CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

Miagi Back On Track Courtesy GRNSW Website MIAGI, (Hallucinate x Deloris) ranked as Australia's best stayer until suffering a serious injury, continued his comeback campaign with a successful trial up the straight at Appin on Tuesday. Miagi covered the 366m in the fair time of 21.40sec, figures not good enough to win a top grade sprint there but which satisfied trainer Warren Harper. "He had never been out of the starting boxes behind the drag lure on a straight track before,'' Warren told The Dogs. "So we were happy with his run. "A lot of dogs trialled faster than Miagi on Tuesday, but then again, there were many which went slower, too. "He pulled up sound which was all we were concerned about.'' JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

Dennis Matches Bathurst 520m Record Courtesy GRNSW Website PROMISING youngster Irinka Dennis (Hallucinate x Irinka Natalie) added the 520m Bathurst track record to his already tidy resume this afternoon in heat two of the Chris Mooney Tribute. The black dog posted a cracking 29.78 at the track on June 14 following his fifth to Lend Us Fifty in the Peter Mosman Classic Final at Wentworth Park seven days earlier. Today, from box five, he was quickly in the lead and sailed away to score by a massive 10 1/4 lengths in 29.72 to match former top grade Wentworth Park sprinter Adrienne’s Dream’s mark set in May 2007. “He began a lot better today than he did last week,” Bathurst Secretary Greg Hore said. “His sections were brilliant and he will take some beating in the $3000 to-the-winner final next Saturday.” Irinka Dennis is trainer by his owner-breeder Ray Smith and now boasts four wins from just eight starts. JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

Princess Bale The Fastest Ever Courtesy GRNSW Website CHRIS Nutt races Victorian group race star Nitro Nori but he declared Princess Bale (Hallucinate x Gold Rush Bale) the fastest greyhound he has trained after her win at Wentworth Park on Saturday night. Princess Bale blew the start but assisted by a good rails run at the first turn, "ran over the top'' of her rivals to win a 520m fifth grade in a tidy 30.44sec. Chris trained Nitro Nori early in his career, before sending him to Victoria's Darren McDonald due to the dog's inability to handle WP. "Princess Bale, who I train for Paul Wheeler, is a lot faster than a lot of people think. "Before she contested the Cabravale Diggers Gold Cup series at Bulli in late May I trialled her over 400 metres at Richmond and she ran 22.42 seconds, breaking the course record. "But it can be different in full fields in sprints so now I am likely to put her back over a middle distance before trying over 720 metres again.'' JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

ROCKABYE LAD TO BECOME A STAYER Courtesy GRNSW Website ROCKABYE Lad, (Hallucinate x Irinka Barbie) who went within a "whisker'' of the Richmond 618m track record on Friday night, is to be stepped up in distance by trainer Sam Sultana. Rockabye Lad beat a strong field by a dozen lengths on Friday, covering the trip in 35.38sec, just .16 outside Tears' long-standing track record. In the absence of her parents, Sam and Jenny, who are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary with a Gold Coast holiday, daughter Kristy Sultana deputized as trainer and said her father would now step Rockabye Lad up in distance. And with Kristy's own bitch Ace Zace having won by 11 lengths at her staying debut at Richmond on May 30, there is a strong chance her greyhound may be tackling dad's dog at WP in the near future. JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

RACEHORSE OWNER WINS AT WENTY Courtesy GRNSW Website MATT Millar, a Sydney stockbroker who owns top class thoroughbred stayer The Fuzz, is keen to buy more greyhounds after Otti Keeping's (Hallucinate x Intelligent) win in Saturday night's 720m Nice Products Stake at Wentworth Park. The Fuzz, who won last year's group two Blaymey Stakes and group three Geelong Cup, was unfortunately scratched on the day of the Melbourne Cup. A third and fourth grade WP win is a far cry from that sort of racing but Matt is now keen to expand his greyhound interests. After Saturday's race, Alan Proctor, whose wife Christine trains Otti Keeping, said: "We were a bit worried going into tonight's race because due to the rain our bitch had not had a trial all week. "She had not been off the lead but it didn't worry her because one thing Otti Keeping can do is stay.'' JEFF COLLERSON

