Tim and Martina follow the red dirt road to glory

By Jordan Gerrans

Tim Britton and Martina Kirillidis moved to Queensland with ambitions of competing at the highest level and the team get their opportunity on the biggest stage yet this Saturday was a chaser they regard as “phenomenal”. 

The Britton surname is a famous one in the Australian greyhound caper and Tim and Kirillidis set up shop in the Sunshine State a couple of years ago to operate a satellite kennel at Churchable.

They have been regular winners on a Thursday evening at Albion Park and it has flowed into racing at The Q in recent weeks.

They have also qualified for a number of high-level Group deciders in the Sunshine State but are yet to strike when it matters most.

Britton's kennel star Red Dirt Road etched his name into the Origin history books earlier this year by claiming the staying leg of a famous Queensland victory in the popular series.

That victory was at Group 3 level. 

It is Red Dirt Road who the team will again bank their chances on this Saturday in the Group 1 Queensland Cup Final on the Q2 Parklands circuit.

They will also have kennelmate Light Of Mine in the 710 metre decider but it is Red Dirt Road who will carry their greatest hopes.

“This is what we are chasing,” Britton said.

“We want to win races up here, big races. Just getting in them is hard enough but it would be great to take one out.

“We are just happy to be in it and hoping for a good result. This is the best time of the year to be competing in these big races.”

For Red Dirt Road to even be racing is an achievement for the kennel.

Back in late September of last year, the black dog suffered an Achillies injury which sidelined him until the middle of April of 2025.

The son of Space Star has been an absolute revelation since he returned from the concern, as he has only missed the top two once in nine races.

That includes the Group 3 Origin triumph as well as qualifying for the Dashing Corsair decider.

He gets his chance to claim a major this Saturday night in what has been a miraculous recovery.

Red Dirt Road is a special chaser already for Britton and Kirillidis as they have been on the journey with him since he was just a pup.

“Once he came up here and dipped his toe in distance races, he has been really consistent and a solid dog to have,” Kirillidis said.

“To be able to come back from his injury basically like nothing even happened and now he is in Group races, it is phenomenal and so special.

“It was unbelievable to see him win the Origin race; he put in a really strong performance.”

A $252,045 career stakes earner, Britton describes Red Dirt Road as an “absolute bull” for his size and says he can be a tough greyhound to handle when he knows he is about to do any work or race.

Red Dirt Road has drawn the two for Saturday’s contest with young kennelmate Light Of Mine starting alongside him in the three.

“He is ultra-consistent,” Britton said of Red Dirt Road.

“He is going to have to jump his best this week. He would be one of the best dogs I have trained so far. He had the seven month lay-off with injury just when he was reaching his prime.

“He has come back and has not put a foot wrong since. He is a special dog and hopefully we can keep him going for a long time.

“It was a great thrill to see him win on Origin night, as well.”

Red Dirt Road landed in the decider by posting a 41.24 second best-of-the-night performance in last week’s heat from the four alley.

Light Of Mine finished second in the following heat in 41.58 seconds as an outsider in the market but it was enough to sneak into the big dance.

Light Of Mine is only a two-time winner in 18 attempts and Britton thinks he will see the best of the young bitch further into her career.

To be running against some of the best stayers in Australia at this stage of Light Of Mine's career, it shows she is a stayer of the future. 

“She wants to be on the inside but she doesn’t jump so she will just find the rails,” he said.

“She will probably come out last and find that rail. She is one of the strongest home.

“She is probably not on this grade; she is only a young bitch but she is improving every week. We are hopeful for her.”

After setting up their kennel from scratch, Kirillidis says winning the Queensland Cup in their new home state would be a full circle moment for the partnership.

“Tim has already won a Group race or two now but for to do it together, and me be a part of it, after branching out on our own, it would be a huge thrill,” Kirillidis said.

“It will be another goal we can tick off.

“It will show our hard work up here is starting to pay off.”

The Britton family will also be represented in the other Group 1 on the program, the carnival headline act – the Brisbane Cup.

Mepunga Reward will fly the flag for leading Victorian trainer Jeff Britton from the five alley after an impressive heat win last week.