There was a rare dead heat in a feature race when greyhounds judge Terry Blacka couldn’t separate two runners in Friday’s Ipswich Derby final.

            Paul Cauchi’s box one runner Alex the Great looked set for victory when he railed to the lead on the home turn. But Anne Southee’s Never Tell wearing the green number six rug flashed down the outside to level up right on the line (picture by Rick O’Donnell). Opinions were evenly divided as to which way the result would go while Blacka took around four minutes before declaring there was no margin between the pair.

            The dead heaters clocked 30.60. In a good piece of improvising, the club swapped the winning trophy and rug between the dead heaters on the presentation dias.

            ‘’We gave the trophy and rug to Paul. We have ordered another set which we will give to Anne,’’ Ipswich G.R.C. manager Merv Page said.

            The Derby dead heaters ran 30.60. On the same programme, Bob Giltinan’s Velocity High won the Ipswich Futurity in 30.58. There was no need for a photo finish, with Velocity High scoring by two and a quarter lengths over early leader Celtic Diva. The favourite Wise Forecast finished third after missing the start.

            Paul Cauchi didn’t have to share the prizemoney and trophy in the 630 metres Past Members Memorial Stake. His promising stayer Master Brutus scored easily in a slick 37.29 seconds. Queen Lauryn holds the track record at 37.07, set in April, 2009.

            At Wentworth Park last night, adopted Queenslander He Knows Uno was the fastest winner at 42.09 in heats of the group three Chairman’s Cup over 720 metres. Taking the lead with a lap to run, He Knows Uno scored by seven lengths. Queenslander Tarlie’s Angel for Bruce Linnan was never a possibility and finished seventh.

            Ron Bell’s Hot Buzzard scored in 42.30. Switch Up for Frank Daros won the other heat in 42.41.

            Michael Patterson’s He Knows Uno has drawn box four for next Saturday’s $25,000 to the winner final.  

            Reigning National Distance champion Miata suffered a surprise defeat last night at her home track of Cannington in Perth.

            Beginning moderately from box seven over 642 metres, Miata was second last with a lap to go. She made some ground to finish fourth without looking likely to threaten the leaders. The race went to $26 outsider Bad Company for Linda Britton.

            The Western Australian Greyhound Association had staged a promotion whereby anyone who went to Cannington last night and said the word ‘’Miata’’ at the entrance gates gained free entry.

            The promotion attracted a good crowd. But unfortunately, the old saying that there is no such thing as a certainty rose to the fore.

            Capalaba club advises owners and trainers that heats of the Michael Miller Memorial series have been put back until next month. Heats willl be staged at the straight track on Saturday afternoon, October 6.

            Run in memory of the former Toowoomba Greyhound Racing Club starter, the Michael Miller is for fifth grade performers. The winner of the final on October 13 receives $3,000. 

 

Story by Paul Dolan, photo by Rick O’Donnell.