Hazelgrove slipping towards QGOLD honours

By Jordan Gerrans

Buccan dog man Brett Hazelgrove has a daily reminder of his greatest triumphs in the sport when he gives his retired speed machine Dam Slippery a pat and hug at his kennel.

The champion bitch has not been at the races for more than five years but the Queensland Greyhound of the Year from 2019 is living out her days in a life of luxury with her trainer.

Dam Slippery was a hero for Queensland during the 2019 State of Origin series against New South Wales.

She shares Hazelgrove’s kennel block alongside his current stars, including Wise Kevin and Star Assassin who go searching for QGOLD riches on Saturday evening.

There will be eight QGOLD Finals on the Q1 Lakeside track on Saturday night, which signals the start of the Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival.

The opening evening of the carnival showcases the best of the locally-bred chasers in the Sunshine State and veteran conditioner Hazelgrove says it is a key element of the industry.

“It is a great thing that gives you incentive to breed your own dogs,” he said.

“The money cannot be taken interstate; it is for Queensland-based dogs.

“They are all local dogs, so it is great to see up here. The QGOLD races gives you something to look forward to.”

Star Assassin has drawn the coveted one alley for the QGOLD Blitz Final over 352 metres.

The black dog was a heat winner in 19.67 seconds from the four lane and he boasts an imposing record with the red rug on his back. 

Star Assassin has started from the one position on 10 occasions and has collected four wins and five minor placings.

The QGOLD Blitz Final offers a prize pool of $20,100.

“Star Assassin shocked me a little,” Hazelgrove said of last week’s heat performance.

“He is getting on a bit now, but he did everything right. He never puts a bad race in, the dog. He is pretty good and always has been good.

“To be in a Final, you are always a chance, so it is good to get there.”

The experienced trainer described Star Assassin as a ‘beautiful’ animal that has a great nature.

Hazelgrove prepares a kennel of 10 and says he treats his chasers like they are his children.

He mainly races his own breed of greyhounds and has a few owners for others in his kennel.

Hazelgrove says he enjoys sitting in his kennel block listening to country music with his beloved animals.

Kennelmate Wise Kevin ran into second in last week’s QGOLD Veterans heat and has drawn the seven for the decider.

The son of Tommy Shelby has been in stunning form in recent weeks.

Before running second in the heat, Wise Kevin had won his last four starts.

The blue and white dog has not missed the money in his last 10 race day efforts.

“He has been going good lately following a bit of straight racing,” Hazelgrove said of Wise Kevin’s recent form.

“I have been mixing it up with a bit of one-turn racing, as well.

“He is a dog who always puts in and gives everything every time he goes on the track.

“He should be right in the race. He is a very competitive dog.”

Hazelgrove has recently sent off a group of Dam Slippery’s pups to be broken in and he has high hopes that they may follow in her famous footsteps. 

The deeds of Dam Slippery delivered the veteran trainer his best moments in the sport.

Dam Slippery edged out Bago Bye Bye and Wise Misty for the Sunshine State’s top gong after finishing the year with an incredible 27 placings from 35 starts including 13 wins.

The highlights included victories in the Richmond Oaks and the State of Origin, along with placings in the National Futurity, Queensland Futurity and Townsville Cup.

As Hazelgrove is searching for his next champion these days, he says he appreciates Dam Slippery’s career more and more every day.

“It was very exciting,” he said.

“She proved she was good enough, the Richmond Oaks and the State of Origin race up here – they were spectacular wins.

“She just kept chipping away and won some good races during her career. They were quite a few good years there with her.

“Dogs like her do not come around every day, it could be a once in 10-year thing – maybe a once in 20-year thing.”

Hazelgrove can recall the days when a 14-month-old bitch walked into his kennel after being turned away by a couple of other trainers in 2018.

The bitch would become Dam Slippery.

“She seemed to be something special from the day we broke her in,” he said.

“She was very quick early and we went through the grades.

“She was a very successful race bitch over the couple of years. She is still here today with me at my property and she is a very special one, that one.”