Sagai Miss won’t wilt against tough Capalaba opposition

By Josh Spasaro

Sagai Miss might have 21 wins to her name and from a very good litter, but Tivoli co-trainer Garry Gilbert gave her a humble assessment, saying she isn’t a standout champion.

Still, with over $84,000 in career prizemoney after 93 starts, he admires her never-say-die attitude.

The three-year-old bitch will start from box two in the $3,550 Free For All feature over 366 metres at Capalaba on Sunday, in what is a small but quality five-dog field.

The Fernando Bale-She’s Whistling chaser brings good form to the weekend, winning three of her past four starts in different fashion and conditions, showing her adaptability and class.

On the Q1 Lakeside one-turn track over 457 metres, she led all the way from box six, but held off a fast-finishing Hara’s Thor at the post on January 27.

At Q Straight over 350 metres, she fought back to edge out Marina Bay on the line from box two on February 5.

And last start from box five at Capalaba three days later, she was dominant – particularly with a strong burst inside the final 50 metres – to salute by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

“She’s been good. She tries. She’s a very good chaser. But she’s better on the circle than what she is on the straight, even though she’s done well on the straight,” Gilbert said.

“She’s from a very successful litter. If you look up the litter they’ve won 140 races and over $570,000 in prizemoney.

“She’s just a good honest bitch. She’s no champion or anything like that, but she just tries every time.”

Gilbert raced the dam of Sagai Miss, She’s Whistling, who picked up 12 victories from 59 starts for over $26,000 in prizemoney.

“Gary Dodt owns She’s Whistling, and this is her first litter to race by Fernando Bale,” he said.

“She won 12 races and she was a very good bitch.

“She’s got another litter. She’s got 10 pups to Tommy Shelby. They’re about 11 months old.

“And she had one more pup to Fernando Bale, who’s about a month old.

“She’s been a fabulous brood bitch. Everything is perfect with her. We’ve had no problems with her at all.”

Despite the above superlatives, She’s Whistling has always known when to assert her authority.

“She was very dominant for a bitch, though. She was a boss when she was around. She kept them all in line,” Gilbert said.

“Brent Kline bred her out of Isla’s Style. And Isla’s Style has been a pretty successful brood bitch.

“Just a really successful line. (Grafton Cup winner) Badger’s Beast is out of Isla’s Style, who’s a half-brother to She’s Whistling.

“If you have a look at the (Fernando Bale-She’s Whistling) litter, they’ve all won races.

“The best one of the lot in the litter was a bitch called It Wasn’t Me. She’s got eight pups to Bernardo.

“The one who’s won the most was Whistle Away. He also won 21 starts (and $119,328) in prizemoney.”

Despite her recent form, Gilbert said Sagai Miss will have her work cut out at Capalaba on Sunday.

The honest bitch will be up against just four competitors, but she will have Secret Story from the one on her inside.

The two-year-old dog has 17 wins from 29 starts for champion trainer Tom Tzouvelis.

And to her outside from the four with the three lane vacant, Daysea’s Kurt has 20 victories from 72 starts.

“She’ll just try her bum off. But I couldn’t find a race for her. Last Monday she became eligible for Masters,” Gilbert said.

“So, if she comes through on Sunday, the Masters either next Thursday or Saturday will be her main mission.”

Meanwhile, Garry and Leanne Gilbert might only have four dogs in their small operation, but some more hard chasers are on the way.

“We had a bitch called She’s Got Moves, who’s no relation to She’s Whistling,” he said.

“By Orson Allen and out of You Angel You, there was a dog called Queenslander in that litter, who won 14 races.

“She’s got seven pups to Feral Franky. And her sister we hope is also in pup. She was the best in the litter – a bitch called She’s In Clover.

“She could run between 500 and 700 metres. She’s been tested and supposedly has six pups by Feral Franky that are due in about three weeks.”