Canya Kick's ‘Dashing' Young Guns Heat Win

WINNING races at Albion Park is nothing new to Desley Williams, it was a feat her grand galloper Dashing Corsair accomplished a remarkable 38 times.

But despite being conditioned to the joys of winning races at ‘The Creek', she admits to having an extra spring in her step following Canya Kick's impressive Young Guns heat victory on Thursday night.

Rejoining the owning ranks following a five-year absence, Williams, best known for co-training champion chaser Dashing Corsair throughout his fabulous career, couldn't hide her elation when speaking to the Greyhound Recorder on Friday morning.

"She's a very strong determined young lady; you can tell she just loves to race and compete," declared a proud Williams.

"I was buzzing around at home last night after her win. It's all just so exciting. I don't usually bet but last night I decided to back her and I'm glad I did. She was $11.

“She's only 25 kilos but she's got a big heart. I used to love watching the little stayer Springvale Jinx race and I'm hoping I've got one of my own Springvale Jinx's now."

Trained by Kerry and Ian Hoggan, Canya Kick, a daughter of Kinloch Brae and Zipping Spring, continued the strong start to her career with a powerhouse 30.06 Young Guns heat success on Thursday night.

"I was looking to buy a greyhound last year after my 29 year old daughter Natalie passed away," reflected Williams.

"She passed away from an episode of epilepsy which was a really difficult time. I wanted an interest so I went looking for a greyhound to buy and was pointed towards Toby Weekes and Jackson Chaker in New South Wales. They had two dogs for sale out of Molly's (Canya Kick) litter which had already gone.

“When I rang them they didn't really want to sell Molly but they eventually decided to.  Bot it was on one condition, that I name her Canya Kick as Toby (Weekes) had pledged $3,000 to support a girl to go overseas for under 18's soccer.

“Jackson was on the phone after she won last night, I think he was happier than I was! It was a tough decision for them to sell her."

Purchased at 17 months, Williams handed the training reins to Kerry and Ian Hoggan where it is reasonable to say things didn't get off to a flyer.

"Ian gave her a couple of trails at Ipswich early on and rang me to say they weren't great but she had broken in very fast," Williams explained.

"So he got her checked out and the vet said she still had milk after a season which she must have had just before we got her. That made us feel better.

"She was playing up in the boxes early on so Ian decided to trial her at Capalaba to calm her down. He rang me after her trial and said ‘we've either got a very fast straight track bitch or the clock was wrong'.

“She trialed 19.52 odd and it wasn't a mistake because she won there in 19.57 a week or two later."

Heading towards next week's Young Guns Final, Williams is under no illusions about the task at hand for Canya Kick.

There waiting for her is megastar sprinter Oh Mickey, a slashing 29.60 heat winner for Mick and Selena Zammit on Thursday night.

"I feel like I've already won with her though," beamed Williams.

"She just keeps improving and later on she looks like 600 will be no problem at all. It would be nice to get 1, 2 or 3 in the final so fingers crossed. She's very strong."

Before Canya Kick came along it had been a long five years since Williams had dabbled in greyhound ownership, staying involved by whelping litters and the like.

From 2008 to 2011, Williams enjoyed the ride of a lifetime with grand galloper Dashing Corsair.

Winner of 57 races, 38 of those at Albion Park, the dog best known as ‘Harry' bowed out as a winner on the track with a memorable victory in the 2011 National Distance Championship on home soil at Albion Park.

It was a win that almost tore down the grandstand.

“He won that race when he was four years and four months of age … he was a special dog,” said Williams.

The only greyhound to contest three National Championships, Dashing Corsair won the National Sprint Grand Final at Cannington in 2009, just one of countless memories for connections.

 * PIC: Box 1 Photography