Lemon Slice on Young Guns path

By Josh Spasaro

A change of scenery – such as walks at Ross Dam – has been all Lemon Slice has needed to find some form.

The two-year-old bitch has been excellent for North Queensland trainer Danny Preh since being moved to his kennel from owner Michael Pandelakis three starts ago.

In that time, she has won twice and finished third.

Lemon Slice starts from box six in the third Townsville Young Guns heat over 498 metres at Townsville on Tuesday night.

Before her first start with her Kelso-based trainer she had four wins.

Now, the Mr. Audacious and Chatterbox Tilly chaser has six victories from 25 starts.

“Just a different environment (has helped her),” Preh said.

“I said to him (Pandelakis) ‘do you want me to give her a go with a change of scenery?’

“He’s let me train her for a while and she’s going really well.          

“And he said, ‘go on, before I change my mind’. I said: ‘I’ll give her a go’.

“I do a lot of things out of the box with the dogs. I walk them at Ross Dam. Something different. And, she’s thriving on it.”

Indeed, Lemon Slice is thriving so much around nature that Preh can struggle to keep up with her at times.

“I’ve done a bit of hill walking to tighten up her muscles and make them harder. And, she drags me up,” he said.

“We walk the dam and she drags me up there. I’m pulling her back and she’s building up her muscles.

“She’s very keen. I said to Michael that something sparked in her and we’ve just got to keep her that way.

“We’ve got to keep her sound; that’s the main thing. She’s had a couple of niggling injuries that do come back and we’re trying to stay on top of it.”

Lemon Slice has shown that same kind of eagerness on the track.

“She’s only 25kg. Her last start was huge because she got (caught up in heavy traffic) and still ran third,” Preh said.

“She’s shown that commitment and not given up. I think she could be really good.”

Pandelakis has previously spoken about how much Lemon Slice likes an inside box.

She has landed the six lane for Tuesday night’s $4,880 race.

“When she did well out of the seven, we expected her to crash really hard to the left,” Preh said.

“We’re hoping she uses that track sense on the 498 metre start. The five dog (Canya Wow Me) has never run on that track.

“And, I know the eight (Jimmy Jax) can come out as well, but he’s hit and miss.

“If she gets a bit of luck at the start, I think she’s going to be hard to beat.”

Preh believes Carol Pickard's two-year-old bitch Mick’s Belle – with two consecutive wins – will offer a stern challenge.

“I think Carol Pickard’s dog will be the one to beat, the two,” he said.

“We’ve got to be sitting on its hammer. I don’t think we can run it down if we’re too far back. We’ve got to get some luck. But, otherwise, she’s ready to go.

“It’s her last chance for a Young Guns. I haven’t won a Young Guns. I just want the trophy.”

Preh is renowned for the love and care he has for all his dogs.

He is training five at the moment, including Ashy Bear, who he was also happy to take from Jackie and Bradley Belford.

“Jackie Belford really wanted me to train Ashy Bear. She said ‘we know what you’re like with dogs and this dog needs that’,” he said.

“She’s going all right, too. I’ve had her for five starts now for two wins, a second, a third and a fifth.

“She was unlucky in a 498 metre race last week. She led all the way until the last metre. I love all of them.

“We just retired Ivy’s Girl. We found a home already for her, but they’re not taking her until June. So, we’re keeping her and getting her prepared for her new home.”