Robynne’s baby on track to be a Young Gun

By Josh Spasaro

Robynne Black loves breeding and training greyhounds so much that she hates it when it’s time to give them to new owners.

But, if Snack Dragon keeps winning for her, she could have the pleasure of looking after him on her Rosevale property near Ipswich for some years to come.

The two-year-old fawn dog will start from box seven in the second Capalaba Young Guns heat over 366 metres on Sunday.

“I love breeding. But, I always hoped to not have many puppies. I don’t like selling them,” Black said.

“We like to hang onto them because they’re our babies. It makes it a little difficult. I like all of it."

With two wins from as many starts, Snack Dragon appears to be a quick learner.

And, Black is expecting him to be competitive in Sunday’s straight sprint worth $3,700, despite his last start being back on January 14.

“He had a trial a week ago and he came up pretty good, so I’ll see how he goes,” she said.

Snack Dragon will run in a strong heat that features Zipping Lipa and Sheriff for champion conditioner Tom Tzouvelis.

Zipping Lipa and Sheriff have both won on 10 occasions. 

Jane’s Jet also has 10 victories from 27 starts for Bob Giltinan.

“He’s only had the two starts, so that’s his only downfall, really,” Black said of her youngster.

“He hasn’t got the experience in the field that the other dogs have got. He smashed through his two starts. But, these ones have got some serious speed on them.

“It’ll be good for him if he does get into the Final because he’ll only be better for the run.”

Black said Snack Dragon will enjoy starting from box seven. It is the same lane where he has saluted in his only two career starts.

“He’s had the same box for both of his starts and he’s in the seven again,” she said.

“He’s the sort of dog who just wants to be in front of the other dogs. Even when we walk them down to the boxes, he’s got to out-walk them.

“He’s just that kind of dog. He’s more about competing than anything else.”

Snack Dragon is by prolific sire Just The Best and out of Black’s unraced dam Reward.

“It’s a bit hard to tell (Snack Dragon’s traits) yet because he’s so young. He’s only just started out,” she said.

“He’s a very professional type of dog. Once he gets to the track he’s all about business. He’s not into having a cuddle before the run, unlike his brother, Motion Activated.

“His mother never raced, but her brother Bossin It actually won a Group race.

“And, her mother, Imposing Jett, won the Bogie Leigh Futurity in 2011."

Black said Snack Dragon was named after his ‘foster mother’, a big borzoi pet bitch.

“We just lost her. She was his foster mother,” she said.

“She just loved the puppies. She played with them all the time. That’s who she was named after – she just loved her snacks.

“She was a big fluffy dog, a Russian wolfhound. And, the pups used to snuggle up to her.”

Black added Reward was also now enjoying plenty of love and attention on the couch at home.

“She’s good. She’s here on the lounge. She’ll be 12 in May. She had the litter quite late in life, but they all did well,” she said.

“The last litter I had to Reward’s aunty (Vivacity and by Just The Best).

“I was offered a lot of money for them, but knocked them back. That’s always the way.”