Hara’s Herbie set to win over Lady Luck in Pink Ribbon Trophy

By Pat McLeod

Jemma Daley is hoping kennel favourite Hara’s Herbie will overturn a cruel run of luck, starting with Thursday night’s Pink Ribbon Trophy over 520 metres at Albion Park.

The powerful Daley and Tarquin Neal partnership, based out of Park Ridge, south of Brisbane, have earned success in the past two years with an outstanding group of ‘Hara’ dogs.

However, a recent assault on the lucrative Townsville Cup carnival turned sour after a brilliant start.

The kennel had plenty to smile about after heats night with both Hara’s Herbie and Hara’s Skye winning through to the Cup Final with heat wins, while Hara’s Pandora progressed through to the Cup Consolation with a third placing.

On that same night Hara’s River set the bar very high with a seven-and-three-quarter-lengths win in a heat of the Stayers Challenge over 643 metres.

But, a stellar Finals night for the Brisbane training duo did not eventuate.

Herbie and Skye were unplaced in the Cup, as was Pandora in the consolation. 

River was injured in her race and was forced to retire. 

“Tarquin and I always take the responsibility of the rehab work with any of our injured greyhounds. We owe that to the dogs to do that for them," Daley said. 

“(Owner) Tony (Glover) has already approached (breeding expert) David Brasch to do possible matings for that whole litter.

“The future is very bright on the breeding side for River and she will always have a comfortable happy life with us.”

Hara’s Herbie also didn’t come away from Townsville unscathed and Thursday night will be his first race outing since the Cup Final on August 25.

“He had a couple of little niggles after the Cup,” Daley said. 

“He had a good hit-out last Tuesday, a box-to-box (at Albion) and showed great speed out of the boxes.

“He had a great second split. He is very happy and bright in himself.

“We do know that he likes racing fresh.

“The box draw on Thursday night (box six with vacant boxes either side) isn't a problem. He seems to relish being out wider. He likes that little bit of room.”

Although there are just the five starters in this best eight race, they are all quality, especially the eight, Travis Elson’s Bear’s Bullet, who is having her first start since finishing unplaced in the National Sprint Championship at The Meadows on August 26.

Daley said Hara’s Herbie, the reigning Ipswich Gold Cup winner, would most likely be aimed at defending that crown (heats on October 26 before the Final on November 2).

“It wasn’t all that long ago that he ran a personal best (29.64 seconds at Albion Park) and he also won the (Brisbane Cup) Consolation,” she said.

“So, he is still showing it that he can mix it with the big boys.

“I think he will continue in that vein because he is sound, happy and healthy. So, until that changes will just keep poking along with him.

“Hopefully he'll have another crack at the Ipswich Cup and we will make a plan from there.  

“When it is time to leave the track, Herbie will always be with me. He is one of my best mates. I owe a lot to him.”

Daley said the Pink Ribbon promotion, which highlights and raises funds for breast cancer research, struck a chord with her.

“I have two aunties who have had breast cancer,” she said.

“Both of them have survived, but it is something that is close to home and also something to keep an eye on.

“This is a wonderful initiative and it is proven now over decades that the research that comes out of this fund-raising is so worthwhile.”