Plenty of praise for new ‘Battlers’ series at Capalaba

By Josh Spasaro

Federal Tonka might have only registered two official wins in 45 starts, but trainer Ashley Bock believes his two-year-old dog can race well if his mind is on the job.

Bock’s chaser will start from box five in a Battlers heat over 366 metres at Capalaba on Wednesday.

The Battlers series is a new initiative for dogs who have not been winning.

So, can Federal Tonka notch up a third career victory for his Greenbank-based conditioner?

“It depends if he wants to try. He is what he is. He can go all right when he wants to,” Bock said.

“We’ve had a few issues with him. It has been a big battle with him. He’s a scrawny-looking dog. But, if you saw the amount that he eats, you’d think he’d be double the size.

“He tries when he wants to. I can’t do anything about that. He’ll put in a good run and then he’ll put in a lot of average runs.”

Another from Bock’s kennel, four-year-old Future Ethics, will start from box six in another Battlers heat.

He hasn’t been a bad earner for Bock, so far picking up $24,380 in prizemoney, with 10 wins from 84 starts.

But, the experienced chaser has certainly had some ups and downs.

“He’ll jump real nice. One week he’ll want to go to the rail. The next week he’ll want to go wide,” Bock said.

“He’ll give it everything he’s got, but 150 metres from home he either keeps on going, or he goes ‘I’ve had enough’.

“He’s an honest dog. He chases, but he’s just another one who’s had a lot of issues.”

Future Ethics was wayward out of the boxes in his past two starts at the Q Straight and Capalaba, finishing fifth and seventh respectively.

Bock said this was just a part of the unpredictable nature of his Bewildering and Snazzy Ethics dog.

“You’ll have a high (compression) suit on him and he’ll jump nicely. And, all of a sudden he won’t jump,” he said.

“So, you’ll take off the high suit and he’ll bounce again. Off his first go back at the circle he flew the lids (before finishing third at Q1 Lakeside on August 15).

“I thought ‘oh, they’re not going to get him’. And, he only just got run down near the line.

“That was off box six. It was over 390 metres. The next week he drew the one and I thought ‘you’re home and hosed here, they won’t stop you’. I couldn’t walk faster. I was so shocked.”

Another from the kennel is two-year-old bitch Federal Blonde who will start in another Battlers heat for Bock from box one.

She has four wins from 29 starts.

And, another, Swift Ethics, drew the eight box in the final Battlers heat on Wednesday.

The three-year-old bitch by Wow and out of Classy Ethics also has four victories from 54 starts.

“Federal Blonde, I’ve got absolutely no idea. I’ve only had her for a couple of weeks. It’s only small steps, so I thought ‘I’ll put her in a Battlers race and just see’,” Bock said.

“That’s because it’s been a long time since she won a race. Her last win was up at Townsville.

“She (Swift Ethics) ran a good race at The Q over 300 metres (on July 17). She went from last and ran fourth. I stepped her up to the 350 metres and if she brings that run, she’ll win.

“If she doesn’t, she’ll run last. She’s another one who goes when she feels.”

Bock spoke highly about Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club for its Battlers series, saying the club looked after its participants and lesser-grade chasers by hosting this event.

“It’ll give them all a chance,” he said.

“It’s a friendly environment whenever you go down there, which is good.”