Ardle kennel after Young Guns prize

By Josh Spasaro

Owner of Lenard Clyde, and trainer, Tony Apap says his greyhounds eat better than he does.

His two-year-old dog – conditioned by Horseshoe Lagoon-based Heath Ardle – lines up in the Townsville Young Guns Final over 498 metres from box eight on Tuesday night.

“They get eggs and grilled liver and I have a piece of toast and coffee for breakfast,” Apap said.

“They’ve got air conditioning and heaters. They’ve got everything.

“And, we stay with them seven days a week. I take them out so many times a day.”

Lenard Clyde gets the same treatment under Ardle’s care, who loves taking his dogs for river walks.

“I’ve sent a lot of dogs to Townsville. It’s been a good place for me to send them,” Apap, who is based at Gatton, said.

“Heath Ardle has done a good job with him. He’s always had the ability. I sent the other brother up to him from the previous litter, Jimmy Roo, and he’s won over $100,000, which is big.”

Apap has been pleased with Lenard Clyde’s past two starts.

He was runner-up in his Young Guns heat last Tuesday night and a one-and-a-half length winner in the QGOLD Final at Townsville on February 17.

“He’s in there and while he’s in there, he’s got a chance,” he said.

“He came off winning the start before last, the QGOLD Final. So, he’s definitely got the ability. He’s got the eight.

“He’s a little bit tardy early, so I don’t know if it’ll suit him all that great.

“That’s my only doubt with him.”

The chaser with five victories from 23 starts won the QGOLD Final with $16 winning odds.

“It was a pleasant surprise. To win a $10,000 (to the winner) race in Townsville, it was great,” Apap said.

“But, we know he’s good.”

Lenard Clyde has placed in four of his past five starts and Apap believes he can start turning those into wins, beginning on Tuesday night.

“Most definitely. He’s got the ability. He went 28.60 seconds (in the QGOLD Final), which is up there with the best of them,” he said.

“But, I think he’s got to have an inside draw. If he can draw decent boxes here and there, he will win some more races.”

By Sennachie, Lenard Clyde is out of Kisses For Cloda, with the Worm Burner bitch saluting on 14 occasions from 44 starts for Apap.

“She was a very good racing bitch. She ran times at Ipswich. She went 30.50 seconds (over 520 metres) at Ipswich and she broke 30 at Albion Park.

“Ray Fewings owns her in Adelaide. She was aggressive. But, he’s got the temperament.”

Apap, turning 68 this year, has ideal conditions to train his six greyhounds in work on his 112-acre property.

“I’ve got everything. I’m lucky,” he said.

“I’ve got a straight, five-acre galloping paddock, sprint lines and bull ring. I’ve got everything, but I’m slowing down.

“You’ve got to do something. Two bung knees don’t help much either, but we’ll just keep poking along.”

Meanwhile, Apap said he was looking forward to seeing two maiden chasers – Sagacious Syd and Ellidy – start race one at Q1 Lakeside on Tuesday night.

“Both are by Fernando Bale and out of Golden Joy and in the same race,” he said.