Trainer’s hot form continues with winning double at Maitland
Hunter Valley participant Brad Davis is having his most successful year to date as a greyhound trainer and continued his winning ways on Monday night at Maitland, with a brilliant winning double.
Davis and his wife Loren both grew up in the industry and have formed a successful partnership in which they breed, own and train successful chasers.
The couple have also established a strong relationship with renowned breeder Noelene Holloway, the owner of Super Aussie, who led all the way from box one in a 400m event at Maitland on Monday, upsetting unbeaten talent Ace Quality by a quarter of a length in a time of 22.47.
By Aussie Infrared out of Fascinate Mary, it was his 10th career win from start 31. Davis’ other victor came earlier in the evening with Bamford making it back-to-back wins after stepping beautifully from box four, fighting off a late charge from Miss Leggy to score by half a length in 22.80 over the 400m journey.
In another feat for Davis in 2022, speedster Fascinate Donald set a new track record at Richmond over the 320m earlier this month, sizzling around the circuit in a time of 17.94. The son of Aussie Infrared and Fascinate Mary and litter brother to Super Aussie, remains unbeaten from two attempts over this distance and was never defeated from two starts over the 330m on the previous Richmond surface.
Davis was understandably elated with the performance of his chaser, but knew his ability and wasn’t overly surprised by the time.
“I wasn’t really surprised by the time,” said Davis
“I think he’s always sort of there whereabouts. His record at Richmond is very good, he’s had four starts for four wins, with two of those being on the old track.
“I got quite excited because it’s a different lure system and a little bit noisier and he seems to like that.
“He’s doing everything we’ve asked of him and he’s going great at the moment.”
Tipping the scales at jut 27.7kg, Fascinate Donald is a true pocket-rocket and started his career even lighter at 26.6kg. Despite his size, Davis explained he packs plenty of punch when it comes to race day and is certainly not the small, silent type.
“He’s only a little fella, but when you get him out of the kennels, he’s a hundred miles an hour,” Davis said.
Davis first established a partnership with Holloway upon her contacting his wife Loren, enquiring as to whether the pair could train some dogs for her. Both Super Aussie and Super Edition have been extremely handy dogs for all concerned.
“They only broke in ok, but they just keep getting a bit better,” he said.
“They’ve done really well and we sort of just took them everywhere in Gunnedah a few times and up to Grafton and down to Goulburn and they were pretty well schooled before they had a start.
“It’s hard enough to win a race as it is, and you’ve got to do your homework.”
Davis has a 26% winning strike rate and 60% place rate with 24 winners from just 94 starters this year and credits his families hard work to their achievements so far.
“I’m probably like a lot of people out there, I don’t sleep a real lot,” he said.
“You’ve always got something to do, whether it’s the vets, picking up your meat or doing the other jobs like, trialling, etc, but that’s what you sign up for.
“This would be my first year where I’ve dedicated as much time as I have to training.
“I’ve got to thank my wife Loren, she works two jobs, so it means I can stay here and do this. It mean’s there’s a little bit of pressure to win races and keep up your end of the bargain, which doesn’t always happen, but for that reason, you’ve just got to try and leave no stone unturned.
“We’ve gone ok this year and made a couple of finals in the Butch Monkley at Grafton and Ultra Sense at Wentworth Park, from limited availability of dogs, we’re going ok, which is nice.”
With success comes requests and Davis is now continuously being contacted to train greyhounds for other owners.
“I think it just comes with the territory, everyone told me that’s what will happen, and it has,” he said.
“I’ve got a really nice fella but the name of James Cortis, giving me some good dogs and he’s been terrific, along with Ross Pannowitz giving us a few and those things are starting to happen.
“You need that though and have to have dogs coming through all the time, especially when they win a few races up in grade, it becomes harder.”
Davis has a fascinating stance on blood tests and recalls a conversation he had about the benefits they can provide when a greyhound is fit and healthy.
“Ray Mitty said to me once if you think about having a blood test, get it done when the dog is flying or going really, as there’s no point waiting until it’s crook or unwell, as you’ll have nothing to compare it too,” he said.
“Get it done when they’re flying and then you’ll have a marker or indicator as to what the dog is when they’re flying and healthy and comparing that to when they may not be performing or feel a bit off, etc.
“I’ve spoken to people who say you’re wasting your time don’t do it, but everybody is different, but it tells you what you may not be able to see sometimes.”
While Davis spends plenty of time on the road travelling from his Aberglasslyn property to various tracks around the state, he credits plenty of help from family members to ensure his team of chasers are looked after around the clock.
“Loren’s mum Chris is a terrific help. She lets the dogs out for me and Loren’s daughter Elly when she’s home does the same thing for me. Often, I’ll ring Elly and ask her if she can let the dogs out for me and she’s great like that.
“Not every dog likes to race where you want to go, it’s where the dog wants to go, and you’ve got to be prepared to do that and the travelling.
“You’ve got to have a bit of plan when you’re training the dogs and I like to have a bit of structure and think well this is where we going and not just chuck them in.”