West On Boonie to deliver family reunion in Brisbane

By Jordan Gerrans

Western Australian conditioner Chris Halse has his eyes firmly planted on Thursday’s The Dashing Corsair decider with kennel star West On Boonie. 

But, he is allowing his mind to wander to a potential family reunion of sorts in the Sunshine State if his Group 1-winning stayer can progress through the 2025 Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival. 

To be run at Group 3 level over 642 metres, The Dashing Corsair is likely to be a steppingstone towards the Group 1 Queensland Cup if the son of Tommy Shelby can perform at his best. 

West On Boonie’s father Tommy Shelby was a Queensland star throughout his northern visits during his dazzling career and Halse is hopeful his 22-time career winner can follow in his footsteps.

The veteran dog man is also eager to catch up with his sister Jacqueline Mewes if his boom stayer is to make the Final of the Queensland Cup later in the carnival. 

Halse and partner Linda Britton have opted to not head across the country for Thursday’s $45,000 event but will come if West On Boonie contests the showpiece staying event of the carnival later this month. 

“We will stay the week if he can make another Final in the carnival,” Halse said.

“My sister has been in Brisbane for a long time and it would be good fun if we could get over there and visit everybody.

“She does not have much to do with the dogs but she is involved with the cricket up there in Brisbane. 

“It would be good to get up there and say hello as we know a lot of people in the Queensland greyhound industry.”

Halse’s sister Mewes is on the Executive Committee of the Queensland Cricketers’ Club.

West On Boonie is under the care of Martina Kirillidis during his northern stay. 

The black dog was a heat winner last Thursday in 36.22 seconds and has been handed the two alley in Thursday’s rich event.

Last Thursday’s performance was West On Boonie’s first look at Q1 Lakeside under race conditions and the team behind the three-year-old chaser were pleased with what they viewed.

From the four position, West On Boonie ran into some early trouble but he was able to find his feet and settle nicely. 

“I liked the way he worked into the race and did everything right,” Halse said.

“The time was competitive with the other two heats. It is exciting and we cannot wait to watch on Thursday night.

“In the Final, he should get clear early from the two and put himself in the race. Hopefully he is travelling well.”

Kirillidis and her partner Tim Britton are looking after West On Boonie for the carnival.

“I am just making sure all the dogs get to Thursday well and good and everything is fine and stays fine,” Kirillidis says.

“West On Boonie was really strong coming out of the 642 metre boxes in the heats. He will certainly be a contender on Thursday night.”

West On Boonie’s triumph at the highest level occurred in the 715 metre Group 1 Galaxy at Cannington in Perth in March of last year.

He also has a Group 2 WA crown on his resume as well as a couple of other black-type minor placings.

West On Boonie qualified for the Group 1 National Distance Championship at Angle Park in August of last year.

But, as Halse laments, he was not at his peak on that occasion. 

The long-time WA dog man is hopeful West On Boonie can put his best foot forward over the coming month in Queensland. 

“Every time we go to a big race, something happens,” he said.

“He went amiss in the Nationals Final and that is when he hadn’t really shown his best for four or five months.

“He started showing his best again not long after The Galaxy, with near track records again. That is when you start looking for big races around the country.

“He is seasoned here in WA; he doesn’t owe us anything as he is nearly four years of age. We thought we would have a bit of fun and send him over.”

West On Boonie campaigned to Brisbane this time last year and finished fourth in his one run, which was in a heat of the Queensland Cup.

West On Boonie’s litter sister Flying Freda won the Chairman’s Cup Final at Albion Park in June of 2024 before also running in a heat of the Queensland Cup.