Go Bears finding his feet in the Sunshine State

By Jordan Gerrans

It took Go Bears a few starts to master the Wentworth Park track and trainer Ronald Ulrick is eager to see if it is also the case with Albion Park.

Go Bears was placed in the Group 1 National Derby Final earlier this year at Wentworth Park.

That elite level third place finish came at the red brindle dog's fourth attempt around the Wentworth Park circuit.

The son of My Redeemer bettered his time at the track on every occasion leading towards the Final. 

A few months on from the National Derby Final, the Urunga-based dog man has looked north with promising chaser Go Bears.

The 14-time career winner missed a starting position in Thursday night’s Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns Final at Albion Park after running third in his heat last week.

That has not deterred the 75-year-old Ulrick as the kennel is back for more this Thursday as Go Bears aims to lower his times at the track.

The NSW conditioner is keen to return north for the Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival if Go Bears can post a faster time again on Thursday.

“He has not run any time up there yet and it was the same at Wenty, it took him a while to get used to the track,” Ulrick said of Albion Park. 

“It took him two runs at Wenty. We are hoping he can do the same up there one night.

“If he can step up and run a good time then he will keep racing in Brisbane but he has to find a bit.

“If I think he can be competitive then I will keep coming back.”

Go Bears ran home in 30.47 seconds over the 520 metre trip in his first look at Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club in late April before stopping the clock at 30.29 seconds in last week’s Young Guns heat. 

He will start from the inside draw in a fifth grade race on Thursday.

Ulrick – who prepares a small kennel of just two dogs – is hopeful Go Bears has now found his feet and settled into the Queensland way of racing and can display that on Thursday night.

“We have drawn well but it is a hot field for Thursday night,” Ulrick said.

“He has been a good little dog for us and he is a beautiful kennel dog. He is a lovely dog and does everything right.”

Ulrick thinks there will be an array of interstate trainers with their eyes on the Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival in 2023.

The 2023 Winter Carnival will boast $3.3 million in prize money over seven weeks of racing from May 25 to July 7 at Albion Park, including 18 Group and Listed races. 

Late last year, it was also confirmed that prize money for the Group 1 Brisbane Cup would almost double from $525,000 to $1 million in 2023.

Ulrick also pointed to the QBRED concept - races for Queensland-bred greyhounds being held across the state – as a positive for the sport in the Sunshine State.

“Queensland is going so well, just the whole system, it is booming the state,” Ulrick said.

“The Queensland greyhound industry has great support from the State Government and they are right behind the dogs.

“Queensland is putting in and the wider industry is reaping the benefits. Queensland has a great breeding system now, as well.”