Holiday break is over for Townsville chaser

By Jordan Gerrans

It was not long ago that the Belford kennel was considering retiring the classy On Holidays, but the blue dog is back near his best after breaking a Townsville track record earlier this month. 

Not yet three years of age, On Holidays has racked up three consecutive victories at the North Queensland venue, with his latest triumph in Tuesday’s Anzac Day Trophy Final. 

That was his first run over 498 metres in recent weeks after three efforts over the shorter 380 metre sprint trip. 

When he was running over the speed trip, On Holidays lowered the track record at the Townsville venue, which was previously held by local star Plum Tuckered.

Plum Tuckered scorched the track to go 21.35 seconds in late 2023.

The Belford-owned and prepared On Holidays scored in 21.34 seconds on the 14^th of April to just lower the mark.

The training team of Jackie and Bradley Belford seriously considered retiring their classy chaser before his recent form reversal.

“It has taken a lot of work getting there, he's had a few things wrong with him,” trainer Jackie said.

“He's had some niggly injuries. We started him a few times when he came back from Brisbane and he didn’t go well.

“We started again, then he tore a muscle and we had to start all over again with him. 

"But, this time we think we have got him back, well, touch wood.

“He's going as good as he's ever gone. We were concerned at one stage that we weren't going to get him back. But, anyway, he's back now.”

Before his hat-trick run of performances, On Holidays had not won in his last seven attempts dating back to December of last year.

Prior to that, the son of Aston Rupee was an absolute winning machine.

Between August of last year and January of 2026, On Holidays ran in the top three on 18 straight occasions, which included 14 victories.

On top of his imposing record at Townsville, the impressive chaser also won at Q1 Lakeside and down the Q Straight.  

While the Belfords train all their dogs as a team, Bradley is usually listed as the trainer in the form guide. 

On Holidays runs under Jackie’s racing name.

The veteran couple explained that if they own a chaser themselves, the dog will run for Jackie but if the greyhound is owned by other connections, they will compete under Bradley’s kennel. 

As On Holidays has now stepped back up to 498 metres in Tuesday’s Anzac Day Trophy Final romp, the kennel now has their eye on the Townsville Cup later this year with the in-form runner. 

The Townsville Cup series will be run through August and September. 

Following On Holidays’ poor run of form, the Belford team changed up a few things with his training methods behind the scenes at their home kennel and it has worked wonders.

Long based in NQ, the Belfords shifted to South East Queensland for a short period in recent years but are back in Townsville now with a reduced number of chasers compared to their previous operation.

After breaking the 380 metre track record, Bradley thinks the 498 metre mark is also in danger if On Holidays continues on his way. 

The 498 metre track record is held by champion chaser Daysea’s Rory who set it in a heat of the Townsville Cup last year. 

Daysea’s Rory went 28.17 seconds on that occasion in a blistering performance.

“He had his first 500 metre race the other night and I didn't know if he'd be underdone,” Bradley said.

“He goes good and he will improve out of sight after running 28.41 seconds.

“It's a bit scary what he did because we did think he was underdone after running over the shorter trip.

“If he does everything right and keeps improving, he will probably give Rory’s record a shake. He loves to gallop the dog.”

On Holidays is likely to be back at the races on Tuesday of next week at Townsville.