Youngster’s learning curve gets steeper for Rocky QGOLD

By Pat McLeod

Precocious speedster Airborne Beach’s learning curve becomes even steeper on Wednesday night when he contests a QGOLD heat over 407 metres at Rockhampton.

The Kelly Suli-trained youngster has so far won five times and placed twice in eight starts, all over the Rockhampton 407 metres. 

In fact, his last start eighth on October 23 is the only time Airborne Beach has missed a placing.

“After that run Kelly decided to keep him away from the track for a couple of weeks,” Kelly’s husband and kennel co-trainer Andrew Suli said. 

“She then gave him a trial in an attempt to get his confidence back, to get the spring back in his step. We slipped him last Wednesday and he went really well.”

Kelly has three chasers across Wednesday night’s two QGOLD heats - Airborne Beach (box one) in the first heat (race seven) and Chapman Beach (box four) and Bilinga Beach (box five) in heat two (race eight).

Andrew said Airborne Beach (from a Bernardo and Poonyahra litter), the least experienced of the trio, was their best hope.

“Airborne is the fastest of those three,” Andrew said.

“He is going through the gears at the moment, learning what it is all about. He is improving all the time, but I would like to see him improve his box manners.

“That is the only thing letting him down from being a really good dog at the moment. He is a pretty big dog, 34.5kgs, and very laid back. When you preview him, he doesn't play up at all. He just stands there, pricks his ears and watches it all go past.

“His laid back character isn't necessarily a negative. I wish every dog in the kennel was like him. However, when you slip him, or trial him, he puts in 110 per cent every time. He just chases so hard.

“He doesn't leave anything on the track, doesn’t matter the distance. It is just incredible to watch.

“I slipped him for the first time the other night and I didn't watch him go around, I just listened to the lure humming and I thought, ‘Gee this bloke is going really quickly’. He can certainly get over the ground when he wants to."

Andrew says he is unsure how Airborne Beach will handle the inside draw on Wednesday night.

“Once he hits the ground, and if he has got clear air, he can really motor," Andrew said. 

“The whole litter can gallop. Darren Russell has a couple of the litter (Savanna Beach and Swift Beach).”

“Whether that is a benefit or not will depend on how he comes out.

“He takes three or four strides to get going, but when he comes, he comes quick. If you give him clear air through to the back straight, then look out.”

Kelly and Andrew Suli currently, combined, have 20 dogs in work at their Lakes Creek kennel on the eastern outskirts of Rockhampton, however they are about to relocate.

“We are in the process of moving to a property out of town,” Andrew said.

“It is 20 minutes south of Rockhampton and hopefully we will be set up there in a couple of weeks.”

Fastest of the heat contenders over track and distance is William Boon’s Composed (23.33 seconds) and Christine Pollard’s Edgewood (23.35 seconds).