Michael Lalicz could end title drought at Albion Park on Thursday

Albion Park greyhounds
Maybe, just maybe, Michael Lalicz's bad luck in finals could change at the Albion Park greyhounds on Thursday night.

That is when he will oversee Suave Ripple and Rapid Ripple from box two and three respectively in the Queensland Derby Final, after Street Cry runs for him in the Final, both at 2 level.

It promises to be a bumper night of racing, which will also include the final of the Futurity.

All three runners are in with genuine chances for the Murwillumbah-based conditioner.

Lalicz hasn't just emerged as a good greyhound mentor by chance.

The dam of Suave Ripple and Rapid Ripple – Ripple Rumble – was a beaten Futurity finalist herself, finishing third in the 2019 edition.

Suave Ripple picked up a pair of fifth places in the recent and Cups.

But he copped a decent check early in the and did well to recover, after he struggled to get across from box eight in the Casino Cup.

Rapid Ripple was a little sluggish from box one in the same feature over 484m on November 25, finishing fourth.

Lalicz is confident his luck in finals can be turned around in Brisbane on Thursday night.

“You've got to get your timing right. It's good to win a heat, but you've got to win the finals – that's the hard part,” he told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“But these dogs' mother was in a Futurity in Brisbane. She went pretty good in that.

“Southern Ripple and Irish Ripple competed in the Young Guns and Derbies.

“We've had dogs who have been in them, but it's all about timing.”

Indeed, Suave Ripple's race-night timing could help his trainer achieve a title breakthrough in the Queensland capital.

The two-year-old with 15 wins from 34 starts ran a respectable second behind young gun Perth dog Electrified in his Derby heat.

Third at the first turn, Suave Ripple showed good race smarts to poke his way through the field, before he was edged out at the line by Steve and Kystal Shinners' precocious Perth talent.

He crossed the line in 30.16 seconds to put him right in the mix for the final over 520m, and worth $72,000.

“He's some sort of chance – he's a nice little dog. He's a better race dog than his brother,” Lalicz said.

“But his brother is probably marginally faster than him.

“One has got an asset of a bit more speed, but just can't seem to put it all together at the moment.

“(Suave Ripple) is a 29.8 dog, and probably a better race dog.”

Lalicz was happy with the way Suave Ripple pushed Electrified (both were timed at 30.16 seconds) in the second Derby heat last week.

“He knows how to find his way through a field. I was pretty happy with the outcome of the race,” the Northern Rivers conditioner said.

“But he had to be up close with them early going into that corner because there was so much speed and strength in the back-end of the race to put himself into it.”

Rapid Ripple also finished runner-up to Starline Express for Reg Gardolll in the first Derby heat, but in a better time than his kennelmate, crossing in 30.04 seconds.

Lalicz also has high hopes for that two-year-old's future.

“He's only had (16) starts. He's only won four races, but some of the things he's done in the lead-up to races and different trials (have been impressive),” he said.

“He was in the Casino Cup final, drew the one box and missed the kick and got a bump coming out.

“Rapid Ripple won off the eight from behind there (in his Casino Cup heat), which was an enormous run.

“And then he backed up with a nice third in the Lismore Cup heats. But he had to run 1-2 to be in the final.

“He came from behind and was absolutely flying.

“He's just a real nice dog. He's probably a 29.6 or 29.7 dog, but he just hasn't been able to put it all together yet.”

Like fellow finalist and his brother Suave Ripple, Rapid Ripple fought well to make the Queensland Derby final after starting from the outside lane.

“His run the other night against Reggie's dog, I just thought he got from box eight,” Lalicz said.

“I don't think he could hear the because there was a dog going off its tree in the middle.

“He was last on the corner going through the pen. If the race was 530m, he wins.”

After Rapid Ripple comfortably won the Mick Byrne Memorial Novice Final from box six at Albion Park on July 7, Lalicz knew Rapid Ripple and Suave Ripple were serious young race dogs.

With their combined talent, he does not want to rush their busy schedules.

“There's no real rush with them because they are so young. I've taken time with them,” he said.

“I'll just trial them and give them a bit of work at home. But that will help give them longevity.

“Depending on how well they go in the Derby – if they really put it all together and step up, we might keep going up here (in south-east Queensland).

“And the Derby they have there at Richmond. That'd be ideal for them at some stage.

“But everything has to be ideal for them, and three months is a long time in greyhound racing.

“So we'll just take it week by week, and keep them happy.”

Meanwhile, Street Cry will run in Thursday night's $110,000 Golden Sands Final over 600m from box four after an impressive heat win, beating Tony Brett's Milligan to the line by 4 ¼ lengths in a time of 35.03 seconds.

The veteran who turns four in February has made a good return from a month injury lay-off, winning two of his five races after coming back to 100 per cent health.

“He's back from a lengthy lay-off and had a cracked fibula. So we gave him some time off, and he's had (five) runs back and won a couple of races,” Lalicz said.

“So we put him in. He ran the heat last week and drew box four in the final. We're pretty impressed with him – he's going as good as ever.

“He's a full brother to Louis Rumble (for Stephen Kavanagh, who has 31 wins from 61 starts and over $261,000 in prizemoney).

“There'll be a few races around for him shortly.

“We'll just stick to the 600m races and find some races for him.”

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