Defending champion Bonnie returns to Ekka Sweepstakes

By Josh Spasaro

Trainer Jemma Daley concedes Hara’s Topaz might need a bit of good fortune to win at Q1 Lakeside on Saturday night.

But, she is happy with the progress of the five-dog litter out of her dam, Hara’s Opal.

Hara’s Opal recorded six wins from 21 career starts and this is her first litter, which is by Shima Shine.

Daley’s blue bitch achieved her maiden victory in her sixth start last Friday, an impressive half-length win over Equal Impact for Raymond Burman over 390 metres.

The two-year-old will start from box five over 457 metres on Saturday. 

Daley said Equal Impact’s siblings Spartan and Crystal Days would be tough to run down.

“It’s always a mission starting from anywhere in the middle, so she’s going to need a bit of luck early,” Daley said.

“Raymond Burman has got a couple in it and they’re really starting to step up now, so I’d say they’re the ones to beat.”

Daley added her Shima Shine and Hara’s Opal litter has displayed some early potential, with Hara’s Nero and Hara’s Amber registering two wins each.

“They showed a bit as pups. They just had seasons and probably went off a little bit,” she said.

“So, we’re hoping that they’re over that and they can keep pushing forward now.

“That’s the plan. Obviously, they’re fairly well-bred. So, we’re hoping they’ll get stronger.

“But, at this stage, we’re just hoping that she can get around safely and keep improving and chipping away at it.”

Daley said Hara’s Mosaic, Hara’s Lucy and Hara’s Pickle should all go well at Q2 Parklands on Thursday.

“Hara’s Pickle looks like she’s going to be a nice bitch going forward. She’s got plenty of early speed, which always puts them in their races,” she said.

“There are some nice young ones. Hara’s Lucy, she’s just starting to find her feet and the same with Mosaic.

“She went down the straight for a couple of runs and I think that’s helped her immensely.

“So hopefully, she can do everything right from an inside box and keep improving.”

With three wins from nine starts, Hara’s Pickle is the standout so far in an eight-dog litter by Orson Allen and out of Hara’s Pandora, who won at Group 2 level for Daley in 2023.

“Orson Allen is always going to take a bit of time to find the strength in them. We’re just giving them that bit of time,” she said.

“But, so far, they’re winning races and that’s all you can do. They’ve just got to take that next step as race dogs.”

Meanwhile, Daley will take the defending Best in Show and Best of Breed winner, Hara’s Bonnie, back to the 2026 Racing Queensland Greyhound Sweepstakes.

That will be part of the 150^th anniversary of the Ekka at the Brisbane Showgrounds on Sunday.

“Bonnie will be back there. She won best breed last year and she’ll be back this year,” she said.

“We’ve got a couple of retired ones who just lounge around the house who’ll be coming in and we’ve got some race dogs to take in, as well.

“We’ll be taking seven in. Sushi Mango makes his debut in the desexed class. We’ll get him out and let the public mingle with them a bit.”