Lindsay rejoiced to break track record under his banner

By Jordan Gerrans

After being involved with numerous track record-breaking performances back home in New Zealand as a youngster, Regency Downs dog man Lindsay Joyce says it is a monumental moment to finally have one in his own name.

The proud Kiwi and his kennel favourite Sivo Banner set a new fast mark for the Q Straight 300 metre distance on Sunday of last week when the chaser scorched the surface in 16.43 seconds.

As the Q Straight is only a new racing surface in the Sunshine State, it was previously held by Tiger Jordy with a 16.53 second performance, which was set in late June by the Bradley Woods-prepared animal.

Joyce owns and trains Sivo Banner and he was chuffed to see the black dog score in convincing fashion from the six alley in a fifth grade event.

“To have at track record in my own name, that is particularly good,” he said.

“He is an extremely professional dog and does everything like a routine, nothing changes.”

When he was only a teenager, Joyce’s mother Sonia prepared a kennel of chasers in New Zealand.

He was hands-on with the team, who broke a number of track records in their home country at tracks such as Palmerston North and others.

After helping his mother out in the early days and training on his own in the early 2000s, Joyce shifted across the ditch to Sydney in March of 2012 where he was a hobby trainer for a long time while working in the car industry.

Now preparing a crop of seven greyhounds in the Sunshine State, he is thrilled to be full-time with his beloved dogs.

“I thought enough is enough of working, I wanted to chase my passion of racing greyhounds,” he said.

“I don’t think I will ever lose the passion in this game, because you are dealing with your greyhounds and they give you so much joy.

“It gives you a good reason to do what you do.

“We look after our greyhounds and treat them like athletes.”

In setting a new fast mark for the 300 metre trip on the Q Straight, Sivo Banner also broke the record for the second sectional of the event, going 9.95 seconds in the process.

While breaking track records usually comes down to luck, Joyce says he and kennel lieutenant Sam Greentree have had the plan in the works for some time.

Sivo Banner had been running near the track record in the weeks before he did lower the mark.

But, the only problem is that the three-year-old chaser is an overly affectionate dog to his owner and trainer, which can sidetrack him when it comes to his racing pursuits.

So, Joyce and Greentree concocted a plan to not box and catch Sivo Banner at the races last Sunday, as they got other people to perform the roles, so he would keep his mind on the job.

It worked wonders as he ran the fastest-ever time at the new track.

“We were planning to break it,” Joyce said.

“He probably should have gone quicker. Sam and I watched the race and it worked out a treat.

“There were some pretty good celebrations for it.”

The son of Feral Franky will head back to the Q Straight this Sunday before his trainer says he will go for a quick freshen up and return to the facility and race over the longer 350 metre trip.

Greentree owns a few chasers with the team, including Red Tap and others.