Partland to launch attack on Townsville QGOLD

By Josh Spasaro

Out of the five chasers Mark Partland will have starting in the QGOLD heats at Townsville on Tuesday night, bitches She’s Spirited and Helianthe bring good form to the meeting.

They’ve also inherited good racing genes from sire, Superior Panama, and dam, She’s Sweet.

And, they could soon be destined for bigger and better starts, following siblings Organised Kaos and Slim Nikita, who finished third and fourth respectively in the Country Cup Final at Q2 Parklands last Thursday night.

“They’re nicely bred. Tony Parker had a couple of dogs out of the litter up here and they were down for the Country Cup and ran good races,” Partland said.

“They’re a good litter.”

Partland added his two bitches were outgoing characters.

“They get to the line nicely. They’re pretty full-on little girls. You know you’ve got them. They’re not shy,” he said.

Tuesday night’s QGOLD heats are worth $4,880 each and over 498 metres.

Helianthe led all-the-way and showed good heart to hold on and salute in 28.65 seconds in her last start on Tuesday night, beating sister She’s Spirited by a length.

She will start from box six in the first heat.

“It was a good win. She’s only a little girl,” South Townsville conditioner Partland said.

“Tommy Tzouvelis had her and sent her up here. She’s just starting to mature nicely. She’s quick out of the boxes, which is good.

"And, she’s strong. She’s getting better and better. So, it was a nice win.”

Helianthe has started her on-track career in consistent fashion, with five wins from 18 starts.

With two victories and two runner-up finishes from her past five starts, Partland said his young bitch was starting to hit her straps.

She started for the first time in North Queensland on October 23 last year and took five starts to salute at her new home.

“It’s taken her a while to settle in up here. They were pretty immature when they got here,” Partland said.

“I’ve got four of them out of the same litter and they’re all the same. They’re just starting to mature nicely now.”

She’s Spirited beat Helianthe on January 20, before her sibling turned the tables last Tuesday night.

With seven wins from 22 starts over multiple distances, Partland believes She’s Spirited has finally become accustomed to running over 498 metres.

The two-year-old bitch will start the second QGOLD heat from box eight.

“She’s probably taken a while to get to 498 metres. She’s pretty fit now and I’m confident she’ll get it,” he said.

“I think they’re (with Helianthe) two of my good chances.”

Table Topper is another last-start winner for Partland.

The three-year-old dog by Aston Rupee and of Nurse Meg will start the second QGOLD heat from box two.

“He was a winner over 380 metres last start. And, he got to the line nicely,” he said.

“He’s fit and looking well and I think he’ll hit the line. And, he’s drawn ideally. The two really suits him.”

Sheryl and Eugene will also start in the QGOLD heats for Partland on Tuesday night.

It will be three-year-old dog Eugene’s third start back from a long spell and he will start the second heat from box four.

“He’s probably one or two runs short, to be honest. But, I thought I’d put him in,” Partland said.

“He hits the line well – 500 to 600 metres is probably his ideal distance in racing. He’ll be fine to the line at the end. He’s probably a run short.”

Partland was happy with Sheryl’s run last Tuesday night, finishing third behind Helianthe and She’s Spirited in a kennel trifecta.

She then finished seventh over 380 metres last Friday night.

The three-year-old bitch will start the first heat from box five.

“Sheryl, she’s come a long way in the past eight weeks. I’ve just done a few things different with her, which seemed to have improved her,” Partland said. 

“She’s three and it’s just taken her a long time to click. She keeps surprising me. When she ran third last week in a 498 metre race, she wasn’t too far behind the two little girls.

“She went 28.90 seconds (last Tuesday night). She’s probably got a little bit of improvement in that, but not a lot. She’ll be looking for the rail, so we’ll see how she goes out of box five.”

Meanwhile, Partland has plenty to look forward to with other developing chasers showing some promise.

“I’ve had a litter that just hit the track now. There are a few good ones in that,” he said.

“Party Anytime and Party With Tom (with four wins each). There are seven in the litter, so they’re all coming through now.

“They’re out of Rumble Rose and by Koblenz. We’ve got a couple of litters in the paddock. And, I’ve probably got another four or five here to start.

“I’ve got a couple of dogs by Orson Allen and out of Brief. They’re probably three or four weeks away. They’re showing some nice promise.”