Quarman’s best time in greyhounds about to get better

By Pat McLeod

Moreton Bay trainer John Quarman hopes his best time in greyhound racing reaches its high point on Thursday night in the Final of the prestigious Winged Runner Trophy on the Q2 Parklands track.

Quarman will campaign the talented Idea’s Girl (box two) in the extremely tough bitches-only feature.

“I actually remember the dog the race is named after, but I have never had a dog that I thought was good enough to be in this race,” the Elimbah-based conditioner said.

“Idea’s Girl has been great for me. She has just come on in leaps and bounds (27 wins, 16 placings and $106,640 in prizemoney from 58 starts).

“This is a very good field and a really nice race. I am just stoked to have a dog of this quality that can be in it.

“I have really enjoyed racing this whole litter. They have given me the best time that I have had in greyhound racing.

“I generally just breed a litter every four or five years and race them. So, I race what I get."

Quarman did not anticipate racing a litter with this much quality.

“Up until this litter I have mainly just had competitive fifth grade dogs," he said. 

“But, this litter just seems to be that bit better. I am certainly happy with them.

“Idea’s Girl is my best ever race dog. Her mother (Some Idea) was the best that I had raced, but that was up until this one came along.

“Idea’s Girl is a real competitor. She just loves racing and fortunately she also loves winning, as well.”

The Ferdinand Boy and Some Idea chaser will need all her proven tenacity to prevail on Thursday night.

On her inside (box one) is Sandra Hunt’s Mustang Hayze, who is the feature’s defending champion. In fact, Hunt will be chasing a trio of Winged Runner victories, having also saluted with Kahlo Hayze in 2024.

However, as Quarman acknowledges, there is a potential winner exiting every box.

“There are plenty of dangers right across this field,” he said.

“It is just a good, hard race and I don't believe you could stand out anyone.

“For example, Tom Tzouvelis’ dog (Zipping Lee in box three) beat us on the Q1 a month or so ago. So, as I say, dangers all around.”

Quarman says Idea’s Girl doesn’t have to lead to win.

“She has been leading, which is good, however she can also come from behind,” he said.

“I think as long as she gets racing room, she will be hard to beat.

“If this does pan out to be a close race and she is close enough, she is certainly a dog that wants to win.”

This will be Idea’s Girl’s first race start on the Q2.

However, Quarman does not believe that will be an issue on Thursday night

“She had been going so well on the one-turn, I just hadn't bothered to put her across on the Q2,” he said.

“But, I bit the bullet and all she has had is a 300 metre trial on the track a fortnight ago.

“I don't think the track change will bother her too much. She is just a hard chaser, no matter where she is. She will just chase.”

The Winged Runner Trophy is named after one of the greats of Queensland greyhound racing, who was also trained by another ‘great’, the late John Reimer.

The legendary female chaser won the Group 1 Nutrience Cup (now known as the Gold Bullion) back in 1999 and was judged Queensland Greyhound of the Year in 2000.

At one stage she held the record for the most wins at the Albion Park track (32).