November'07 - Greyhounds Queensland

A 'Champion'BEN Day shakes his head every timehe watches replays of his “champion”Brett’s Rival (pictured).For he knows only too well that“champion” is the right tag for the sonof Brett Lee-Fairy Wings, the blackmachine who was denied his rightfulposition among the greats because ofinjury.Ben is part of the syndicate that racedBrett’s Rival who has just been retiredto stand stud duties with Shayne andMelanie Parker at Coominya. He willopen his stud career at a fee of $880.“This dog was going to be asuperstar,” said Ben. “And that’s notsome wild boast from an infatuatedowner.”A huge offer to buy the dog wasrefused immediately after Brett’s Rivalmade his debut at Albion Park in June2005, blitzing a low grade race in 29.88.“Two races later Black Enforcer, whohad already won in 29.77 around AlbionPark, ran 30.05,” said Ben.The offer was refused and Brett’s Rivalwas set for the Group 1 Queensland Derby,winning his heat in 30.11 after coming fromlast. Black Enforcer won his heat in 30.13.Black Enforcer got his revengebrilliantly winning the Derby final in whichBrett’s Rival was never out of troublefinishing fourth and pulling up with a chestmuscle injury that put him out of racingfor the next year.It was a year that would have been thepeak of Brett’s Rival’s race career and hewas sitting at home in a kennel vainlytrying to overcome that and a few otherniggling injuries.Dave Irwin took over his training atthree and a half and got him back to run30.14 at Albion Park beating hot race bitchBerella Electra in a best of nightperformance.Then Nigel Rugg coaxed more wins outof him with his free galloping trainingmethod.In all, he raced 50 times for 15 wins and13 placings, seven of those wins coming atAlbion Park where his 29.88 run is the 14thfastest ever on the track. He also won eightat the Gold Coast and ran 25.78 there.Brett’s Rival was a Gold Coast Cupfinalist behind Vapour Whirl when fouryears old, and also a finalist in the South-East Qld Cup at the Coast.“No one will ever know just how goodhe was,” said Ben. “We were so confidentof his ability we were even contemplatinga match race around Albion Park withBlack Enforcer.”Brett’s Rival was a desperate railerwinning six of his seven starts from therails draw but that could also be hisdownfall when drawn wide as he so oftenwas.His pedigree is second to none. SireBrett Lee is already a Hall of Famer.Dam Fairy Wings was a Group classstayer and upper echelon broodbitch.Brett’s Rival’s littermates includeHyde Park winner of 21 races, Brett ToWing winner of 20 races, Speed Swingerwho is still winning around Albion Park,Outswinger, and the luckless HostileMissile who looked likely to be a highclass middle distance galloper untildropping a back muscle.“We have every confidence he willbe a great sire, a great source ofstrength,” said Ben.“He’s been with Shayne and Melaniefor a little while and has settled inperfectly. There has been great interestin him and we and Shayne are planninga number of our own bitches to go tohim.”A dog of his ability deserves at leastthat.WITHOUT doubt the fastest dog I’veever had was Tralee Star.He was by Tralee Glen out of Fawn Signaland was whelped in the early 1960s.We raced him for a mad punter called VicMoss and there are, like most trainers, highsand lows surrounding Tralee Star.Moss was a newcomer into dogs and loveda bet. Joe Ramsey, who had Greenmountthoroughbred Stud in Toowomba, told usabout a litter of pups that had been bred byLeo Walker.My dad Perc and Vic Moss headed up toToowoomba to see the pups who by that timewere 13 or 14 months old.From day one I couldn’t cop Vic Moss atall. During those days Perc was running ourfish shop at Brighton and I was in charge ofthe dogs.Moss had a bad habit of paying by rubbercheques and that was almost the case withTralee Star, but old Leo Walker would havenone of that and wanted cash only.Dad and I started work of Tralee Star anda sister Leo had given us to train. She wastoo timed and we sent her home soon after.But Tralee Star, once he got over his owntimid nature, was a natural.But Leo sent Joe Ramsey to our shop atBrighton because he had not been paid andthought the dog was being tried and then senthome if he did not measure up.Moss was that sort of bloke.We convinced Moss to pay up and soonafter the dog hit the tracks with a vengeance.He won 11 of his first 13 starts.Perc loaded up the car with Tralee Star,his mate Ces Castles and headed for acampaign in NSW. I couldn’t cop Moss so Istayed home.The boys got the money at Richmondstraight track against a top class field and hebroke the track record in the process.He was then a special beaten at Bulli whenhe lost sight of the lure and didn’t know wherehe was. He was beaten a head.After that Ces Castles wanted everyoneto head home and said there was no wayTralee Star would win at Harold Park whichwas the main aim.But Perc was on the phone with glowingreports from Bulli and he “declared him” atHarold Park.Moss had got a bank with local bookiesto back the dog at Harold Park.Tralee Star won by two and a half lengths.The Sydneysiders gave everything no chanceon their tracks, but we proved them all wrong.Ian Craig called the race, and for years ISyd Norrishad a record of the call. In those days we couldnot even hear the races from Sydney, couldnever find form for the dogs we were against.Perc said Moss collected and keptcollecting. The money he won wasunbelievable.They got home and things fell apart.Moss got to put his nose in when thetraining was being done. I remember triallingthe dog at Lawnton and Moss started withsome antics and eventually I told him he couldtake the dog.But some time later he approached usagain. Moss asked Perc if we would take thedog back just for the Sprint Championship atBeenleigh.I was tied up a lot with football at the timebut took the dog on as a favour for dad.For the next month the dog was kept toSandgate Beach free galloping andMemoriesRenzo Park ComplexNew!CoveringGrafton - CasinoAreastoGold CoastBrisbaneToowoombaswimming. He won the Sprint Championshipbeating a dog trained by Chicka Morris fromNewcastle.Tralee Star won in a photo and I gave himback to Moss straight away.On the same day, Jack Irwin won theDistance Championship with a bitch calledWonaire. I always reckoned Jack Irwin wasthe Wally Lewis of greyhound racing.Everyone wanted to be around him. Hewas a star right from the moment he startedwith dogs.Tralee Star eventually went to the kennelsof Ken Gibson and Bunny Hewton, frommemory, had something to do with him aswell.I remember him being beaten in a big racein Sydney a while after.The dog died before he could go to stud.Moss finished up with a lot of dogs butsoon drifted out of the game. I was glad tosee the end of him.He was a compulsive gambler.From that time on I made sure I was veryselective about who I trained for.Every dog I trained after that was in myownership, or we had a share in the dog.I admit I’ve had some great owners, all ofthem friends and we had some great wins andgreat times.As an extension of Renzo Park Rearing and Spelling Complex, we are now offeringa transport service for your valuable animals.RenzoParkPET TRANSPORT SERVICE* Pick-up Grafton Saturday (appointment only)* Leaving Casino sunday (early AM)* Returning Casino Sunday PM* Pick-up and Drop off along the way* Other trips available by arrangementInquiries & Bookings: Peter & Helen SimpsonPh: (02) 66335115 Mob: Peter 0438 792348 Helen 0428 302725The (November, 2007) Journal Page 29