The Q just the ticket for Attard’s straight track purple patch

By Josh Spasaro

Fairney View trainer Renald Attard believes the wider corners at The Q have been just the tonic for Take Over Haze’s purple patch in form heading into the Wayne Harris Appreciation Final at Capalaba on Sunday.

The two-year-old has saluted in five of his past six starts.

“He’s been improving out of sight since we’ve been going to The Q,” Attard said.

“When he was racing at Ipswich, he couldn’t get around the corners. It was too tight. At The Q he just goes flat out. That’s what changed that dog, I think.”

Take Over Haze’s comfortable victory in an impressive time of 19.73 seconds over the 366 metre Capalaba straight last start was the fastest on the card.

He did it from box five on a slow surface, in doing so registering his 10th win from 32 starts.

Attard would be delighted if he could replicate that performance from the same lane this Sunday.

“It’s a pretty good field, but he ran the best time of the day on a slow track last start,” Attard said.

“A lot of people say 19.40 or 19.50 seconds is a good run on a good track. He’s been improving out of sight since we’ve been going to The Q.”

The pleasing thing about Take Over Haze’s recent form is the way he’s been picking up pace late in his races, particularly the way he prevailed last start at Capalaba.

And, this is why Attard believes he is capable of performing over longer distances.

“He’s getting stronger and stronger. We didn’t think he’d be only a sprinter. Now we’re thinking he might be able to run a bit further,” he said.

“Even his sister, Whispering Mist, won (on Thursday). She showed a bit of strength, too. They’re just over two years old, so they’re getting stronger all the time.

“I just go race after race because I’m not confident he’ll run 520 metres. He’ll probably run about 457 metres. His mother was only a free for all sprinter, Hazy Whisper.”

Take Over Haze is by boom American sire, Superior Panama.

“The Panamas are usually strength dogs," the trainer said. 

“He (Superior Panama) has been proven probably the past two years.

“I’ve got another dog by him, Mrs. Musgrave. She won at Albion Park on a Thursday night over the 520 metres and broke 30 seconds.

“She broke 35 seconds over 600 metres. She ran good times and they’ve got stronger and stronger.

“We’re still waiting for her to come on season and we’re going to breed with her.”

It was Attard who linked up with champion conditioner Kel Greenough to train Frosty Jay Jay to victory in the 2014 Group 2 Healesville Cup, beating Group 1-victor Paw Licking by three-quarters of a length.

“We had Frosty Jay Jay. He’s our best dog ever. He broke the record at Healesville when he won the Healesville Cup,” Attard  said.

“And, that was a Group 2. It was one of the best fields they’ve ever assembled. He ran down Paw Licking on the straight.

"He’s a smart dog."

Attard has 15 dogs in his care and is hopeful of enjoying another memorable period of racing.

His Koblenz litter could have a lot to say about that.

“My dogs are flying at the moment. I don’t know what the cause of it is, but they’re just good dogs winning races,” Attard said.

“I’ve got some young ones by Koblenz. They’re looking pretty good. There are five of them. I haven’t named them yet.

“They trialled (on Wednesday) and went faster than a couple of the maidens there (on Thursday).

“They’re only pups. That’s a good start – they’re only 16 months old. That was their first look, so they look like they’re going to be all right.

“I’m hoping these Koblenzes can be something. It’s just my feeling – I think they will be.”