Opening night aura ‘will influence’ first Flying Amy at The Q

By Pat McLeod

Big race success story Tony Brett says the ‘amazing aura’ around Saturday’s opening of The Q will influence the outcome of the night’s highlight event, the Group 1 Flying Amy Classic Final.

The two-time winner of the prestigious event, who has four runners from his kennel in the decider, believes how each of the eight runners handle the gala atmosphere will have a big bearing on the result.

“It will be a massive night,” Brett predicts.

“People hanging over balconies, plenty of noise.

“It will be an amazing aura. We have never had a situation where we could walk to the boxes in front of a packed crowd, compared to Albion Park. I know what that is like elsewhere. The hair stands up on the back of your neck.

“People don't bring that into the equation, but I remember going to the Nationals at Cannington (WA, in 2014) with a dog called Flash Reality, a really good dog.

“But, because the crowd is so close to the track at Cannington, well he just fell to bits going to the boxes.

“That will play a part on Saturday night, even just walking the dogs to the boxes. That is where a little bit of experience will come into it, dogs that have been around such as Sooty Keeping.”

Sent north from the Dubbo kennels of Charmaine Roberts, Sooty Keeping (box two) is one of the most experienced chasers in the Flying Amy Final, with 35 starts, and one of the ‘Brett Brigade’.

“Sooty Keeping only trialled steady at The Q when she first came up and had a slight toe injury, so she has the improvement in her,” Brett said.

“She has won 20 of her 35 starts racing in Cups and iron sharpens iron, so her race experience augers well in a race for young dogs.”

Brett will also ‘suit up’ Canya Escape (box one), Cumbria Benny (box five) and Jodie Lord’s Destroying (box eight).

He says he is ‘very happy’ with his contingent in the race, especially their box draws.

“Canya Escape, she's not the star of the show like some of the others, but it is a nice bonus when you get a dog like her come through," the top trainer said. 

“She has ability and is not going around just to make up the numbers. She has her chance now and will certainly take any chance she is given.

“The red box is her big advantage. She will have to lead to do it and the red box will give her that chance. Cumbria Benny didn't put the time on the board last week, walking out of the boxes.

“He won't do that two weeks in a row and can run a good first section. He is in the middle of the track and there is plenty of speed there so he will have to do everything right on Saturday night."

Brett described Destroying as 'a really nice dog'.

“To be doing what he is doing (six wins and two placings in fast times from just eight starts at Wentworth Park) in such a short amount of time, is incredible," Brett said. 

“I really, really like this dog. He has got personality galore. He thinks he will never lose a race. He struts around and he is the king of the castle. He loves to race and he loves to chase and I love that in a dog, especially a young dog.

“He has no fear and will serve it up too anyone. He just walked out last week but is coming out of the same box again and I don't expect him to walk out this week. He can do what is needed at both ends.

“He has a massive future ahead of him.”

Brett has a high opinion of Jeff Crawford’s Flying Amy runner Blue Blend (box seven), who boasts the fastest time of the field around the Q2 Parklands circuit - a 29.29 second run recorded in last week’s heat win.

“Blue Blend is a fast dog, a very good dog,” offers Brett.

“And, like many in this race he still has a lot to learn. He hasn’t his 30 or 40 starts yet.

“So, it will be interesting to see how he handles Saturday night.”

Brett said ‘the Flying Amy’ was a special race for his family. 

His father, highly regarded trainer, the late Dave Brett, won the race in 1993 with Toban Leah (the race was then known as the Queensland Puppy Classic).

Son Tony then followed with victories to Bogie Ace (2008) and Velocity Regina (2010).

“The Flying Amy is a special race for us,” he explains.

“I was around when she (Flying Amy) was racing and watched her win a Gold Coast Cup and have never seen a dog come out of the boxes as quick as that.

“Dad loved her too and we have one of her prints that you get for winning the Flying Amy, still hanging in our kennel.

“If she's not the best, she is certainly up there with the best dogs that have come out of this region.

“It is a special race and especially to win the first one here at The Q is certainly prestigious. This will be a night to remember for everyone.”