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

JACK'S TRIAL TO DETERMINE TRIP Courtesy GRAQ Website 24 June, 2008. A TRIAL at Ipswich on Thursday will determine if exciting youngster Fever Jack heads south for a tilt at the Young Star Classic at Wentworth Park. The Classic will be run on July 19 and 26 and is a Group 2 worth $25,000 to the winner. Fever Jack (Whisky Assassin-Mysterious Lee) is an exciting youngster who was a finalist in the Qld Derby at Albion Park last Thursday night. Sharon Morris, whose husband Barry trains the dog, said Thursday's Ipswich trial would be the ideal guide as to Fever Jack's hopes in Sydney. "Quite a few people say if a dog can handle Ipswich, it will handle Wentworth Park," said Sharon. "He hasn;t been back to Ipswich since he was a baby so it will give us a good guide on his progress." If Fever Jack trials well, he will go to Wentworth Park for a trial on the track there in preparation for the Young Star Classic. "The other options for us are the Gold Coast Cup or the Group 1 Winter Carnival Cup at Albion Park and both of those races might be a bit tough for him," said Morris. Barry and Sharon were happy with Fever Jack's run, despite being unplaced, in the Derby final last week. "You must remember he was the baby of the field after only 10 starts and he's already been in three feature race finals and one of those is a Group 2," said Sharon. "We believe he deserves his chance at a nice race like the Young Star Classic." The age restrictions of that race suit Fever Jack perfectly.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

BABY HE CAN RUN 19 June, 2008. Courtesy GRAQ Website SYDNEY trainer James Coyle decided to kill two birds with one stone when he brought Branded to Albion Park for a heat of the Big Dog Qld Cup (600m) on Thursday night. “I’ve got a brand new grandson and I thought it would be an opportune time to come up here and see him,” said Coyle. “And at the same time I could bring this dog with me for this nice race.” Branded (Over Flo-Dos Santos) led throughout to win his heat in 35.21 by two and a quarter lengths over Jillie Bean with a half length to Varvatos in third. James came north to see his daughter Natalie and her husband Jason Barrett and grandson Shaun. Branded was bred by Coyle who has been training greyhounds at Riverstone for 35 years. He raced the dam Dos Santos the winner of nine races including two at Wentworth Park. “She’s been a great broodbitch for us,” he said. “She’s produced Punk Angel and only tonight a litter brother to Branded called Marco Polo won by 10 lengths at Dapto.” Branded is young and inexperienced over the middle distance. He had slipped post to post at Albion Park and Coyle is confident his dog will improve out of sight for next week’s final. He will stay in Brisbane all week with his daughter and her family. Branded has now won nine races in 23 starts. He led through a 10.14 first section and then held off the determined efforts by Jillie Bean and Varvatos in the straight to win well. The dog had started only once over the middle distance before tonight, and that was an 11-length victory at Dapto on May 22 in a fast 34.90.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

CHEERING FROM THE KIMBERLEYS 19 June, 2008. Courtesy GRAQ Website IF you listened closely enough you could almost hear Lynne Ivanovic cheering home Sam Beau Stanley in his heat win of the Big Dog Qld Cup (600m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. There is no prouder owner in greyhound racing than Lynne. Unfortunately she and husband Peter are on holidays in the Kimberleys this week and she missed seeing her tough middle distance performer win. The son of Hallucinate-Dooley’s Mist led throughout to win by a head in 35.59 over Aunty Vick with a length and three-quarters to Billy Bee Sting in third. Sam Beau Stanley is now trained by Alex Green at Park Ridge after having been in the kennels of recently suspended trainer Shayne Parker. “The dog is going no better now than when Shayne had him,” said Green. “He is a very good trainer and the dog was immaculate when I got him.” But Sam Beau Stanley took time to settle into Green’s kennels. “I was feeding him extra but he kept losing weight,” said Green. “That was until last Sunday. I galloped him and for the past four days he has just thrived. “He improved out of sight.” Green is hoping the dog continues that improvement for next week’s final. Sam Beau Stanley has now won 15 races and nine of those have been at Albion Park. Runner-up Aunty Vick may have been unlucky to just fail to run down the winner. She was held up for a run several times coming to the home turn and then dashed home quickly to just fail to grab Sam Beau Stanley

