Victorian greyhound Warm Cockles leads charge to Brisbane Young Guns title
Victorian greyhound Warm Cockles took the time honours on Thursday night, winning the third heat of the 2024 Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns heats in the quickest time of the four heats.
Owned, trained, and bred by successful Victorian greyhound breeder, Dave Burnett, Warm Cockles easily accounted for his opposition, winning from box one in 5.51, 29.86.
Burnett, who trained Group 1 winner Simon Told Helen, has rated Warm Cockles highly ever since he ran one length quicker at Geelong than his former Group 1 champion.
Armed with that confidence, Burnett sent Warm Cockle's to Albion Park for the Group 3 Young Guns without a look at the track prior.
Despite the lack of track knowledge, Warm Cockles was able to lead from box one and, with the benefit of the rail, went on to win by 2.75 lengths over recent 2024 Group Ipswich Golden Chase Auction final winner, Saanvi, in 29.86.
2024 Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns Heat 2 – Warm Cockles (29.86) T: Dave Burnett
Warm Cockles has now had nine starts for five wins and two seconds, earning $47,465.
The Brisbane Young Guns heat win was the first run in black-type company and his first run at Albion Park, for the son of Fernando Bale and Ma's Plum Jam.
Kahlo Hayze qualified second-quickest, winning the third heat of the Brisbane Young Guns by 0.75 lengths over Super Scrub in 29.91.
2024 Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns Heat 3 – Kahlo Hayze (29.91) T: Sandra Hunt
The Sandra Hunt-trained greyhound has now had 21 starts for 12 wins and four placings.
The daughter of Orson Allen and Dolcetto Hayze came in to the heats having won the 2024 Listed Winged Runner Trophy final at Albion Park over 520m at her last start.
She has now won $78,295 for connections.
Rising star Golden Bear took out the fourth Brisbane Young Guns heat in the third fastest winning time, running 29.99 beating Kia Kaha by 1.25 lengths.
2024 Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns Heat 4 – Golden Bear (29.99) T: Adam McIntosh
Two starts prior to his Young Guns heat win, Golden Bear took out the 2024 Listed Eric Thompson Memorial final at Albion Park over 520 metres, and subsequent to his heat win, finished second in the 2024 Capalaba Young Guns final behind Saanvi on Sunday, May 5, 2024.
The genuine young gun greyhound has now had eight starts for five win and two seconds, earning $38,200 in the process.
The opening heat was won by August Bob in 30.13 under the guidance of caretaker trainer Tony Brett.
Nowra trainer Steve Fitch sent the 2024 Group 1 National Derby finalist to Brett for the series, and the 30kg dark brindle dog stepped up to the mark racing hard to take the lead through the first corner, and not looking back in the run to the line.
August Bob beat Danger Zone by 1.0 lengths in 31.03
2024 Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns Heat 1 – August Bob (30.13) T: Adam McIntosh
August Bob has now had 30 starts for 15 wins and five placings, earning connections $54,860 in prizemoney.
The $30,000 to-the-winner 2024 Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns final will be run at Albion Park on Thursday night, May 8, 2024.