Riordon kennel's big night at Albion Park

By Jordan Gerrans

Christopher Riordon is not a regular on a Thursday evening at Albion Park but the Bribie Island-based trainer was smiling to come away with a positive result for his kennel this week.

Riordon, who previously also trained pacers, took two dogs to Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club on Thursday night and walked away with a winner - Pinto Falabella – and a close second with Joe Patch.

Both the greyhounds are products of litters from Spirited Flame, who is one of the better dogs Riordon ever trained.

Spirited Flame was Group 1-placed at The Meadows in her racing days, which brought in almost $130,000 in career prize money.

“It has been a while since I have been in town with a bit of a chance as well,” Riordon said.

“I haven’t had that class of dog for a Thursday night really for some time.

“These couple are probably up to it. It would have been nearly 12 months ago – a while ago – since I took one into town on Thursday night, over six or eight months ago.”

Pinto Falabella started the night of perfectly for the Riordon kennel, claiming the first event of the card, the Novice Non Penalty, over 520 metres in a close finish with Cincinnati Lana.

The black and white Pinto Falabella is a greyhound that has always battled troubles, suffering a broken toe and other issues over the journey, according to Riordon.

“I gave him a spell and then brought him back, he is a dog that did not have his legs under him,” he said.

“Last week, he was a bit better and I thought he would go better again, and he did.

“It was very good how he ran that dog down.

“He is no star; he is what he is.

“I might look to take him to Capalaba at some stage to get his grading.”

Pinto Falabella won his first two career starts and added his third career victory to his resume on Thursday night, from just seven efforts.

The Bribie Island-based trainer previously used the local beaches to prepare his dogs for races but says he has gone away from that method in recent years.

Riordon worked with pacers in Australia and overseas for the best part of four decades as a hobby, having both dogs and pacers at one stage, before focussing his attention in on greyhounds in recent years.

Kennel mate Joe Patch almost gave Riordon a rare Thursday evening winning double in the Open over 331 metres but was forced to settle for second, beaten just under two lengths to Hope Sure Can, who is trained by Sandra Hunt.

“He did not go as good as I thought, he did not back up really good,” Riordon said of Joe Patch.

“Anyway, we learnt a bit off him on Thursday night, which is the main thing.

“It was a good run, I did all the form and knew he was going to the slowest dog out and he stayed on the rail, which he likes to do.”

The Riordon team will be hoping their winning ways continue over the weekend with Fluro Fella and Buck The Bull in at Ipswich on Saturday evening.