NZ kennel’s distance queen debuts on Q2 ‘opening night’

By Josh Spasaro

Goldstar Ginny’s last race was a Group 2 victory at Cambridge back on March 13, but New Zealand owner Steve Evans believes her first start in Australia will be a memorable occasion.

That will be when the three-year-old bitch starts from box three on Q2 Parklands' opening night – race five on the program and over 710 metres – at 8.04pm on Thursday.

“We’re really happy with her,” Evans said.

“It’s been a long time since she’s raced, of course, but we’re really happy with her work and she’s really keen over here.

“She’s probably keener over here than she has been at home. She doesn’t like getting crowded early, though, but I think she’s turned the corner since she’s got here.

“We’re training her a bit different with these facilities. We’re using a Renegade (lure) and the challenging lane and she’s really perked up.

“We’re really happy with where she’s at. At home we have a 260 metre straight track, whereas here we have a 100 metre challenging lane.”

Evans’ son Riley trains Goldstar Ginny and it seems their bitch is just as happy as they are to be in Queensland at their Churchable property.

“She’s a last-start Group 2 winner (Teressa McDonald Memorial Cup Final over 747 metres) at Cambridge," Steve Evans said. 

“So, we decided we’d wait to get her racing on Q1 and Q2. She’s done her trials on both those tracks. She had two trials on Q1, and one trial over 520 metres on Q2, which we’re very pleased with.

“She ran 30.26 seconds. But, it was two or three weeks ago when the track wasn’t that fast. It was a length off best of the day.”

Steve Evans said Goldstar Ginny should not have any problems starting from box three on Thursday night.

“The box draw doesn’t really worry her. She doesn’t like getting crowded, so she’ll probably get back and she’ll be running on really good,” he said.

“The 700 metres is going to be right up her alley.”

Steve Evans said The Q facility was unrivalled anywhere in the world and he was instantly blown away by the greyhound tracks and prizemoney on offer in Australia.

“The track is world class. You wouldn’t get anything better than that, I don’t think, in the world,” he said.

“The facilities are fantastic. In another month’s time when they iron everything out, it’s going to be fantastic. Hopefully everything will be going perfect by winter carnival time.

“It’s just a whole new level over here, the professionalism. So, to come over here and see these great facilities in Australia is great.”

In April of 2022, Riley Evans was announced as the Greyhound Racing New Zealand Board Award winner, which provided him a grant to further upskill his knowledge of the greyhound industry.

He thoroughly enjoyed his week learning about the industry alongside champion Victorian mentor Robert Britton and set himself a goal to move to Australia.

“His main reason for coming over and wanting to work with Robbie was checking of the dogs,” Steve Evans said.

“We’ve got a couple of really good dog checkers in New Zealand, but Riley wanted to learn from somebody different.

“So, he went over and spent some time with Robbie and Robbie taught him so much in a short time.

“We’ve become good friends with Robbie’s son Tim and Martina (Kirillidis). They’re only 500 metres down the road, so that’s worked out really good."

Goldstar Ginny – with seven wins from 59 starts – gets her natural speed from her dam, Goldstar Journey, who picked up two wins from 20 starts.

“Her mother was one of the fastest bitches we’ve had. Her trial times were blistering, but she didn’t like getting in a field,” Steve Evans said.

“She would run off the track and did everything wrong. She has picked up a bit of her mother’s bad habits, but she’s got a big motor when she’s switched on.

“My only worry over here was coming over to a catching pen without a finish-on lure. But, at the moment at the trials she’s been really good. She had a 550 metre handslip around Q1 (on Monday) and her run home and into the catching pen was good.”