Queensland victorious after Blue Blend’s record run

By Pat McLeod

Jeff Crawford’s Blue Blend graduated from promising youngster to genuine Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival headliner, clinching the Origin Greyhound Series for the locals with a record-breaking run at the Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

With the enthralling Queensland versus New South Wales series locked at one-all after the distance and sprint clashes, Blue Blend dominated gun sprinter Jungle Johnny, in the deciding match race, clocking the new mark of 29.16 seconds over the 520 metre journey.

Crawford, whose kennels are based just south of Brisbane, wasn’t surprised at the time, but was shocked at the 5.25 length winning margin over a dog considered one of, if not the fastest, sprinter in Australia.

“I said to a number of people during the week that whoever won this race would probably break the track record,” Crawford said.

“I am not surprised at the time, but I am surprised at the margin given the quality of the dog that Jungle Johnny is.

“I have won quite a bit of money on Jungle Johnny and he is quite a favourite of mine, so I was a little concerned when we came up against him.

“My dog is on the way up, but Jungle Johnny is already there. We have still a way to go to reach Jungle Johnny's level. But, Blue Blend has taken a big leap forward.”

The Hooked On Scotch and Kiss And Cut speedster defied the bookmaker’s odds - $3.10 to Jungle Johnny’s $1.35 – winning the start and then never looking threatened during the journey.

Crawford now has the $1 million Group 1 Brisbane Cup in his sights, with the heats on the Q2 Parklands circuit on Thursday, June 26, and the Final, Saturday, July 5.

“I had always had this Origin Series in mind for him and we were lucky enough to get this race offered to us,” Crawford said.

“Moving forward, our target is now the Brisbane Cup. He only turned two last week so he's still a young dog, so I don't want to push him too hard.”

Origin night proved to be a perfect match for the new The Q complex, with a bumper crowd turning out for the seventh running of the popular series. 

Queensland now lead the series tally 4-3.

The ‘home team’ stormed to an early lead when Tim Britton’s Red Dirt Road caused a minor upset by taking out the $100,000-to-the-winner Origin Distance Final over 710 metres over fellow Queenslander Garrison (trained by Chris Brydon), with NSW’s Winifred Nora (Andy Mulrine) third.

Strong favourite Autumn Storm (Tom Tzouvelis) was heavily checked soon after box-rise and finished at the rear of the field.

The ultra consistent Red Dirt Road, who has won four and placed twice in seven runs back from a lengthy injury spell, proved too strong for Garrison, reeling in the front-runner midway down the home straight, winning in 41.59 seconds. 

“I wasn't confident all through,” Britton said.

“From box one I thought my dog would want a little bit of the track and so I was hoping that Autumn Storm would jump and lead and he would follow that dog.

“But, that didn't happen. Red Dirt Road got out well enough and it was just a really big run home.

“I knew that he was one of the stronger dogs in the race, but I just didn't know if he had it in him to make up the gap that Garrison had forged.

“Garrison was up and away. I could see my dog gaining and gaining and then all of a sudden he got there.”

A Victorian now based at Churchable, Britton was delighted to wear the maroon of Queensland.

“It was great to be an honorary Queenslander and get the Queensland team off to a good start,” Britton said.

“We have been here for just two years and so it was great to claim a race for Queensland. We're here now and I guess we're staying.”

Good Odds Cobber (Dave Irwin) evened the ledger with a powerhouse performance in the second Origin leg, the Sprint Final over 520 metres.

The Group-winning powerhouse jumped to the lead and was never in trouble, claiming victory in 29.46 seconds over Tony Brett’s duo of Cumbria Jack and Sooty Keeping.

“I was a little worried about his start because he almost bungled it at his last outing here,” Irwin said.

"But, he got it spot on. He is a tremendous race dog, a real race dog. His will to win is incredible.

“As far as the Brisbane Cup goes, you can never be confident, but I would rather have him than a few others.

“He is just a competitor. You know when you put him in the box that he will do his best. He will give you every opportunity to win.”