi (Hallucinate x Deloris) returned after an injury-enforced break to score impressively at Maitland this afternoon. He had not raced for 20 weeks following an metacarpal injury in his right fore-leg but did trial at Maitland on July, registering a slick 22.65 over 400m. Today, after a steady start from box seven, Miagi angled for a run between the leaders (Warrior Roxon and Bridal Suite) but checked to the outside and lost momentum. The buffeting, however, did not deter the star stayer and he reached the lead at the point of the home turn and raced away to score by 4 1/2 lengths in 25.86. The win was his 18th win from just 30 starts and, given a clean bill of health in coming months, the likes of Mantra Lad, Chinatown Lad, Fallen Zorro, Gunnadoo Magic and Lilley Criminal – all finalists in Saturday’s AWM Distance Championship at The Meadows – will have a new, and imposing challenge presented in the spring features.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

ALL IN THE FAMILY Courtesy GRAQ Website 24 July, 2008. THE Irwin family had plenty to cheer about when Rocky Laurie led throughout to win a Novice (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. The son of Hallucinate-Jet’s Wild Child scored by two and a half lengths over the luckless Shadow Boxer with six lengths to Alphamatic in third. The winner ran a smart 30.46 on the track that had been rained on all day. Dave Irwin, standing in as handler for his father Jack the trainer of the dog, said the victory was a real family affair. “Mum and Dad race the dog in partnership with my sister Sue and her husband Des Harmston,” said Dave. Rocky Laurie is compensation for poor luck the Irwin family had with the dam Jet’s Wild Child. “She won her first four and then broke a hock. She is as good a dog as I have ever trained,” said Dave. “She could have been a champion.” Jet’s Wild Child has had three litters to date and produced the brilliant Jet’s Rebel runner-up in a Tweed Galaxy and prolific winner for Jack Irwin. Rocky Laurie was a brilliant winner of a semi-final of the recent Grafton Maiden series but got into trouble in the final when seventh to Well Hard on July 17. “He had no luck but he also had a bad box in that final,” said Dave. Hot favourite Shadow Boxer was an outstanding performance when running second. He was slow away but stormed home in the straight to get second. He is a highly promising galloper who looks a ready-made stayer for trainer Greg Brennan.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

DEAN’S DREAM RETURN Courtesy GRAQ Website 10 July, 2008. DEAN Turley reckoned he was getting ahead of himself back in May. He knew his top class staying bitch Fast Dream was carrying a worrying back problem but with the Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup series upon him, Dean pressed ahead. “I knew she needed a spell but I had to give her a chance at the Gold Cup,” said Dean. Fast Dream finished third to Chinatown Lad in a heat of the Gold Cup and was spelled immediately. Her comeback after the slight break, with the back problem no longer a problem, has seen her get back to her best quickly. She proved too strong for a Best 8 (650m) at the Gold Coast on Thursday night scoring by two and a quarter lengths in 37.63 over Fancy Penny with two and a half lengths to Honeysuckle Rose in third. It was the bitch’s 10th win in 34 starts. “I tried to be smart by running her first-up over 520m at Wentworth Park but it backfired on me when she was only sixth,” said Dean. She then came to the Gold Coast for a third to Fancy Penny last week. “The move from Albion Park to the Gold Coast was probably perfect for her,” said Dean. “She hadn’t been here since she was a youngster and that was over 457m. “She needed the run last week over 650m and it did her the world of good.” Fast Dream started favourite and was always handy before proving too strong. The daughter of Hallucinate-Rapid Midnight will go back to Albion Park next Thursday night for a 710m event. The winner’s time of 37.63 was just outside the track record of 37.57 jointly held by Token Ned and Abbeyleix.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

