Jemma Daley says Hara’s Herbie tough to beat in QLD Derby heat
He has drawn the dreaded box seven again, but Hara's Herbie will still be hard to beat in the third Queensland Derby heat at Albion Park on Thursday night, according to trainer Jemma Daley.
He will go in as the second favourite at $2.80 across online betting sites after his excellent last-start victory over the same 520m distance at Ipswich last Saturday night, crossing the line in 30.13 seconds.
The talented two-year-old's excellent first section of 5.25 seconds set up his comfortable 3.5 length victory, despite starting from the seven lane.
And just as importantly, last month's Ipswich Cup champion with nine wins from 30 starts and almost $152,000 in prizemoney got through the run in good condition.
“His run on Saturday night was outstanding to do 30.13,” Daley told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“He's come through the run really well.
“Seven was never going to suit. Even though he started favourite, he was beatable out in the seven.
“But he put that to bed pretty quickly, going 5.25 early.
“So hopefully (on Thursday night) he can run in the low 5.50s, and it should put him up near the front and hopefully he can run across.”
Daley was brought to tears after Hara's Herbie saluted in the Ipswich Cup on November 10, the $2.10 favourite crossing the line in 30.19 seconds.
2022 Ipswich Cup Replay – Hara's Herbie 30.19
The former jockey and trackwork rider who worked with prominent trainers John Hawkes, Pat Duff and Tony Gollan acknowledged after the race she had only been a greyhound trainer for three years.
But she left no stone unturned in getting her kennel star in peak condition for the Group 2 feature worth $143,750.
“It's been years of hard work. My partner and myself have copped a lot of negativity from a lot of the older trainers because we're fairly new,” Daley said.
“I've been blessed with the support of (owner-breeder) Tony Glover, but at the same token I haven't just been handed these dogs.
“I've had them from when they were 12 to 14 weeks old, and it's been a rollercoaster.
“And it was a sense of accomplishment knowing we've been there from the start and enjoyed the ride together.”
Daley said if it wasn't for her love of her dogs she might've walked away because of the ill-feelings she has had to endure.
“I'd say it's more bitterness. It's disappointing,” the 33-year-old conditioner said.
“We just keep to ourselves.
“They (competitors) talk about wanting young ones in.
“They're mates with you when you're winning the odd race, but when you start taking your fair share of the pie it becomes not so supportive.
“You've got to love the dogs otherwise you wouldn't get out of bed every morning.”
Daley also said she had to quickly get over her frustration at Hara's Pandora not getting a run at Ipswich last Saturday night.
The two-year-old bitch will start from box eight in the first Bogie Leigh Futurity heat also over 520m at Albion Park on Thursday night.
“It's a grading issue that Racing Queensland have really let us down on because she wasn't even able to trial,” Daley said.
“I had a few words to say, but it means nothing up here.
“They had a fifth-grade 520, and then they had a third and fourth grade with only five dogs in the third and fourth grade.”
Daley believes her disappointment – and the lack of race fitness for Hara's Pandora going into Thursday night – could have easily been solved over a phone call.
“If (only) they had rang me and said ‘we're going to make this a mixed-graded race' and I could've said ‘can we put Herbie or Pandora into that race, and the other in the other race?'” she said.
“But they couldn't (make) the phone call to ask the question. It's unfortunate because that really would've topped her off for Thursday night.
“So she's going into it underdone. You had dogs who've won three from 60 who got in ahead of her.
“But anyway, it is what it is. We've just got to hope she can get across and be somewhere close.”
Daley was thrilled with the effort of Hara's Pandora in the Group 3 Rising Stars on October 27, finishing third in a good time of 30.09 seconds, behind winner and kennelmate Hara's Skye (29.75 seconds).
And she did that from box seven – the sixth time she drew that lane in her 18th start.
“Massive run. That whole litter (Fernando Bale-Hara's Honey) is outstanding,” she said.
“She's a bitch who needs confidence, and she hasn't had the box draws to suit.
“Massive run, and it just proves she has got the ability to compete with the better dogs.”
Another star kennelmate and fellow two-year-old bitch Hara's Opal will run from box seven in the second Bogie Leigh Futurity heat.
She greatly impressed her young conditioner after finishing third in her last start, which was a fifth-grade race at Ipswich last Saturday night, also from the seven lane.
The developing chaser came back from last place to be three-quarters off victor Blue Hornet at the post, thanks to a strong burst of speed late on the straight.
“She was phenomenal on Saturday night. They're both (Opal and Pandora) going to need a bit of luck early to get the right run,” Daley said.
“But they've proven they can put the times on the board – a lot depends on luck.”
Meanwhile, Daley said emerging star sprinter Hara's Skye was not far off a track comeback.
The Rising Stars winner fell in her last start – the first Ipswich Cup heat on November 3.
“She's OK. She came on season, so she's had a break,” Daley said.
“We'll bring her through slowly and hopefully she'll come back to her best.
“I'm pretty sure she will, but we've just got to be patient with her.
“We're happy enough with how she's coming along – she's not too far away now.
“She had a couple of niggles after that incident, but nothing long-term or serious.”
Hara's Herbie is a Sennachie out of Hara's Annie, while Hara's Pandora, Hara's Opal and Hara's Skye are by Fernando Bale out of Hara's Honey.
They are all showing plenty of potential, and 2023 could be a big year for all of them.
“Very excited about all their futures. I've hung onto Herbie and his litter brother, and the rest have moved on,” Daley said.
“We've hung onto the whole litter, or Tony has – the Fernandos/Hara's Honey.
“They're all bitches for the future. Next year should be a good year for them.
“We're just hoping they can stay sound, and they'll be very competitive come winter time.”
Daley might look at sending them south to more lucrative races in Sydney or Melbourne if they continue performing in south-east Queensland.
“Plenty to look forward to, and we may even look at travelling them,” she said.
“We've just got to try and place them right.”