Lound set for Townsville Country Cup heats

By Josh Spasaro

Veteran North Queensland trainer Robert Lound is happy with the way Blue Marine has been bred going into the second Country Cup heat at Townsville on Tuesday night.

The three-year-old dog is by Shima Shine and out of Lovely Stunner, who saluted in 14 of her 40 starts.

In a competitive heat featuring standout North Queensland chasers Jackknifed, Time Passages and Southpaw Mcgraw, Blue Marine will start from box six.

He has placed in five of his past six starts.

“He’s a nice dog. He’ll go well. He’s well drawn,” Lound said.

“I’ve got four of her (Lovely Stunner) pups left - Blue Marine, Princess Toes, Shine On Ski and Shine On Bruiser.

“They’re going well. Lovely Stunner was a short-course chaser and Shima Shine could run 500 metres, no worries.”

Lound will also oversee fellow three-year-old dogs On Report and Ben Tango, who will jump from box four and five, respectively, in the first Country Cup heat.

Both heats are over 498 metres.

Lound’s two chasers in the first heat have also been consistently placing in recent starts.

On Report has finished third in his past three starts and Ben Tango has recorded three seconds in his past four races.

“I think On Report will do well,” the 69-year-old conditioner said.

“He’s just got to draw the box on the inside. He’s been drawn outside all the time. That’s not too bad (picking up box four). He looks real good.”

Ben Tango – with 19 wins from 73 starts – struggled from the one box when he finished sixth at Townsville last Tuesday night.

He should not have the same problem when exiting from the five lane on Tuesday night.

“He doesn’t like the inside. Last week he had box one for the first time,” Lound said.

“But, he likes in the middle or out wide. Yes, I am (happy how he’s drawn). He’s got a heap of seconds and thirds for me. He’ll go well.”

Meanwhile, Lound was happy with how a couple of his chasers by Bernardo and out of his bitch, No Regrets, performed at Townsville last Friday.

Tiny’s Regret and Tipsy Regret finished second and third in a maiden over 380 metres.

No Regrets won 26 races from 95 starts.

“She was a real good bitch. She’s held track records here for nearly four years,” Lound said.

“Her pups are only just starting to race. They’re going OK.”