Stella says Capalaba Cup level is now at a record height

By Pat McLeod

Greg Stella already has a Capalaba Cup in his trophy cabinet but is in awe of what it will take to add another.

The Brisbane-based conditioner won the 2011 version of the now rich straight track spectacle with Rylee’s Enforcer and has the very handy Adjourned exiting box two in Sunday’s fourth of six Capalaba Cup heats. 

However, he says just progressing past the heats is a daunting task.

“I have been racing at Capalaba since about 1991 and I have never seen the depth in straight track racing that we have at the moment,” Stella said.

“There have always been good straight track dogs around, but not the depth that we have at the moment.

“The bar has risen. A number of interstate trainers have relocated to this region and interstate owners and trainers are sending their dogs here because of the prizemoney on offer.

“If you have a specialist straight track dog, then if you were from anywhere else in Australia you would be looking at sending it to Capalaba.

“So, you have depth in the locals and you also have plenty of interstaters coming just for this race series. My dog, Adjourned, is a top grade dog at Capalaba, but he is only a chance on Sunday.

“I have seen some of the interstaters trial (Brendan Pursell’s Serial Sticker and Tim Britton’s Great Terms and Mepunga Rocky). 

“Those dogs are about three lengths quicker than Adjourned. That is the reality. Yes, we have the local advantage, but they are fast dogs.”

Adjourned certainly likes the Capalaba track. 

He has raced there 16 times for 10 wins and three placings with a fastest time of 19.48 seconds. 

But, Stella believes he will need everything to go right to progress to the $75,000-to-the-winner Group 2 finale.

“I will not be going into this series with any confidence whatsoever,” Stella said.

“I am happy with how the dog is travelling at the moment and if we made the Final we would be rapt. But, Adjourned is an older dog (three-and-a-half years old) I don't think he could improve on his fastest time.

“In these races it is all about getting a clear run, because there are probably four or five dogs who can run as quick my dog can.

“He is drawn OK where he is in the two box, although his preferred box in competitive fields like this is box eight. 

“He can handle the inside and so it just depends on how good he gets away. I am just happy to be there and I know that he is a chance if everything goes right.”

Despite the influx of the interstate invaders, Stella believes the box draw puts Jeff Crawford’s Blue Blend (box six) and Tom Tzouvelis’ Secret Story (box four) in the box seats.

“I saw Blue Blend trial in the morning the other day and he trialed as fast as any dog does on trial day,” Stella said.

“The six box is OK for him, although eight would have been perfect. He just needs a stride to balance up and has the vacant box on his inside, which is a big help.

“The same for Secret Story who has recorded a 19.25 and 19.27 second run at Capalaba and is drawn perfectly right behind the lure.

“With a vacant box outside him he will be even harder to beat.

“With the vacant boxes to give them that little extra room these two are the heavy hitters that is for sure. The one certainty, it will be another great day of racing.”