Straight track runner Big Al’s has giant personality

By Josh Spasaro

Top Queensland straight tracker Big Al’s is just wild about racing.

So wild that Churchable trainer Warren Nicholls believes he is more like a thoroughbred than a greyhound when it comes to walking him.

“He’s a handful in the kennel. He’s not noisy, but he’s a pretty wild dog when you get him out,” he said.

“He’s like a colt on a lead. He’s jumping around and bouncing around and pulling you where he wants to go. 

"He’s certainly different. He’s well known up here for his antics at the track.”

Just the thought of going racing has him jumping out of his kennel.

“He’s a really happy dog, which is probably not a good thing at six o’clock in the morning when you get down there first thing and you’re wrestling him,” Nicholls said.

“He’s a lively little bugger.”

It was this level of energy which helped the Aston Rupee and Lanmor Cutie dog come back and win a thrilling Queensland Straight Track Championship Final at Capalaba on Sunday.

The two-year-old red brindle flashed home inside the final 50 metres to defeat Capalaba Cup champion Secret Story by a quarter of a length, registering a time of 19.45 seconds.

Despite his effervescent nature, Nicholls admitted he did not have much hope of his chaser saluting in the $18,700 feature over 366 metres.

“I thought he was a $51 chance halfway up the straight,” he said.

“He didn’t jump real good and then he got checked off another dog and then by another one. It was amazing, actually. I saw him surging and I got a little bit excited.”

Big Al’s is now undefeated so far this preparation with five consecutive wins, boasting a formidable 17 victories from 26 career starts.

Indeed, he will take some stopping in the Group 3 National Straight Track Championship at Healesville in Victoria next Friday.

“He can’t do much more. He’s knocked off some really good straight dogs. I know it’s a different set-up up here,” Nicholls said.

“But, he has gone OK up the Q Straight, which could be a little similar with the lure system.

“I’m not scared to go down with him. We’re pretty excited and looking forward to it.

“We’ll go down on Friday, trial him on Sunday, let him rest up and go from there.”

Nicholls and Big Al’s will be staying at the property of top Melbourne conditioner Anthony Azzopardi.

“I’ve been there before with Days Of Thunder. He looks after us when we come down and it’s a good place to be,” he said.