Fernando Grand Prevails In Capalaba Derby

PROMISING youngster Fernando Grand comes off his Capalaba Derby victory on Sunday with another Derby now his immediate target.

PROMISING youngster Fernando Grand comes off his Capalaba Derby victory on Sunday with another Derby his immediate target.

The son of Fernando Bale and Precious Sal ran 19.64 to win the Derby at Capalaba beating Davey Fawner and Reformer for his third win in 10 starts for owner Carolyn Mackay and her husband, trainer Gary.

“He will go back to Albion Park on Thursday night to get him ready for the heats of the Queensland Derby there the following week,” Gary said.

The Mackays bought Fernando Grand at three months of age from breeders Margaret and Jeff Dwyer.

“We had a blue dog some time ago called Nursery Rhyme and when we went to inspect the litter of pups we instantly fell in love with this dog,” said Gary.

“Well, my wife did because he is blue and he came straight up to her in the paddock.

“And, he was the last male left for sale in the litter.”

Gary and Carolyn got the pup home to Luscombe at seven months and started his early education.

“It was getting him to chase the drag lure, on the squeaker and around the bull ring,” said Gary. “By the time he was about 12 to 14 months old I knew already we had something.”

The Mackays were confident Fernando Grand would improve greatly from his second to Point To Point in the heat the previous week.

“He had not trialled at Capalaba and when he ran 19.81 in the heat I knew there was improvement in him for the final,” he added.

“And he did it tough getting knocked down a few times in the run. It was a gutsy win.”

While Fernando Grand rates highly among the dogs Gary has trained, he also believes a 16 month old daughter of Sennachie he has in training now could be the best.

“She is already running a tick off what Fernando Grand can run,” said Gary.

“She is from one of the very first Sennachie litters.”

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CLINT Kratzmann is warming up to Born To Run's chances in the upcoming National Straight Track Championships after the son of Fabregas and Iona Champion ran a slick 19.50 to win a Best 8 at Capalaba on Sunday.

A half brother to Clint's Group 1 star and Queensland greyhound of the year Oh Mickey, Born To Run has been back in the Kratzmann kennels only recently.

“My mate Scott Gould was training him for me and he did a great job winning seven races but getting him over some troubling injury woes,” said Clint.

“Scott had to give up training because of work commitments.”

Born To Run downed Deck Fifty Two by a half-length with Champagne Jazzy in third.

“He's always been able to run. Broke in sensational, and while he is a wonderful kennel dog at home, he gets worked up at the track,” said Clint.

The injury problems included surgery to the back of the stopper bone.

“Scott did a great job to get him back from that,” said Clint.

Of the National Straight Track, Clint is confident Born To Run will go well throughout the series which runs in heat and state final over the next two weeks with the national final at Capalaba in three weeks time, It is worth $25,000 to the winner.

“After Capalaba, I'd like to take this bloke down to Grafton for a few runs,” said Clint. I reckon he will really fly around there.”

HEALESVILLE'S Straight Track heats were run on Sunday with Jane Reynolds' Perfect Colour winning a heat in 19.24 and Jason Whybrow's Sambar Chief winning in 19.34.

RICHMOND ran its heats on Saturday with heat winners being Olsen Street in 17.72 for Michelle Lill, Venom Cartel in 17.59 for Bradley Van Deinsen, and Cool Chevy Magic in 17.92 for Alan Proctor.

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