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

GREAT SECOND STRINGER Courtesy GRAQ website 12 June, 2008. RUFFIAN will provide top trainer Tony Brett with a great second string chance in next week’s Group 2 Qld Derby final after his impressive win in a heat at Albion Park on Thursday night. Ruffian (Hallucinate-Miss Ross) scored by three-quarters of a length in 30.41 in his Derby heat beating Serious Dreams with two lengths to the luckless Bear Cat in third. Brett also has likely hot favourite Bogie Ace in the Derby final next week. But he admitted after Ruffian’s heat win he had “thrown the dog to the wolves” by tossing him into the Derby series. “He’s inexperienced but he won’t be eligible next year and I have a very big opinion of this dog,” said Brett who trains him for Steve Williams and Steve Mason long-time great mates who form the Velocity Lodge Syndicate. Ruffian showed heaps of ability in the recent Eric Thomson Maiden series at the Gold Coast and was “a great second” to Bearer Bond there at his previous start. “But he has slipped post to post in 24.24 here two weeks ago and he’s always looked like he would run a strong 520m,” said Brett. “He’s 23 months old and has a good future ahead of him, but he’s also got a long, long way to go to get to the top.” Ruffian was having his fourth race start and has won two races. He dashed up to the lead nearing the home turn. Bear Cat was slow away and found early trouble but finished on strongly in the straight. Brett also trained Miss Ross, the dam of the winner, when she was owned by Steve Hawkins. Hawkins, who owns Brett’s latest superstar Queen Lauryn, sold Miss Ross to the Velocity Lodge boys.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

MICK’S MAD AT HIMSELF Courtesy GRAQ website 12 June, 2008. BEFUDDLED trainer Mick Menken was berating himself at Albion Park on Thursday night even though Stone Cold Sober is into next week’s Group 2 Qld Derby final. The son of Hallucinate-Kalka Kate led throughout to win his heat on Thursday night in 30.36 by three-quarters of a length over Black Monty with five lengths to Rough Robbie. It was his 15th win and ninth at Albion Park. But Menken, although happy with the win, was “a little disappointed” his dog had won because he believes he had a better chance in the up-coming 600m Big Dog Qld Cup series. The heats of that race will be run next Thursday night when Stone Cold Sober lines up in the Derby final over 520m. Menken had not worked Stone Cold Sober since he was beaten into third at Lismore on June 3. “He cramped badly that night so I did nothing with him after that and he went into this race very fresh,” said Menken. “But I’m disappointed. If I had known there was going to be a 600m Best 8 on Thursday night I would have rather had him in that specially as there was only six dogs in that race. “He will be hard pressed to win the final of the Derby but he has won here in 30.07.” Menken has done a fabulous job with Stone Cold Sober winning eight races at headquarters with him. Black Monty loomed up on the home turn and looked likely to run past the leader, but Stone Cold Sober is a powerful finisher and held off the Monty’s challenge.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

JACK TO CHASE RICHES Courtesy GRAQ website 12 June, 2008. SHE’S a persuasive woman that Sharon Morris and if she gets her way in the not too distant future, she and husband Barry will be off south. It will be with highly promising young dog Fever Jack (Whisky Assassin-Mysterious Lee) who scored an all-the-way win in Thursday night’s heat of the Qld Derby (520m). He ran through some brilliant sectionals, churning out a 5.72 and then broke up his rivals with an 11.48 middle clocking. “It’s that middle section that wins it for him,” said Sharon. Fever Jack scored by a length and a quarter over Size Can Matter with a head to Red Aces in third. The winner ran 30.08 easily his best in three wins at the track. The Morris’ train Fever Jack for George and Dot Joyce. “Barry has a huge opinion of this dog and I’m going to talk him into travelling with him for some of the big races coming up in the south,” said Sharon. Fever Jack was a Young Guns finalist at Albion Park a few months ago and was runner-up to track record breaking Dual Enforcer in a Young Guns at Capalaba last Saturday. “He is very underestimated this dog,” said Sharon. “He ran 19.52 the day Dual Enforcer ran the track record of 19.45. And in the final last Saturday, Dual Enforcer lay on him all the way down the straight.” George and Dot Joyce rarely come to the races these days. “George doesn’t drive at night but we will try to get them to come for the final next week,” said Sharon. Sharon even had to convince her own husband to have $5 each way Fever Jack in his heat at $18. “That’s the second time he has beaten Size Can Matter in two clashes,” she said. Fever Jack has won four of his nine starts.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

