Stratford strives for Group success

By Isaac Murphy

Rhonda Essery’s Stratford went into another stratosphere after his Country Cup win at Albion Park in February.

The Townsville two-year-old has been rattling off race after race, and is widely respected as one of rural Queensland’s best dogs.

Essery knows he’s got more in the tank, with the dog set to face his toughest rivals yet in Friday’s Rockhampton Cup heats, a task he’s ready for after his transformation.

“It’s remarkable looking back before the Country Cup, we knew he would be a good dog here at home but weren’t sure if he’d make it much further,” Essery said.

“Next thing he wins the Country Cup and he’s just doing everything with complete confidence, whether it’s getting out of the boxes or improving his run home, he was unbeatable winning eight in a row over a couple of months there.

“It was good timing to get him back home in February, he was able to win the Townsville Young Guns and crucially for his Rockhampton chances went down there and won their Young Guns Series.”

Essery said it was nothing other than thorough training that brought about the sustained success as the dog grew into himself.

“There hasn’t been any real secret to the run he’s been on, he’s just turned two-and-a-half and it simply comes down to a bit of maturity,” she said.

“If I had to single out one thing it would be his box manners, he was very hit and miss where he’s generally one of the first out even over the short course trip at home.

“His focus on race day is second to none as well, he knows what he’s there for and is just dialled in ready to do the business.”

The dog’s now a 20-time winner and with age still on his side, Essery is hoping a good run Friday can be the start of something big.

“Probably one of the most exciting parts of all of it is he still has a year-and-a-half, maybe two years of racing left and he’s only getting better with age thus far,” she said.

“Friday’s heats are going to be another milestone for him being involved in his first Group series, my husband Steve and I take turns with trips away - I got the Country Cup - so it was only fair Steve take him to Rocky.

“The draw has gone in our favour, Love You Peaches in the one that has plenty of early speed, we’ll either match it or get a sit right behind and run on.”

Although Townsville is home, Essery is a regular at the Rockhampton Club where the dog is set to thrive.

“The dog’s a dream to travel with, we saw how he flourished in Brisbane and comparatively the drive to Rockhampton is a walk in the park, Steve will leave early in the morning and get there in plenty of time for the twilight meeting,” she said.

“Whenever one of us drives with him he just sprawls himself over the back seat and has a nice sleep most of the way.

“We didn’t worry about a trial or a race in the lead up, he was brilliant winning the Rocky Young Guns there and his temperament the way it as he’ll race just as well fresh.”

Rurally based trainers and their dogs are becoming more and more competitive, and Stratford would be right at home as a Thursday night Albion Park regular.

“If he keeps going on this trajectory, bringing him back to Brisbane for particular races is certainly something we’d think about but there’s some nice targets on the way up here,” Essery said.

“The North Queensland Cup is a race I’d really like to win, and he has to be racing up here for the previous three months to be eligible, so it may be a while yet.

“He’s already out-graded over both sprint trips at home in Townsville, so why not see how he goes against some of the better dogs at Rocky and maybe target some Group races from there.”