Days Of Thunder near enough to peak form ahead of Group 3 Dashing Corsair heats
Churchable greyhound trainer Warren Nicholls, clings onto a resolute belief that Days Of Thunder still possesses that one spellbinding final dash which could dissipate all the frustrations accumulated over her 56 runs.
But make no mistake, Nicholls is far from disillusioned with ‘Bonnie's' journey so far.
It has been akin to a thrilling roller coaster ride, a journey more exhilarating than the most thrilling of amusements.
Nicholls, along with owner Clint Gill, has found the journey rewarding.
Over the course of Bonnie's 56 starts, she has secured 16 wins and 16 placings, accumulating an impressive $208,860 in prize money.
It's a tale of success by any measure.
Yet, Nicholls' discontent lurks beneath the surface, revealed in his candid frustrations.
Days Of Thunder, as any ardent follower of greyhound racing would know, has a distinctive race strategy that never fails to leave spectators on tenterhooks.
She is a long-distance specialist, known for her tendency to drop back before unleashing a blinding sprint down the final straight.
Acceptance of her racing style came slowly to Nicholls.
“Neither myself nor the owner are punters, so because of the way she runs, she probably loses more than she wins.
“However, the journey with her has been wonderful, and she has done splendidly for us.”
After a four-month hiatus due to injury, Days Of Thunder returned to Albion Park just last Thursday.
Her characteristic race pattern had not wavered.
She surged home to secure third place behind the formidable Nangar Rocket, trained by Dennis Barnes, a classy visitor from New South Wales.
Albion Park FFA 710m May 25 2023 – Nangar Rocket (41.99) (Days Of Thunder 3rd)
Nicholls is of the belief that she is nearing her peak form once again, and he has plans to campaign her throughout this Brisbane winter carnival.
Last year, she achieved notable success in the same carnival, placing third in the Group 1 Queensland Cup over 710 metres, clinching the first spot in the Group 3 Origin Greyhound Series Distance, and emerging victorious in the Queensland National Distance Championship.
Her explosive finishes became a much-anticipated spectacle nationwide.
The carnival season for Days of Thunder is set to commence this Wednesday at Albion Park, with the preliminary heats of the esteemed 2023 Group 3 Dashing Corsair over 710 metres.
She will need to be swift from the get-go, as all three heats are brimming with formidable competitors, attracted by the carnival's lucrative offerings.
Nicholls, chuckling, recalls his reaction to the tough competition. “I had one look and tossed the form guide aside. ‘Damn, all the good ones are in my race,' I thought.”
While it's true that Bonnie will face stiff competition from the likes of Ritza Piper (trained by Joseph Scerri), Cawbourne Magic (Anthony Lord), Dirt Farmer (Tim Britton), and her local adversary Oh Oh Range (Ned Snow), there are other competitors in different heats, such as Jeff Britton's Korda, Anthony Lord's Punter's Bandit and Tiger Jack, Tim Britton's Fast Milkman and Play Nice, Robert Britton's First Picked, and Dennis Barnes' Nangar Rocket.
Despite the high-quality opposition that will persist throughout the carnival, Nicholls remains steadfast in his belief, intertwined with his ever-present frustration. “Days of Thunder is exactly where I want her to be,” he affirms.
After four months off the track, she has been putting in strong performances during trials, running a 12.80 seconds finish over 600 metres.
Nicholls confirms her recovery has been solid and that she is nearly at the desired form.
He predicts that she will be at her optimal performance after a couple more runs, which isn't far off.
“After four months away from the track, I had forgotten how nerve-wracking it was to watch that first lap. It was pretty intense,” he confesses.
Yet, Nicholls is firm in his belief that ‘Bonnie' still has a remarkable run left in her. “I'm confident there's still something extraordinary left in her, an undeniable will to get there,” he states, acknowledging the high caliber of dogs present for the carnival.
“She can give any dog a run for their money.
“She's in no worse condition than she was this time last year, and she nearly upset the favourites then.
“In fact, I believe she's even better now”
Days Of Thunder is from the Michelle Shambler bred November 2019 litter by Fernando Bale out of Melissa's Pride, and has 56 starts for 16 wins and 16 placings, earning owner Clint Gill $208,860 in prizemoney.
The white bitch is a three-time Group 1 finalist finishing third in the 2022 Group 1 Queensland Cup at Albion Park, and running unplaced in the 2022 Group 1 Topgun Stayers at The Meadows, and the 2022 Group 1 National Distance Championship at Wentworth Park.
Days Of Thunder won the 2022 Group 3 Queensland National Distance Championship, and made the finals of the 2022 and 2023 Group 3 Albion Park Gold Cups.
She was third in the 2022 Listed Clem Jones Cup at Albion Park, and made the finals of the 2022 Listed Cup Night Stayers at Sandown, and the 2023 Listed Clem Jones Cup at Albion Park.