Sidelined Starline Ready For Take Off

THE last six weeks have seemed like an absolute eternity for veteran Grafton trainer Reg Gardoll.

It was way back on February 5 that his brilliant young sprinter Starline Express hit the six-win ceiling for the $530,000 Launching Pad series which gets underway at Sandown Park on Thursday night.

That win relegated the emerging star – which boasts electrifying early pace – to the sidelines until the lucrative Launching Pad series rolled around.

"It's been a long six weeks – plenty of trialling and just trying to keep him up to the mark with nothing going wrong," Gardoll said.

"With my time over I'm not sure I'd do it again but I made the commitment to the series and we're here now in one piece ready to give it a shot. 

"I'm staying down here and won't go home until he's out of the series. Whether that's this week, next or week or week three we'll … time will tell."

STARLINE EXPRESS was in a league of his own in the Listed Dave Brett Memorial, thrashing his opposition with ease ?‍? #QLDisRacing? @BrisGreys pic.twitter.com/Z8yqe6vUBZ

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) November 24, 2022

Starline Express, a just turned two-year-old son of Fernando Bale, was last seen when running a near record 25.06 at Grafton to extend his career record to six wins and five seconds from 12 starts.

Included in that sensational start to his career was a victory in the Listed Dave Brett Memorial Maiden, finalist in the Group 2 Queensland Derby, while two starts back finishing second to Victa Damian in the Group 1 National Derby.

And with the benefit of a glowing Sandown Park trial under his belt (29.39), Gardoll is confident Starline Express is in perfect order ahead of Thursday night's star-studded Launching Pad heats.

"He's had plenty of trials at Grafton and Casino to keep him up to the mark but there's no substitute for racing," Gardoll said.

"I think he'll be a little vulnerable late tomorrow night and if they get him in the last bit so be it. We've tried to leave a bit in the tank with it being a three week series. We don't want to spend all our pennies tomorrow night.

"I couldn't be happier with the times he's been running in trials. He's going great. As good as he has."

At his one look at Sandown Park, Starline Express recorded a sparkling 5.01 early before running 14.61 up the back and stopping the clock at 29.39.

That'll be Starline Express' first and only look at the track ahead of Launching Pad heats – March 23 ?

LP23 info | https://t.co/EcwjK8BslW pic.twitter.com/CAJqvBztMG

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) March 2, 2023

"His best asset is his early speed but I'm confident he will strengthen up a bit as he gets older," Gardoll added.

"To be honest I'd rather him drawn out in six, seven or eight but if he is going to be the group class dog I think he can be then he'll need to learn to handle pressure on the inside.

"His first step from the boxes he can go slightly right."

Starline Express is a $3.10 favourite with TopSport to take out heat one (race 1) of the Launching Pad ahead of Missile Dani ($3.10) and Cruise Mode ($3.80).