IMA RUNNER LINDA'S BEST Courtesy GRAQ website 9 June, 2008. TOP WA sprinter Eye Murunna goes into the heats of the Group 2 Qld Derby (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night without a trial on the track. And that worries premier trainer Linda Britton to a degree. The son of Hallucinate-Reggikate comes up against boom local youngster Bogie Ace and Britton said she would rather have drawn a wide box with the dog. "He will take a step right coming out of the boxes," she said. Eye Murunna was a brilliant 30.43 FFA winner at Cannington on Saturday night coming from a wide draw. He is one of two heat runners from the Britton kennel, the other being recent WA Derby runner-up Bear Cat who is raced by Queenslander Andrew Monaghan. "We took Eye Murunna to Melbourne and he won a heat and semi-final of the Silver Chief without having a look at The Meadows," said Linda. "But not having been on Albion Park is a bit of a worry," she admitted. She rates Eye Murunna the best sprinter racing in WA at the moment and said he was "about four lengths quicker" than Bear Cat. "But Bear Cat is a fantastic chaser and quick early. He has raced there (at Albion Park) so will be well suited," said Linda. Kennel "travelling foreman" Emily Fraser will bring the dogs to Queensland and will stay with local trainer Reg Hazelgrove. "If they make the final either I or Chris will come over for that," said Linda. She pointed out Eye Murunna had led off the rails at Cannington two weeks ago winning in a brilliant 30.11. He has won his past seven in succession. Bear Cat also won at Cannington on Saturday night, also in 30.43. "But he pinged out and led all the way," said Linda. "Eye Murunna had to come from behind to win in the same time." Bear Cat (Exceptional-Double Guess) has won nine of 21 starts while Eye Murunna has won 23 of 40 starts. He is raced by a syndicate headed by Gary Weston who is best known for racing the former star sprinter Reggemite. Reggemite is the sire of Eye Murunna's dam Reggikate a former top class WA sprinter.

CHARMER LODGE FEATURE NEWS - JUNE 2008

Courtesy GRAQ website DERBY BID FOR SPUD 29 May, 2008. BOOM young galloper Just Spud will head towards the Group 2 Qld Derby series at Albion Park. Breeder, owner and trainer Greg Kennedy said this after the Whisky Assassin-Paw Play dog had flown through a 30.60 Novice win (520m) at Ipswich on Tuesday night. Just Spud had run the second fastest 431m ever with a 24.79 win there in April when winning a maiden final by 13 lengths. But the dog picked up a virus that night and was off the scene until Tuesday night. He scored by almost six lengths in the Novice over Two Puzzled and Kentucky Racer. "I thought he was over the virus so I put him up the straight and it came back, so I had to ease him again," said Kennedy. "He had a couple of post to post slips at Ipswich to ready him for Tuesday night's race." Immediate plans for the youngster are to trial at Albion Park next Wednesday. "That will decided the Derby plans but at this stage that's where we are heading," said Kennedy. Just Spud has not been to Albion Park. "He likes a fast track and with a bit of rain predicted for the next week he might not get that at Albion Park," said Kennedy. Kennedy said he had been approached a number of times to sell his dog but had decided to race Just Spud himself. "You wait forever to get a dog like this and I don't want to sell him," he said. He is also breaking in a 14-month-old Black Enforcer-Paw Play litter and has high hopes for them as well.