Moore has a score to settle in Auction Series

By Isaac Murphy

High Order wasn’t only racing the dogs in the build-up to the Group 3 Alan Price Memorial Ipswich Auction Series, he was also racing the clock to get back to fitness having never raced over the 520 metres before.

Fortunately, his trainer Dennis Moore has been working on greyhounds with his hands for decades and has given his dog a second lease on life, and after winning his heat he’ll tackle the semi-finals this Saturday night.

On the comeback trail from injury, High Order only managed two 520-metre races before last week’s heat, but the dog showed plenty of guts running away from them after finding the front early.

“He’s a fair dinkum race dog; he was probably a little underdone going into his heat and he found a way to get to the front,” Moore said.

“He’s never won over the 500 metres but wasn’t going to give up the front once he got there.

“He’s been through the ringer with injury this dog and had a long time where he was out of form, so it’s definitely satisfying to see him give himself a chance of winning a Group 3 final but there’s no guarantees with the deep fields.

“I had a feeling he was going to draw a tough box like the six this week after having the two last week, and it’s going to be hard work with Ringbark Jen, Bonus Only and Double Return all with early speed inside him but at worst he’s given himself a chance.”

The Auction Series was blown wide open when series favourite Sequana was injured in her heat with Moore having plenty of compassion for the Zammits, but the show rolls on and he thinks a familiar breed is the new dog to beat.

“I feel terrible for Selena and Michael Zammit seeing Sequana break down in her heat, I thought she was the bitch to beat in this series and you never wish that on anyone,” Moore said.

“It’s really up for grabs now; personally, I think the favourite should be Double Return for Brian Francis, he’s a full brother to High Order and has just as much ability as us.

“We’ll be pushing forward early and as we saw with the heat results anything can happen, with four going through from each semi I think we’ll make it if he jumps.”

Moore has been in the greyhound game longer than most and casts his keen eye over the Puppy Auction catalogue each year.

One breed in particular jumped out at Moore and the trainer got the dog he wanted.

“I’m incredibly thorough when it comes to pedigree, I really do my homework and try to find the best match - I’ve only got a small team, so you want the right dog,” he said.

“I saw him in the catalogue and was a big fan of the Dyna Double One/Slayer Return breed, I like the confirmation on a dog as well and was keen to see how they were put together.

“I went to the auction and he looked a treat, so I didn’t hesitate in snapping him up.

“It wasn’t the most sought-after breed, but you have to get the one you want.”

Moore, as he always likes to do, outsourced his rearing and back came a dog he knew he could find success with.

“I sent him down to New South Wales to get broken in with a family down there I’ve got a history with who do a great job, and he came back home in top order and I was very happy with him,” he said.

“He’s a very loveable dog which was another big tick for me; he’s quite affectionate, not scared or angry at anything and he had a perfect demeanour for racing.”

That demeanour carried over to the racetrack where High Order sprung out of the blocks early days.

“He won five of his first eight starts for me and was just starting to learn what it was all about, he’d just won two in a row leading into the Auction Sprint series and was brilliant winning his heat,” the trainer said.

“The morning of the semi-finals I fed him his breakfast and it came straight back up, he had a virus and I had to scratch.

“That was a big disappointment because the dog was flying, and I thought he was a real chance to win the Series and he ended up having a month out.

“When he came back he started at Albion and as he was coming around home turn and had his legs taken out by the dog inside him.

“He got up and followed them in but for the rest of that preparation he just wasn’t quite right I finally found he’d torn the tissue on his near side which would need ongoing care.”

Despite the prolonged dry spell, Moore never gave up on his chaser and has a score to settle in the Auction Series after missing out earlier in the year.

“The goal was always to get back for the 500-metre series, so I’ve been working flat out trying to get the runs in him to gradually build him up to be competitive for this series,” he said.

“He’s almost back to his best from early in his career, but after every race pulls up sore with the tissue and I have to give him a good massage and make sure he’s right to go again.

“It’s not out of the question but with the way he started out I thought he could be a really good stud dog, I’m not sure if he’ll race long enough to make a name for himself, but if he can come out and win this Series that’d mean the world.”