Balmaha’s bright future starts with Capalaba race

By Josh Spasaro

Trevor Lindsay has been so pleased with Balmaha’s progress that he believes he can put up a genuine challenge in the GRNSW Puppy Classic series at Richmond in Sydney’s west in November.

But, first, the 22-month-old dog is one to watch over 366 metres at Capalaba on Sunday.

He was a runaway winner last Sunday, saluting by six-and-three-quarter lengths and crossing the line in 19.91 seconds.

Around The Twist also ran a fast time last Sunday for Glen Boody, finishing in 19.87 seconds.

The Final of the Puppy Classic over 520 metres will be worth $150,000, with the heats and Final to be held on November 21 and 28, respectively.

If all goes to plan on Sunday, Lindsay will then race Balmaha at the Q2 in an effort to prepare him for the Puppy Classic series.

“He’s had four or five trials around the Q1. We just decided to go to Capalaba with him. He handles the Q1 really good, though,” Lindsay said.

“He’s got the Richmond Auction (Puppy Classic) ahead of him in November. So that’s why we’re going to go to the Q2 and trying to push him out to the 500 metres. 

“We’re really looking forward to Sunday. There’s another really good dog in the race for Glen Boody, so it’s going to be a good race.

“It’ll hopefully put him in good stead to go to the Q2 after Sunday.”

Lindsay – based at an idyllic macadamia farm with three race dogs at Beerwah, in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland  – was thrilled with Balmaha’s convincing victory last Sunday.

“He went super last week. He’s really learning to race and he’s a dog on the up,” he said.

“We’ve got a pretty big wrap on the pup, actually. He keeps improving from his first start and we’re very happy with him for Sunday.”

As well as his impressive finishing ability, Lindsay said Balmaha does not lack toughness.

His chaser displayed that in just the second of three career starts so far, holding his line in early traffic and finishing third on August 3.

“He’s a really tough dog. He’s got a beautiful temperament, too. He’s a bulletproof little pup,” Lindsay said.

“He just does everything right.”

Balmaha is by Group 1-winner Hooked On Scotch and out of Kinetic Thunda, who won seven of her 14 starts.

Laura Gambling was delighted to purchase him at the 2024 GRNSW Puppy Auction and both Gambling and Lindsay think he has a bright future.

“The young girl who bought him out of the auction, she bought two of them, with the brother,” Lindsay said.

“The brother has just hurt himself and has been sidelined for a couple of months. But, he’ll come back.

“Laura is new into the industry with these two pups. She’s a very good owner and she’s let us take our time with the pup.

“We really do think he’s got a bright future. We rate the dog. As you watch his Capalaba runs he’s learning every week.”

Lindsay was happy to see Balmaha pick up box three for Sunday’s race, which is worth $3,700.

“I think the draw is good. It depends on how the two (Around The Twist) comes out,” he said.

“They were very impressive. We’ve got to come out and do everything right.

“And, I think if we do, we’ll be very hard to hold out. With his run last week, he’s just getting better and better out of the boxes. It’s a good race and hopefully we’ll be there at the finish.”

Lindsay said conditioning his dogs on a 400-acre macadamia farm at Beerwah was perfect for their physical and mental development.

“We’re really lucky here. A friend of mine owns it and we just caretake it for him,” he said.

“And, that’s why we got back into dogs, after I was out for five or six years.

“It’s such a beautiful spot for dogs. We go walking and we’ve got a lot of forestry and macadamia trees. It’s just a good atmosphere for the dogs.”