Popular greyhound to step up in Listed Queensland Flame heats

By Jordan Gerrans

Douglas Gladman is happy to admit his dog Tyanna Belle is much more popular than he ever will be.

The Elimbah-based trainer of a small team of greyhounds is quick to point out that greyhound followers just love his bitch.

Since the start of this year, Tyanna Belle has started above $4.40 in the market on just one occasion – on most occasions she hovers around the even money quote when the lids fling up.

On the one occasion she won at the juicy - by her standards -  $8.50 price, she won by four lengths at Albion Park.

The white and black bitch steps up against some of the best 520 metre dogs in Queensland this Thursday night in a heat for the Listed Queensland Flame at Albion Park.

“She has got a bit of a following,” Gladman said of Tyanna Belle.

“I can tell you now, more people know her than people know me. She rarely starts with any value, we never bet we just love greyhound racing.

“Maybe the punters know that she always tries hard in her races.”

She rarely lets down her band of followers either – winning 19 times in her career from just 43 efforts, for 13 other minor placings.

Veteran trainer Gladman is winding down his operation, with only a few dogs in work at his kennel, where his wife Heather is a big help, he says.

From a Cosmic Rumble and Shabeky litter, Gladman is proud to see his bitch race for higher honours such as the first-ever Queensland Flame.

The Listed Queensland Flame is set to provide Queensland greyhounds and trainers the opportunity to land a spot in the inaugural running of the $1.145 million TAB Phoenix.

Racing Queensland earlier this year announced the Flame (520m) would be run on the first major night of the TAB Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival at Albion Park on December 2, offering $37,500 in its own right and a berth in the new million-dollar feature to the winner.

Gladman is appreciative to be able to race his kennel star against some top-liners like Extra Malt and Sleuth on Thursday night, among others.

“This is a pretty handy field with some really good dogs in there,” Gladman said.

“It is a big ask, they are all top dogs, and she is a real handy dog but she is no champion.

“It is really nice for her to be going against these top dogs all the same.

“I am really humbled that she is good enough to be among these dogs.”

Tyanna Belle will regularly break the 30 second mark over the 520 metre trip – with her best time being 29.82 over that distance – and she will need to be on her game once again to qualify for next week’s Final.

She has drawn eight for Thursday night, an alley she has won from twice from five attempts, with her best results coming boxes four and five.

“I think she will jump well from the eight just there is an awful lot of speed inside of her and I am afraid she will get caught on the first turn,” Gladman said.

“She has done most of her winning from bad draws. She has rarely enjoyed a good run from box draws, which makes it hard for her.

“I think she might find a bit on Thursday night; she is such a game dog. She will need everything to go right from box eight.”

Four heats will be staged at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club on Thursday with entrants required to be trained in Queensland. 

RQ was earlier this year announced as one of eight slot holders in the million-dollar Victorian greyhound feature, which will be staged at The Meadows on December 18 and includes $750,000 to the winner.

The final field for TAB The Phoenix will be confirmed on Friday, December 10 before the box draw is held on Sunday, December 12.

Also at Albion Park on Thursday night, The Dave Brett Memorial Final will be run over 520 metres with $16,800 on offer.

Dave’s son – premier Queensland trainer Tony Brett – has Litigate jumping from the inside draw in the Dave Brett Memorial Final, who looks to be excellent chance to claim the event.

The Dave Brett Memorial remains one of Queensland’s most revered maiden series decades after its inception.