Greyhound tracing towards Gold Cup crown

By Josh Spasaro

Without A Trace’s owner and breeder Darren Puleio knows they’re coming for her in the Gold Cup Final at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

And, despite the apparent ease of his talented bitch’s previous three Group 1 victories, he knows she won’t get any favours from her opponents over 710 metres this week.

In just the past three months, the precocious bitch, who turns three on April 21, has claimed the Topgun Stayers, Bold Trease and Sale Cup. 

So, Puleio believes another elite-level victory in the Gold Cup Final would make her a staying legend for Devon Meadows trainer Peter Presutto.

“The first two we were fairly confident with both of those. And, the Sale Cup was a bit of a bonus,” Puleio said.

“This one here, if she can do this one, as well, it puts her into a different league, I suppose.

“There are plenty of dogs who have won multiple Group races. But, to do them in a row is difficult. I think that’s testament to Pete and the way he’s been training her. He’s managed her perfectly, really.”

Without A Trace’s victory in the Sale Cup was so dominant on January 3, crossing the line in 36.06 seconds, that she shattered Canya All Class’s previous record by two full lengths.

And, the scary thing for her opponents is not just the fact that she is not yet three years old.

But, also, that she can back off her pace so easily, before finding again on the home straight.

“It (Sale Cup) was sort of a throw at the stumps. Being a 600 metre dog we know she can sprint,” Puleio said.

“But, her racing methods have changed. She’s got a bit of a flat spot probably at the 500 metre mark.

“Then she comes again, which was what we were hoping she’d do at the Sale Cup. And, she did that. She was all class.”

Without A Trace – with 17 wins from 27 starts and already over $400,000 in prizemoney – also knows how to win well when she’s not at her best.

She blitzed the field in her Gold Cup heat to salute by six lengths, crossing the line in a sizzling 41.06 seconds.

The brilliant stayer has also picked up the coveted one box for her next Group 1 assignment on Thursday night.

“She’s drawn well. We felt she was a little bit flat last week maybe after the drive up,” Puleio said.

“The fact she’s going to stay here (in Victoria) this week, we’re hoping she might pick up a bit better.

“But, obviously there are a couple of good chances in it like Magpie Hector and Jay Walking flew the other day. So, they’re coming for her. She is pretty classy. We still think she’s a top chance.”

Puleio added Presutto had nothing but love and care towards his kennel star.

“He’s all heart and soul and it’s a real family affair with Nat and the kids. We’ve got a lot of dogs with Pete and his wife and he hasn’t let us down at all,” he said.

“He’s just a genuine bloke. All our trainers are pretty good people. They all try their best and we’re just lucky enough we’ve been able to get a good one.

“We’ve got a couple of good ones. We managed to get one through to the Warragul Cup Final as well (Off The Chart).

“So that helps.”

In all three of Without A Trace’s Group 1 victories, she was simply too good for her opponents.

You just need to look at her eyes to see how much she loves racing against the best in Australia.

“She just loves to run, as simple as that. She really does,” Puleio said.

“When Pete doesn’t gallop her, she growls at him and barks at him and tells him it’s time. Then he’s got to go gallop her. She’s a funny sort of dog. Like all of them she’s happy to lie down.

“But, when she wants to gallop, she’ll put on a song and dance. He’ll ignore her and then it gets to a point where he goes ‘geez’, and he goes out and gives her a gallop.

“She comes back and goes to bed and she’s happy as Larry again. She has come from behind as well. But, I’d say 90 percent of her races that she’s won she’s led from start to finish. She’s got a lot of ability, for sure.”

Puleio – who oversees Group 1 champion stud dogs Hooked On Scotch, Aston Rupee and Canya All Class, among others – also bred Without A Trace’s dam, My Reflection.

She picked up five wins from 11 starts, before injury led to her being retired.

Her final two starts were victories over 600 metres and Puleio said Without A Trace exhibits similar chasing traits over longer distances.

“She’s our breed. She’s the same as her mother,” he said of his bitch by Houdini Boy.

“We just stepped her up to 600 metres and we thought she could stay. Jason (Thompson) put her up over 600 metres and she won in a real good time in her first time over 60 metres.

“And, in the second week she still won. We retired her and wanted to breed with her. Her (Without A Trace’s) racing is very similar.

“People say ‘she’s Houdini Boy and that’s how he raced’. If you look at her mother’s races at The Meadows over 600 metres, she actually gallops the same as her mother.

“Obviously, she does (take after Houdini Boy) with her strength as well. But, her racing style is like her mum’s. That was her last litter. We only had two litters with her.”