Dominant start the winning strategy for Consigliere in Flying Amy Classic

By Josh Spasaro

Consigliere is a well-bred black dog who has never given owner-breeder Andy Lord any hassles.

Indeed, you could say the same about his triumphant performance in the Group 1 Flying Amy Classic at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

Jumping from box two and getting to the lead by the first turn, it was a near-flawless effort from the two-year-old, who was handled on the night by master Queensland trainer Tony Brett.

Once the Bernardo-Bandit Jane chaser established his early lead, he never looked like getting beaten, crossing the line in 29.54 seconds in the 520-metre feature worth $225,000.

On his inside the $1.45 favourite, Winsome Jet, just couldn’t find the momentum to catch up with him on the back straight.

Consigliere then showed great stamina to hold on while on the front straight.

“It was a good run. Once he led, I thought he’d keep going and win,” Lord said.

“The red was behind him, and he’s a good, strong dog. But Consigliere is strong too.”

From the early days when Lord was educating the talented juvenile dog at his 40-acre Clover Park facility near Goulburn in New South Wales’ Southern Tablelands, he knew he had the temperament to succeed at the elite level.

Trained by top Victorian conditioner Jason Thompson, Consigliere now has 13 wins from 30 starts, with over $340,000 in prizemoney.

“He is a beautiful dog. He’s not a dog who gives you any trouble,” Lord said.

“From the start we thought he’d be good. He broke in good and he’s always been a fast dog.”

There are a couple of litter siblings who have also started their chasing careers in fine fashion.

“It’s a good litter and there’s Classy Bandit,” Lord said.

“She won the Zoom Top at Goulburn last year, and Magic Bandit won the Group 1 National Futurity. It’s a very good litter.”

Lord said working with some of the best trainers in Australia in Brett and Thompson meant there was never any doubt over Consigliere’s next assignment.

That will be the Group 1 Brisbane Cup also over 520 metres, with the final worth $1 million at Q2 Parklands on July 11.

“Jason plans it all out. He knew six weeks before what he was doing,” Lord said.

“With the money on offer there, you’ve got to have a crack at it, haven’t you?”

On a bumper evening of Queensland greyhound racing, the other two significant winners on Thursday night were Cumbria Jack and Gold Force in the respective Cyndie’s Magic and Mach 10 finals.

Both are Group 2 features.

From box four, Cumbria Jack was a dominant two-and-a-quarter length winner of his 600-metre event, crossing the line in 34.20 seconds.

Sent north by New South Wales conditioner Stephen Fitch, this year’s Richmond Derby and The Ambrosoli winner was also handled by Brett on Thursday night.

The Fernando Bale-Cumbria Ninno black dog was the raging $1.25 favourite after a stunning heat performance saw him prevail by 10-and-a-quarter lengths.

Gold Force also continued his recent dominance, with Michelle Sultana’s three-year-old black dog saluting by two lengths in the Mach 10 Final over 350 metres at Q Straight.

This year’s Bulli Gold Cup and Ipswich Cup winner crossed the line in 18.60 seconds.