DISORDERLY TO STAY AT COAST Courtesy GRAQ Website 10 July, 2008. SMART sprinter Disorderly will bypass the Group 1 Winter Carnival Cup series at Albion Park next week. The son of Whisky Assassin-Must Command was impressive again when winning a 457m 3rd-4th Grade at the Gold Coast on Thursday night. He scored by five and a quarter lengths in 25.64 over Black Monty with a head to early leader Kay Size State in third. Owner Kevin Martin said he and trainer Neil Falls had decided against taking on the Group 1 performers at Albion Park next week. “He stresses out after his races with a touch of water diabetes at times,” said Kevin. “We wouldn’t want to go to Albion Park and then back to the Gold Coast for all those weeks in a row. “We are content to stick to the coast with the Cup later in the month his target.” Martin is a devoted owner and follows his star galloper wherever he races. He said he believed the dog’s performance when second to Knocka Norris last week was an outstanding performance. “He was checked a couple of times in running specially when Elite Oriental was dropping out on the home turn,” said Martin. “By that time Knocka Norris was off and gone. Our bloke came home well and it was a great run.” Martin wants Falls to take Disorderly to Victoria later in the year. “I think Sandown would suit him perfectly but those big country tracks would as well,” he said. Eventually Martin is hoping Disorderly can win a Group race to earn a stud career. “He is an ideal 457m dog, and the speed track specialists usually make the best sires,” he said. “And this dog’s temperament is fabulous.” Martin knows only too well his dog has been luckless in many of his races in the past. “He needs three steps out of the boxes to get going,” said Kevin. Disorderly has now won 11 races and run six placings in 24 starts. He has won six of nine starts at the Gold Coast.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

BOXER PERFECTLY BOXED Courtesy GRAQ Website 7 July, 3008. BEAUTIFULLY bred youngster Shadow Boxer has the makings of a top class stayer according to his breeder and trainer Greg Brennan. But first the son of Hallucinate and former top staying bitch In My Dreams will take on a quality line-up in a Novice (457m) at the Gold Coast on Thursday night. Brennan thought he had a champion when Shadow Boxer first started trialling as a pup. "But his first couple of race starts devastated me," said Brennan. "I thought he was a certainty when he made his debut at Albion Park, but he kept running into other dogs, then got wide, and finished last." Shadow Boxer improved out of sight after that debut. "His past two runs have been outstanding," said Brennan. The dog won a maiden final in a fast 30.17 around Albion Park on June 23 beating another promising youngster in Reformed. Brennan took his dog to Ipswich for a 431m trial last Thursday and Shadow Boxer reeled off a brilliant 24.81. "He came home in 11.25 which is under the come-home record," he said. "He is drawn well for Thursday night's race, but eventually I expect him to be a stayer." He rates the Novice event tough to win. "There are some smart dogs in it including Yikes, Genista Dreama and Lots Of Moolah, and Sandra Hunt's dog Mix Wave has lots of good early pace." Brennan is comforted by the fact Genista Dreama (drawn inside Shadow Boxer) will head towards the rails at the start and should give his dog a clear run early. Brennan had even thought of taking Shadow Boxer to Wentworth Park for the Young Star Classic. "But I ruled it out because this dog is only young, inexperienced and I want to keep his confidence sky high for now." Dam In My Dreams had just produced a litter of pups to NSW greyhound of the year and multiple Group winner Slater.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JULY 2008

THUNDER OFF TO SYDNEY Courtesy GRAQ Website 7 July, 2008. NEIL Falls’ highly promising youngster Genista Thunder will head to Wentworth Park in the next few weeks with the Young Star Classic as his target. Falls said this today. Genista Thunder will back up at Lismore tomorrow night and then Falls will look to take him back to Wentworth Park for the Young Star Classic. He is a baby compared his rivals last Thursday night. He will not turn two until October this year while Bogie Ace was two in April. Trainer Tony Brett said he would look to give Bogie Ace a 520m start next in preparation for the up-coming heats of the Group 1 Winter Carnival Cup at Albion Park on Thursday week. Genista Thunder (Hallucinate-Smokey Whisky) led throughout to win a 457m 5th Grade at the Gold Coast last Thursday night in a flying 25.67. And in the process he held off boom galloper Bogie Ace to win by two and a half lengths with five and a quarter lengths to Cobbell Lass in third. Genista Thunder, bred and raced by Dennis Mitchell, has now won five of his 10 starts and was making his debut at the Gold Coast last Thursday night. Falls admitted he did not give his dog a great chance of beating Bogie Ace who was coming off a second in the Group 2 Qld Derby final at Albion Park on June 19. “I like my dog best from an inside box and with Bogie Ace drawn so well in the eight, I thought we would be up against it to beat him,” said Falls. But Genista Thunder flew out and led clearly going out of the back straight but with Bogie Ace hot on his heels. “I thought Bogie Ace was close enough to beat him at that stage but my bloke held on really well,” he said.