Red Dirt Road and Mepunga Smokey back on track

By Josh Spasaro

Churchable trainer Tim Britton thinks Red Dirt Road could almost run a kilometre if such a race existed.

That is why he has every confidence his three-year-old can continue his excellent form from box one in a heat of The Dashing Corsair at Q1 Lakeside on Thursday night.

Red Dirt Road – with 15 wins from 32 starts – is blessed with a strong, long frame and has saluted in 11 of his past 15 races.

A total of two victories from his past two starts have come over 710 metres, with Thursday night’s $13,440 heat over 642 metres.

“He’s about 37kg and he’s all leg. He might take a stride or two to get going, but once he gets going, he’s been doing wonders for us,” Britton said.

By Group 1-winner Space Star and out of Shiny Bright, Red Dirt Road has $129,830 in career prizemoney to his name.

Space Star excelled under Britton’s father, champion Victorian Trainer Robert Britton, notching up 25 victories from 39 starts for $453,900 in prizemoney.

“He (Red Dirt Road) is just a strong dog, as is that whole litter,” Britton said.

“He’d run 800-900 metres if you let him. He’s been the most consistent and up here in Queensland he’s won 11 of his past 15 starts. So, he loves running over the distance.”

Britton and his partner – fellow trainer Martina Kirillidis – have been based at Churchable for almost two years after moving up from Victoria.

They have 35 dogs under their care and he believes Red Dirt Road is one of their better stayers.

“Over the distance he’s definitely our best chance of winning something,” he said.

“Right now, we’ve got a lot of 700 metre dogs, but he’s probably got a bit on them. When he gets the right track and the right box, he’ll open up compared to some of the others.”

As well as being blessed with stamina and a naturally athletic frame, Red Dirt Road has no shortage of courage.

“He’s won a couple of 700 metre races and now he’s getting back to where he was before," the trainer said. 

Britton said his stayer’s health will be more important than chasing lucrative distance races over the next 12 months.

“He’s not young anymore,” he said.

“If we can keep him fit and sound for another 12 months and he can race regularly, we’ll have some fun with him.”

Britton also has Mepunga Smokey and Shadows Of Blue lining up in the Cyndie’s Magic heats over 550 metres.

Mepunga Smokey has two wins from his past five starts going into the second Cyndie’s Magic Heat, which is race six on the 12-race card.

The three-year-old has 22 victories from 64 starts, for $271,312 in career prizemoney, and starts from box five on Thursday night.

Champion Trainer Jeff Britton – Tim’s uncle – sent him up for the 2025 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.

“He’s always been a fast dog and he trialled very fast on the two-turn. And, we took him over to the one-turn,” Tim Britton said.

“He’s a good dog. I think he’ll go well on Thursday night. He’s here for the Cyndie’s Magic and the Brisbane Cup.”

Britton said the support of his father Robert, uncle Jeff and the South East Queensland greyhound racing community helped him and Kirillidis establish their careers in the Sunshine State.

“I guess you could say we’ve found our groove up here. We had our struggles along the way coming up here with the different climate and new tracks,” he said.

“But, we’re happy with how we’re going at the moment. We’re doing well.

“I’m on the phone to Dad and Jeff every second day. If I need to know something and I don’t know what I’m doing, they’re there. It’s great.

“We’re coming up to two years soon. We get along with everyone well up here. Everyone’s been really supportive. It’s been great. I don’t like the humidity, but we’re getting there.”