McCluggage continues impressive rise at Capalaba

By Josh Spasaro

Like the star Brisbane Lions midfielder he is named after, McCluggage has a big, strong build, bucking the trend for Fernando Bale chasers.

The 21-month-old will jump from box two over 366 metres at Capalaba on Sunday.

He has started his career in fine fashion, with five wins from eight starts, and if he claims the rail early, he should be hard to beat.

The blue dog has a physical appearance to match the early talent he has displayed in his young chasing career.

Hassell Rolph trains McCluggage. Hassell is assisted by Stephen Rolph to prepare the chaser.

“Everyone says Fernando Bale dogs aren’t renowned for being big dogs. But, he’s nearly 33kg. And, his two brothers are 28kg and 29kg,” Stephen Rolph said.

“So, he’s big for a Fernando and he looks the part.”

Stephen Rolph conditions McCluggage with his father, Hassell, as part of a small operation based at Arana Hills.

He said he wasn’t a big AFL fan and wouldn’t be able to identify Lions midfielder, Hugh McCluggage, if he saw him out in public.

“To be honest, I wouldn’t know him if I fell over him. My son and two of his mates follow the dogs with interest,” Stephen Rolph said.

“He said ‘can I put in a name?’ And, he said McCluggage. He’s a big Lions fan and he loves McCluggage.

“Since then, I’ve been following the AFL. We’re a rugby league family.”

If McCluggage keeps winning, the greyhound-racing community will soon know who he is.

A spot in the Group 2 Mach 10 Final over 350 metres at Q Straight on June 18 is a possibility for him, with the heats next Thursday night.

“He’s got to win on Sunday. If he wins on Sunday and runs well, he’ll have a crack at the 350 metre race on Thursday at the Q Straight,” Stephen Rolph said.

“He has to win on Sunday to be considered in that sort of race. He can’t win it sitting at home.

“Until the box draw came out, I thought his chances were good. But, the dog in the one, Fragile Frankie, wants to go right. So, we’ll know after five metres.”

McCluggage flashed home from box seven to salute at Capalaba last Sunday.

Despite veering left at the start, he triumphed by a quarter-of-a-length, recording a time of 20.17 seconds.

“We didn’t think he could win. He was odds-on. We thought he should’ve been a $5 chance,” Stephen Rolph said. 

“Even though his form’s been good, he hasn’t been very good with his box manners in the past couple of weeks.

“So, we’ve worked on that during this week. Hopefully it’s done some magic and he comes out with them and stays out of trouble.

“If he does, then he’ll be hard to beat.”

McCluggage’s dam, Black Magic Rose, won 13 races from 49 starts, and claimed over $109,000 in prizemoney.

She was strong over 520 metres.

With the way McCluggage is finishing his races well, Stephen Rolph is hoping his juvenile chaser might soon develop over that same distance.

“His potential gets you out of bed quicker when it’s early in the morning,” Stephen Rolph said.

“Originally, I thought 500 metres would be an issue. But, he seems to be doing it at the other end and getting a bit stronger.”

McCluggage’s siblings – Mystic Bloom, Arcane and All I See – have also shown plenty of promise to start their careers.

The four of them have a total of 13 wins from 30 starts between them, with black bitch Mystic Bloom saluting in the $10,000-to-the-winner Easter Maiden Final at Grafton on April 5.

“The dogs in the litter all seem to be going well. There are two more who haven’t started yet – two brothers,” Stephen Rolph said.

“The breeder of the litter has two starting soon. I spoke to him earlier this week and we put in an order for the next litter.

“And, she’s due on season this month sometime. So, hopefully there’s one in the litter for us.”