Peter O'Reilly savours Group 1 spotlight

By Jordan Gerrans

When it comes to racing at The Q, it does not get any more local than trainer Peter O'Reilly.

Based at Yamanto with his kennel of nine chasers, O'Reilly is one of the closest trainers in the Sunshine State to the new home of greyhound racing.

On Saturday night, he will fly the flag for the Queenslanders in a bid to keep the coveted Brisbane Cup at home when outsider Cheeky Belgin jumps from the seven in the Group 1 event.

His Yamanto property is just a few kilometres from the Queensland Greyhound Racing Club.

The two-year-old bitch started as a $71 shot in last week’s heats and finished second to Off The Chart to sneak into the decider.

Cheeky Belgin is again likely to start at sizeable odds in Saturday’s Final, but for O'Reilly, he is not too fussed about the market, he is just savouring the Group 1 spotlight for the week.

“It's amazing, she's only had 20 starts,” the trainer said.

“She's only a young pup. So, to make a Group 1, she's already won a Group 3, is great. She's starting to prove herself.

“I think it's a big achievement. I'm happy with it. She's just a good dog. The dogs make us look good. It's really good.

“She's one of the only Queensland dogs in the race. So, I'm pretty excited about that. I just hope she performs well.”

The daughter of Sequana will carry the hopes of the locals in the time-honoured contest alongside Zipping Lee from the Jedda Cutlack kennel.

Leading Queensland-based trainers such as Tony Brett and Michelle Sultana will campaign chasers in the Final on a caretaker basis for interstate kennels.

Starting from the five alley, Cheeky Belgin got home in 29.85 seconds in last Saturday’s heat, finishing two lengths behind red-hot fancy Off The Chart.

The veteran dog man was thrilled with the performance.

“I reckon it was a really good run, she came on really strong and I was really happy with the race,” he said.

“In the race, she was up against the best of the best. I was just happy that she made it through.

“I was just hoping that she made it through.

“If not, the consolation race was the next choice for her. She's just getting better every run.

“She's just getting out of the boxes a bit quicker now. She's got a lot stronger and she's chasing a lot better.”

O'Reilly has declared that reaching the 2026 Brisbane Cup Final with Cheeky Belgin is one of his greatest achievements in his lengthy tenure in the caper.

Former kennel star Shakey Diesel qualified for the 2020 edition of the race and finished seventh to Black Opium. 

Shakey Diesel claimed the Group 3 Rockhampton Cup that year, as well. 

Kennelmate Naturally Gifted ran into third behind Shakey Diesel at Callaghan Park in 2020. 

While O'Reilly operates a relatively small kennel in the Sunshine State, he has featured in many feature events in recent times.

He won the Lismore Cup with Yogi Blue in 2014, while he has also prepared chasers to finish in the money in a Townsville Cup.

“I'm just shocked that I made it,” he said of Saturday’s Brisbane Cup.

“I just hope she performs on the night.

“I don't mind box seven, actually. There's a lot of speed in the race. So, if she stays out wide, she might get around them and be with them.

“I think she's had box seven once and she won out of that. I think the box is not going to worry her too much, especially with all the speed inside.”

Cheeky Belgin, who is a light brindle bitch, has only recently ticked past two years of age.

It is a significant achievement for her to reach the Brisbane Cup Final after just 20 career starts.

But, as O'Reilly notes, he didn’t have high hopes for her in the early stages.

After being reared by veteran dog man Tony Apap, O'Reilly says she did not break in well and was not chasing hard.

She quickly found her groove and claimed the Group 3 Young Gunnettes Final in May of this year. 

“It's pretty amazing,” the trainer said.

“She'd only had about 16 starts up to that point. She was outside ranker in that one too and she won.

“I was very proud of her to win that race. It's certainly good for me to be an outsider and don't expect too much.

“And, if it comes off, well, the more the better.”

O'Reilly also prepares Cheeky Belgin’s littermate Sampson, who he also has high hopes for.

Sampson is on the comeback trail from injury and the Yamanto conditioner is planning a Townsville Cup tilt with both chasers later this year.