Tony Brett says Milligan can win National Straight Track Final
Champion Queensland trainer Tony Brett knows Milligan can match it with any greyhound across Australia.
His only concern ahead of the National Straight Track Final over 324m at Richmond on Saturday night is how his star two-year-old and state title winner jumps from the No.8 box.
Nerves on the big occasion certainly won't be an issue because he will be well prepared.
“He's the type of dog where it doesn't matter who's in from the other states because I'm sure he's got the ability to match it with them,” Brett told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“He's just got to adapt to the Richmond way of racing. The best dogs from every state have got through, so it's going to be a real ripper race.
“He just can be a bit tardy out sometimes – that's his only downfall.
“And that was his downfall at Capalaba (a pair of thirds on July 31 and August 7). His two starts out of the one, he came out but he didn't want to move out across the track.”
Those worries were put to rest last start after a scorching victory in the Queensland Straight Track Championship Final at Capalaba, posting a sensational time of 19.59 seconds over the 366m journey.
He did that from box eight, crossing over early to hold an early command on his competitors and win by a comfortable 3 ¼ lengths.
The youngster with an impressive 16 wins from 27 starts has drawn box eight again for Saturday night's final.
Speaking after Milligan's Queensland triumph and before the Nationals Straight Track Final box draw, Brett gave an insight into what makes him such a renowned conditioner across Australia.
“There's going to be the box draw after the NSW final is run on Saturday. But their trial time is normally Saturday morning before the first race,” he said.
“So I'm trying to get permission if I can go after the last race because I'd like to see the box draw, and train him from that box accordingly.
“If I head down and trial him Saturday morning and put him in the one box, then he comes up with eight in the final. Or you put him in seven and he comes up with the two.
“So it'd be nice to know where he's drawn before I actually trail him to give him that chance to jump from that box.”
The five-time Brisbane Cup winner said his emphasis on the one-percenters was essential, particularly when taking on the best greyhounds in the country.
“You're just trying to tick every box to give yourself a chance. Dog racing comes down to noses and hundredths of a second,” he said.
“So sometimes if you can find that extra length, that's the difference between winning and losing.
“It is about those small things.”
It was Brett's sharp eye for talent and attention to detail which saw him put Milligan in his first straight race over 366m at Capalaba on June 15.
And he instantly took to the task, saluting by 1 ¼ lengths in a good time of 19.72 seconds.
“He goes nice up the straight. A couple of starts before that out of box one probably didn't suit,” Brett said.
“I do know how good he goes up the straight, and that was why I made the decision to have a crack at the straight nationals rather than the circle nationals.
“He trialed really good on the Thursday for me and I knew he'd be real hard to beat (in the Queensland final).
“It was a pretty strong headwind and his time was fantastic.”
Brett spoke about scaling down his operation after winning his fifth Brisbane Cup title with Orchestrate in July.
He now trains 10 dogs and is loving the extra time he can give to his family.
“We're down to 10 dogs, so it's a bit easier to travel. I can jump in the car or fly down and trial him,” he said.
“Everything is going really good, and I'm just proud to represent Queensland. Hopefully we can get the job done.
“To do 10 dogs is a lot easier. In times gone past, if you're thinking of going down the day before the race and then your race day – that's three out of seven days you're away.
“And you've got a team of 20 dogs back here to keep going – you're relying on so many other people and things happening.
“It takes a lot of planning. So it's actually quite nice to not have so much pressure on, and not having to rush or drive back that same day.”