Pullman Family On Track For Galaxy Glory
The pinnacle weekend of racing at Border Park is just two days away with the Tweed Heads Coursing Club conducting six heats of the Tweed Heads Galaxy this Saturday with the final to be run on Monday's Public Holiday. Held every year over the long weekend in June, The Galaxy always attracts some of Australia's biggest trainers and best short course sprinters with a $20,000 winner's purse on offer to the greyhound who can conquer the gruelling three days of racing. The powerful Pullman family from the Hunter Valley will be making the long eight hour drive in search of success at their first crack at the Galaxy with two members of their consistent kennel; Terton Flyer and Hunter Hummer.
Terton Flyer is engaged in race three, which is also the third heat from the awkward box four .Terton Flyer goes into the series off the back of a second placing at Maitland behind local boom pup Mike Marlow last start. The son of Bit Chili and Mikayla's Candy has been very consistent racing around Gosford and Maitland with four wins and four placings from just ten starts. Trained by Tom Pullman the black chaser oozes potential with quick winning times posted throughout his short career including Maitland 22.59 seconds (400 metres), Gosford 23.13 seconds (400 metres) and Maitland 25.32 seconds (450 metres).
Terton Flyer is owned by Tom and wife Helen's son Tony Pullman as well as his friend Terry Martin, with the two mates lending part of their names to the 31 kilogram sprinter. Martin also bred the litter which in addition to Terton Flyer includes the handy bitch Candy Queen and the lightly raced Chelsea's Candy.
Also heading up to compete in the Galaxy series is the ultra-impressive youngster Hunter Hummer who is trained by Helen and will be aiming for his eighth victory in a row when he lines up from box seven in heat six. The red fawn speedster has won nine from 14 overall and is blessed with a sensational amount of early speed, turning him into a terrific sprinter over the short course distances. Hunter Hummer has a bright future and has been very exciting to watch with slick times clocked at Wauchope (21.98 seconds), Maitland (22.38 seconds), Gosford (22.93 seconds) and Unibet Gardens (22.96 seconds).
The son of Cosmic Rumble was bred by the Pullman's daughter Kayla Spliet out of the 26 kilogram pocket rocket Saint Dora
“Tom raced the mother Saint Dora and she won nine races. She was only ever raced over the sprint distance and never put over any other distance.” explained Helen.
The daughter of Pure Octane and Baiyoke Sky was also bred by Spliet with her talent on the racetrack quickly emulated in the breeding barn with her first litter also including the fast pup Macoreka who has won three races from only nine starts. Saint Dora is currently in pup with her second litter to the exceptional sire Premier Fantasy with the pups due to arrive any day now.
The Pullman's are intrinsic members of the racing community in the Hunter Valley and have been so since moving to the area from Tamworth twelve years ago. Alike many devoted enthusiasts the Pullman's credit their passion for greyhounds as the reason for moving to the area due to the travel time endured when living up north when wanting to race their dogs elsewhere.
Raised in a racing family Helen is also responsible for introducing Tom to the industry when they started dating.
“My grandfather had dogs and they are all I can remember growing up. From the time I was young I have never not had dogs”, Helen said.
“I got Tom his first dog when he was seventeen and from there we never looked back”.
Once a leading trainer in Tamworth, Tom rates a dog called Junior Saint the best he has trained throughout his involvement in the sport
“Probably the best I had was Junior Saint who won a Tamworth Cup and won on all of the local TAB tracks” recalled Tom.
Junior Saint was whelped in October 1997 and was by Ultra Desire out of Davgar Cherokee. The red brindle and white dog had 99 starts for 29 wins 12 seconds and 10 thirds with triumphs on 9 tracks throughout his career.
In more recent times, the Pullman's chasers have been known to race with the established ‘Tokaam' tag which represents the names of their three children Tony, Kayla and Amanda with no other name more fitting for a family possessing strong ties within the industry.
Most notable is Kayla who has done a remarkable job during her career in greyhound racing as the manager of both the Maitland and Gosford GBOTA tracks whilst she also owns the popular Keinbah trial track with husband Corey. Tony also has a heavy involvement within the industry forming part of the family team as a trainer and handler on race days.
With the Pullman's dynamic duo representing the one of the Hunter's strongest chances of capturing Galaxy Glory, this weekend will definitely be a test for Terton Flyer and Hunter Hummer however as two pups with plenty of potential they will certainly be primed to fire in the astute hands of one of the area's most experienced families and have a fantastic shot of snaring the prize.