Capelbourne Cup part of Ayres’ Cup day celebrations

By Pat McLeod

Win, lose or draw in Tuesday’s Capelbourne Cup, career wharfie Robert Ayres promises that he will enjoy the social offerings on the Capalaba track’s busiest race day.

“Capalaba is the friendliest greyhound track in Australia and Tuesday, Melbourne Cup day, is one of its best days,” Ayres said.

 Ayres is based north of Brisbane at the Glass House Mountains.

“I was a wharfie for 40 years – 20 years in Sydney and 20 in Brisbane," he said. 

“Part of the annual Wharfie’s Picnic was held every year at Capalaba on Melbourne Cup day. So, I enjoyed the day there before I became a trainer (in about 2016).

“I believe my dog (Blue Art) is a good chance in this year’s Capelbourne Cup, but wherever he comes I will enjoy a beer there later, maybe several.”

The Capelbourne Cup, and its associated Melbourne Cup celebrations, have become an extremely popular local spectacle at the eastern Brisbane boutique straight track.

“It is our biggest race day, crowd-wise,” confirmed Capalaba manager Erin Cameron.

“This year we have 210 bookings and that is before you factor in race participants and walk-ins.

“The day is very popular with local businesses. Many of those who will be here on Tuesday have been having their office and workshop Melbourne Cup parties here for years.

“People love the setting and the laid-back atmosphere of the track.

“The Capalaba meeting on Tuesday is a non-TAB meeting, however the prizemoney is at TAB level with $5,005 going to the winner of the Capelbourne Cup.

“We also have a bookie and TAB facilities here on the day so you can have a bet on wherever.”

The Capalaba race program for Tuesday will be finalised on Monday afternoon.

However, all races at that track will be run and won before the race that stops a nation jumps.

The Capelbourne Cup has been a highly sought-after trophy since it was first contested in 2015.

Based on the order of the fastest race times recorded at the track for the year, the line-up is always impressive.

Original hot contenders Tarawi Buster (trained by Jayson Valentine) and Blue Blend (Jeff Crawford) have been scratched from the initial field after they won through to Thursday night’s $150,000 Lakeside Cup Final on the Q1.

Coming off the ‘reserves bench’ to replace them are Casino Special (Rob Dacey) and Zipping Sweeny (Tom Tzouvelis).

Blue Art, who boasts a very successful career to date at Capalaba (nine wins and 15 placings from 28 starts) will jump from box four. 

“I would have preferred six, seven or eight for him, but four isn’t a major concern,” Ayres said.

“His biggest fault is that he can be slow away. And, then his biggest plus is his acceleration from about the 300 metre mark. He finds another gear. So, it comes down to how much start he gives them.

“In a race like this, with so many fast dogs, you can’t give away too much at the beginning.”

Since coming back into greyhounds as an owner in about 2000, Ayres has consistently been involved with a quality dog.

After 57 starts for 21 wins, 22 placings and $92,440 in prizemoney, Blue Art justifiably joins that list.

However, at a couple of months short of his third birthday Ayres has no doubt the Tommy Shelby and Boscono chaser still has plenty more to offer.

“Blue Art suffered a chest injury not too long ago which put him out for about six weeks,” he said.

“I gave him plenty of time to get over it and that is certainly the case now.

“He’s just a couple of starts back from that and a wash-out and some trouble placing him means that he’s still getting back to his best race-fitness-wise.

“He’s a decent race dog and he obviously loves Capalaba, so yes, I believe he’s a strong chance on Tuesday.

“But, it is a class field.”

Blue Art had the perfect preparation for Tuesday’s Cup, with a narrow win at Capalaba on Sunday.

Ayres said the quick turnaround was not an issue.

“The extra race fitness will do him the world of good,” he said.