July'07 - Greyhounds Queensland

ByDAVID BRASCHTHEY are a couple of old rascals wholove a night out at the dogs, a laugh and achat.They've been mates for years, RogerGreen and his "old strapper mate" DesYoungberg.And now Roger has named a highlypromising young greyhound after Des.The Hallucinate-Kalka Kate dog, recentheat and final winner of a RockhamptonMaiden 1000 in track record time, is namedStone Cold Sober."I was having a bit of trouble finding aname," said Roger. "I like to think of nameswith something to do with the pup's sire ordam."He's by Hallucinate and for the life ofme I couldn't come up with a thing."Roger and Des were out racing one nighta few months ago. Des is partial to an amberale."We were having a good laugh aboutsomething and Des was particularly jovial atthe moment," said Roger."I said 'You're hallucinating"."But Des hit back at me with 'No I'm not,I'm Stone Cold Sober ' and that's how the doggot his name."Stone Cold Sober was bought in a packagedeal by Green from breeder Diane Hannon."Diane had three black dog pups from thelitter and I bought them all," said Roger. "Ibought one for a mate of mine, one was nogood and the other is Stone Cold Sober whohas already run a track record after two racestarts."While Green is high in praise of StoneCold Sober, he has even bigger expectationsfor kennelmate Hi Ransom (Brett Lee-HitechStar) who was runner-up to the other dog inPups For Sale40 acre property provides ...* Spacious galloping paddockswith dams and shade* Quality feeding and wormingprogram* Pups taught to lead at anearly age and handledregularly* All pups kennelled beforebreaking in* Excellent facilities availablefor whelping littersDes Youngber is not thathappy with Roger Greenfor naming the dog StoneCold Sober (left) after him.Roger also holds HiRansom.the Rockhampton final."I got Hi Ransom from Glenn Smithanother good mate of mine from up at ParkRidge way," he said."Hitech Star had already produced a goodlitter which included Tricode Star and TricodeQueen and Glenn was tossing up where to gowith her for her next mating."I told him I'd pay half the service fee forBrett Lee if he would send the bitch there."Roger wanted only a dog pup and if thebitch had whelped only bitches, he wouldhave missed out.Hitech Star whelped three dogs and fivebitches and Roger gladly picked out a blackdog.Z ammit'sRearing andSpelling Farm'If you want yourpuppy to havegood nutrition,plenty ofgalloping andconstant care,take advantage ofyears ofexperience withinthe industry andgive it the beststart in life onour farm'GEORGEZAMMITFor any information, pedigrees, faxes, e-mails or photosContact George Zammit (07) 54266209"The Brett Lee pups sell for $10,000 inmost places these days, so I was very happyto get one from a proven broodbitch for'I'm nothallucinating'claims Des$5000, the cost of half the service fee at thetime," said Green.Already Green is impressed by both dogs."Both are as good at this stage as any dogI've trained," he said.High praise indeed considering the list ofgreat dogs to come out of his kennel, headedby Melbourne Cup winner Roanokee.Des Youngberg, in his younger days, wasa state skateboard champion but now a coupleof dicky knees have slowed him up to thestage where he potters about with a couple ofdogs of his own and is "my old strapper mate"for Roger.At least he's got plenty to brag about now,specially with Stone Cold Sober looking likea potential star.Roger could feel for DonWHEN Don Hazzard struggled to his feet behind the starting boxes for this year'sSandown Cup and accidentally released the field before the lure had arrived, a prominentQueensland trainer knew just how he felt.Roger Green was watching at home on Sky Channel when Hazzard sent the greyhoundworld spinning by sending the Group 1 field on its way. The Cup was declared a no raceand the stakes split between the eight finalists.Green knows only too well the pressure veteran trainers come under in the heat of a bigmoment.He was right there at Goulburn on November 16, 1969 when Hec Watt infamouslyboxed legendary bitch Zoom Top with her raincoat still on.Green had Wild Raid engaged in the invitation race against Zoom Top and StanCleverley's champion stayer Bunyip Bint who had only just broken the Harold Park distancetrack record."We were only making up the field for Zoom Top and Bunyip Bint, but it was thebiggest crowd I'd seen for years there," said Green."It was drizzling as we went to the boxes and old Hec made sure Zoom Top stayed out ofthe rain by parading her in a raincoat. Where the problem was, the steward leading thefield to the boxes did not go all the way with us. He normally would check the muzzles atthe starting boxes as they were about to be boxed."Hec was very much a man who felt the pressure, and he copped a lot of pressure withZoom Top. He shoved her into the boxes and shut the door and immediately realized whathe had done."He immediately said 'Oh Christ'. I asked him 'What's happened?' and all he couldsay was 'Oh Christ' again. By that time the lids were opening and Zoom Top charged offdown the track with the raincoat flapping around her like a parachute."She tailed the field in. Green said Watt was devastated. "He slumped over the outsiderail for 10 minutes and someone from the track had to go down to the starting boxes andget him."Bunyip Bint, who shared favouritism with Zoom Top at even money, raced to an easywin and equalled the track record. Green's Wild Ride finished second.But more drama was about to unfold."There was a huge crowd around the catching pen and as Zoom Top was led off thetrack, someone in the crowd kicked her in a hind leg. It brought up a huge bruise in her,"said Green.Hec was immediately fined $200 for his mistake.Green says Zoom Top is the greatest greyhound Australia has ever seen. "But on timestoday, she would not win a race," he said. "Look at the opposition she was racing, the classof dog that was around in those days. It was spectacular."Green said Hec Watt suffered from the pressure he was under guiding the career ofsuch a public idol as Zoom Top."It was nothing for people to hang over the running rail and tell Hec he was killing thebitch with all the racing she was doing, and that the RSPCA should be onto him," saidGreen."But he loved her and wanted the public to see her. He would go anywhere he wasasked with her. Hec was paranoid about security with Zoom Top. He would put his ownpadlock on her kennel at the races, and would always have someone watching her kennelall night before she raced."He had a muzzle made for her for the kennels on race night that had fly wire allaround it so nothing could be given to her."Green is still in awe of Zoom Top. "I raced her a lot. Never came close to beating her(without a raincoat). There will never be another Zoom Top."The (July, 2007) Journal Page 24