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Regal Topaz ready to reward Stella

3 January 2019

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By Isaac Murphy

At just over two years of age Regal Topaz has been mixing it with some of Queensland’s toughest greyhounds without taking a backward step and trainer Greg Stella is itching to give his bitch a shot at chaser’s her own age in the Racing Queensland Young Gun’s at Albion Park this Thursday night.

With thirty-two starts under her belt and ten wins Stella believes his race hardened bitch will definitely have an advantage over the more lightly raced dogs.

“The experience against the older dogs has definitely helped her get where she is,” Stella said.

“Getting those runs under her belt have been invaluable, I’ve been able to sit back and watch develop a litter more each time out.”

“She’s always had a bit of early pace, but she’s just started to add a bit more consistency to her racing and is not a one trick pony anymore, if she misses the kick now she’s still a chance, which wasn’t the case in the past.”

Regal Topaz has drawn the seven in Heat One tomorrow night and while Stella concedes the box is not ideal the heat lines up well for her racing pattern.

“I wasn’t happy with the draw, but did notice of the three heats there is probably the least early pace in ours and we’re hoping she’ll be up in the lead or running second the first corner,” he said.

“Box draws are box draws, you just have to take the hand you’re dealt, she hasn’t drawn closer than three in all her starts at Albion Park so hopefully the seven won’t worry her too much.”

Stella said the goal was to make the final where she would have to be at her best to beat some serious competition.

“I’ve got a huge opinion of that dog Fernando Blaster, he’ll be very tough to beat if he qualifies,” Stella said.

“The best our girl’s run is 29.96 seconds, whereas Fernando Blaster went 29.78 the other.”

“But if we draw an inside box she’ll be more than competitive.”

Stella said the brilliantly bred bitch arrived at the kennel via long-time friend and owner Leonard Antonio and was hopeful she could live up to her Mother’s talent.

“The owner Leonard Antonio who is a big owner bought her as a pup out of Barcia Bale and Regal Lauryn, so she was out of a very good line,” he said.

“The mother actually won an Ipswich and Lismore Cup, so if she can be anywhere as good as that I’ll be over the moon.”

“She’s got a full sister Regal Jade who’s with Jeanette Cauchi coming out of the two in the same heat.”

Stella has done the heavy lifting with Regal Topaz and is looking forward to testing her in another upcoming Queensland age race.

“There is a Young Guns coming up in Ipswich in the late part of January which she is eligible for, she’s done a lot of racing at Ipswich, so that’s the next stop,” he said.