Visitors Look To Take Townsville Young Guns Final
The RQ Young Guns Series heads to Townsville tonight for the final of the $2500.00 to the winner event. Restricted to greyhounds whelped 6th of February 2011 or later, it is a wonderful series and event for young dogs to compete in the hope of collecting some good prizemoney. The Townsville Club have again attracted a quality field for the final and it will be a hotly contested race over the tough 498m. With local greyhounds competing against some travelling raiders the race would be top quality on a program anywhere in Australia.
Race 8 – RQ Young Guns Final – 498m – 9.35 PM
Box 1 – Tormented (El Galo – Velocity Thunder)
Springsure mentor William Boon made the trip north last week worthwhile with his brilliant Rockhampton sprinter Tormented an impressive heat winner in a fast 29.39. Having his first look at the trip last week he will be well fancied in the final after drawing the ideal cherry box. A winner of 11 from 17 starts with 2 placing's, he is a speedster capable of winning anywhere in Australia. With 3 wins from his past 4 stars, the Rockhampton top grade sprinter will look to use his experience against top dogs to his advantage in the final. Drawn perfectly and in capable hands he is the one to beat.
Box 2 – Coach Little (Fear Zafonic – She's The Word)
Leading local trainer Robert Olsen's, Coach Little ran his best race over the journey last week when second behind Lachlan Spark in a fast 29.11. Losing by a length, he looked impressive after jumping from box 6. A North Queensland local he has raced at Cairns and Townsville throughout his 9 career starts and will be well schooled on the track. With only the 1 career win he does have 5 placing's and looks an improving type capable of surprising in the final. Drawn better this week in box two, it would be no surprise to see the stripes cross the line first for the competent Olsen.
Box 3 – Knocknagoshel (Knocka Norris – Top Talker)
Race calling nightmare, Knocknagoshel continued his unbeaten track form with another impressive heat win last week making it 2 in a row at the Townsville track. The Michael Broody trained speedster has impressive Brisbane credentials and looks capable of another win in the final to make it 4 wins in succession. Slow early, the blue brindle dog has a ton of ability as evidenced by his career record of 15 starts for 9 wins and 1 second. With wins at Lismore, Albion Park and Townsville, if he can time his exit from the boxes he will be hard to beat.
Box 4 – Lachlan Spark (Dyna Lachlan – Four Way Spark)
Fastest heat winner Lachlan Spark for local trainer Rhonda Goodwin could not have been more impressive in his heat win stopping the clock at an impressive 29.11. The 29 kilogram chaser has excelled since making the move north after a less than impressive start to his career in Brisbane. With his hit and miss style of racing the April 2011 whelp does have a ton of ability but can be choosy and does need some luck in his races. Drawn box 4 in the final, it does appear to be a case of boxes win races and unfortunately he may find it tough from the squeeze draw. Each way chance.
Box 5 – Thunder Of Speed (Velocette – Digital Strike)
Travelling greyhound man Tom Noble has been a wonderful supporter of Qld Racing for many years, making long trips countless times to support Queensland clubs feature races and carnivals. Always hard to beat, Noble has an uncanny ability of placing's his dogs to their strengths when travelling on the road. With 2 of the 8 finalists, Noble looks to hold two strong chances to his state-wide trophy cabinet.
Box 5 runner Thunder Of Speed was an unlucky second last week when just missing behind another visitor in Knocknagoshel. The fast Ipswich 431m winner (25.08 Best) has untapped ability having had only the 7 career starts for 3 wins and 2 placing's. The education that this trip north provides means that whatever happens in the final, Thunder Of Speed looks a greyhound to follow as he continues on in what looks to be an exciting race career. A winning chance in the hands of a trainer who knows how to win.
Box 6 – Chili Waltz (Bit Chili – Autumn Waltz)
Local chaser Chili Waltz will look to use her track experience to her advantage as she looks to salute in her biggest test to date. With her 11 career starts all at the Townsville circuit, she has an impressive record of 5 wins and 4 placing's including a 1 for 1 over this trip. Sent out in her heats at good each way odds of 8-1, many thought that that visitors would be too strong but it was a gutsy performance from Chili Waltz who stopped the clock in an impressive 29.24 – just two lengths off best of day figures. Trained locally by Gavin McDougall at Karrabin, she looks a strong each way chance despite the awkward green box.
Box 7 – Playtime Gal (Elite State – Time To Play)
Gumlow mentor Bradley Belford's former NSW chaser Playtime Gal qualifies for the final thanks to an impressive second in her heats behind Tormented. Yet to win since moving north, the 25 kilogram blue brindle bitch has had 5 northern starts for 3 seconds. It was clearly her best run last week since her maiden win earlier this year at the ACT when she led all the way. Normally a good beginner this will be her biggest test and unfortunately at this stage in her career she doesn't have the exposed form to challenge these. Minor place chance only.
Box 8 – Cel's Fear (Fear Zafonic – Cels Honey)
Tom Noble's second finalists is the well-travelled youngster Cel's Fear who draws box 8. The veteran of only 11 career starts he does have an outstanding winning record of 5 wins and 1 second. Remarkably those 11 starts have been on five different tracks including; Rockhampton, Brisbane, Ipswich, Cairns and Townsville. The 27 kilogram black bitch has run some scorching times over the sprint trips including best of day wins at Rocky (23.52 B and 23.38 B) and Albion Park (22.77). By imported sire Fear Zafonic, so impressed it seems by this litter that breeders have elected to return to Fear Zafonic for a repeat mating. Disappointing in her two starts prior to last week, those runs were out of character and she looks a winning chance despite the wide draw.
Reserves
Box 9 – Eye Za Fred (Surf Lorian – Nice Portrait)
Locally trained Eye Za Fred ran another honest race when 3rd in his heat behind fasted heat winner Lachlan Spark. The winner of only 3 races from 26 starts he does have 12 placing's but often seems to find others a little better in his races. Place chance only
Box 10 – Mission Galore (Dyna Lachlan – Cacheci)
Bluewater trainer Michael Hickmott's fawn chaser Mission Galore was unlucky not to qualify for the final after a close third behind visitor Knocknagoshel losing on the line by only one and a half lengths. A northern greyhound he does have above average ability and looks an each way chance if lucky enough to gain a start through scratching's.
Selections – 1 / 6 / 5 / 8
The Young Guns Final highlights another strong 10 card Townsville program with the bunny passing the boxes for the first time at 7.13pm.