Positive verdict pending on well-bred Hold The Gavel

By Josh Spasaro

Hold The Gavel has all the makings of a bitch who can rise to the occasion of a big race, just like her well-known half-brother, Magistrate.

That is the opinion of Donna Darcy, who is the owner of the two-year-old as well as her dam, Inspired Hope.

Hold The Gavel will jump from box four in the Christmas Gift Final at Rockhampton on Wednesday night.

By Fernando Bale and also out of Inspired Hope, Magistrate finished the last of his 90 starts for Park Ridge conditioner Greg Stella in May, saluting 34 times and claiming $508,000 in prizemoney.

The Group 3 Origin Greyhound Series Sprint Final champion recently became a stud dog for Darcy, who is now based at Ballina in Northern New South Wales.

“She (Hold The Gavel) has got all the good (racing components),” the 63-year-old owner said.

“Her mid-race is absolutely rocket-like.”

By Tommy Shelby, Hold The Gavel displayed her impressive mid-race skills when she shot out to a five-length lead on the back straight last start.

That was before producing the fastest heat time to cross the line in 23.56 seconds and prevail by three-and-three-quarter lengths from box seven last Wednesday night.

“That time was not a surprise, not at all,” Darcy said.

“She was well boxed where she was.”

Multiple Group placegetter Magistrate loved competing in big races.

And, Hold The Gavel also has the opportunity to show what she can do in a competitive race over 407 metres on Wednesday night.

“We also own Magistrate. He was just a really good race dog. Injury-free and retired injury-free,” Darcy said.

“He was in a lot of big races.

“He’s just started (as a stud dog). He’s got one litter on the ground and they’re only a few weeks old and another one is due.”

Hold The Gavel will only be making her third start for Juanita Thompson in Rockhampton on Wednesday night.

She also showed plenty of promise in her first start at the Central Queensland venue on December 10, finishing strongly to place second and two lengths behind Lissy’s Gem for Amber Boody.

Now with seven wins from 24 starts, Hold The Gavel was bred by Darcy and previously trained by the Churchable-based Warren Nicholls.

Her last start at Q1 Lakeside saw her prevail by a comfortable five-and-a-quarter lengths over 390 metres on November 21 after shooting away from the field on the home straight.

“She’s only been up there (Rockhampton) for three weeks. She went straight from a race in Brisbane to them (the Thompson kennels),” Darcy said.

“We’re quite happy with the results at present. She should’ve won her first start (at Rockhampton). We’ve got four dogs with Warren Nicholls and the move north came via a referral from Warren.”

Darcy has enjoyed a good association with Stella over the years and she is hoping a change of scenery at Rockhampton can produce good results for Hold The Gavel.

“The majority of the pups that we breed and get reared go to Greg Stella,” she said.

“When we had the Gavel litter, Greg didn’t have enough room.

“So, we had to find somebody else. And, we were recommended Warren Nicholls. We are hoping the move north will result in a bit of a confidence boost for Hold The Gavel.”

Dream Train is another last-start winner who will jump from box seven for Thompson in the Christmas Gift Final – which is race six on the program – at Rockhampton on Wednesday night.