Brett confident Dramatical is getting better

By Josh Spasaro 

If there has been one slight blemish in Dramatical’s brilliant start to his career, it has been the way he’s exited the boxes.

But, master Queensland conditioner Tony Brett believes this year’s Australian Cup champion for top Victorian trainer Jason Thompson is showing steady improvement with his starts.

The Grandchester conditioner has Dramatical under his care for the current Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival. 

It is an ominous warning for the precocious 26-month-old black dog’s rivals going into the Group 3 Young Gunners Final over 457 metres at Q1 Lakeside this Saturday night.

“He’s probably never going to ping out a leader. But, the other night, he wasn’t last out – he jumped nicely and was able to get into a spot,” Brett said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he even came out a bit better.”

Brett was referring to Dramatical’s excellent heat performance, saluting by three-and-three-quarter lengths. He crossed the line in 25.06 seconds.

From box five, he found a good midfield spot early.

From there, it did not take long for the Bernardo and Shallow Witts chaser to put his opposition to the sword as he produced the fastest heat time.

After overtaking QGOLD Emerging Sprinters victor Backcreek Butch with apparent ease before the turn for home, no one was going to catch Dramatical.

“He’d only been here for a week or so. I think he’ll just get better,” Brett said.

“Hopefully as he progresses through, he’ll then go onto the Ipswich Cup heats the following week.”

Dramatical has drawn box seven for the $45,005 Young Gunners Final this Saturday night.

Neame, who won the QGOLD Bolt Final, ran the second-fastest heat time of 25.09 seconds. Neame has drawn the one box.

But, Brett believes the best is still to come for Dramatical. 

“He’s been racing against Group dogs down in Victoria for months now,” he said.

“So, to drop back into a race where there are fourth and fifth-grade dogs his own age, he loves the drop back in class.”

Brett trained Sooty Keeping to Group 1 glory in the Fly Amy Classic for chasers under 30 months old on June 7 last year.

Brett and Thompson have had a stranglehold on the Brisbane Cup and many other winter features in Queensland in recent years. 

How does Dramatical rate when judging his best juvenile chasers, or even among the elite greyhounds Thompson has sent up to him?

“It’s hard to get a guide because I’ve had some very fast dogs and a lot of them have come up from Jason,” Brett said.

“The next few weeks will be the tell-tale. Last Saturday night was him learning his way.

“He’s been in the kennel for another week and I think he’s starting to come out of his shell a bit. I think the best is yet to come.”

Brett will also have fellow 26-month-old Tralaero jumping outside Dramatical from box eight in the Young Gunners Final.

The white and blue dog finished second in his Young Gunners heat last Saturday, crossing the line in 25.36 seconds.

He was sent to Brett for the carnival from Mitchell Conquest in New South Wales.

“I really like the dog. I’ve had him for a bit longer and he’s up here to stay all the way through,” Brett said.

“He took a little while to settle into home, but his last couple of trials and his run on Saturday night were what I was looking for.”

Brett could celebrate yet another memorable Group-racing evening, with She’s All Fire in the Young Gunnettes Final on Saturday night.

Salsa is also in the event. Salsa has five wins from her first five starts for Gregory Stella.

Salsa produced the fastest heat time of 25.01 seconds, with She’s All Fire saluting in 25.13 seconds in the first Young Gunnettes heat.

It was a comprehensive performance from Brett’s chaser by Feral Franky and out of Amron Lass. She prevailed by four-and-a-quarter lengths.

Jumping from box four, once the 29-month-old bitch found the lead before the turn for home, she never looked like losing.

“She’s a seriously fast little girl,” Brett said.

“She just needs to jump and position up because she’s very strong as well. She can get to the line really well. You take Salsa out of the race and she’d be a standout favourite.”