Midnight Queen out to produce more tears of joy

By Josh Spasaro

Bailey Dargusch shed tears of joy after his family’s biggest win in greyhound racing last Sunday.

And, on Friday night, he will stand behind the boxes in the biggest race of his young training career.

That is when Midnight Queen will contest the Group 2 Sydney Cup Final from lane five at Wentworth Park.

The 20-year-old said he would feel a combination of nerves and excitement for his $41 outsider, with fellow Queensland chaser Beautiful Child a $4.20 winning chance for Ben McGrath.

“I don’t see myself winning the race, but I’m very excited,” he said.

“To make these races at such a young age is a massive thrill. I’m nervous every time she goes around just because she’s a very good bitch and you never know what’s going to happen.

“To be in a Group 2 on the last night at Wenty, at such a young age, with her as my first starter, I’m really stoked.”

Indeed, it has been an emotional rollercoaster for the talented young Churchable-based conditioner over the past week.

When his mother Casey Dargusch trained Idea’s Girl to victory in the Group 2 Capalaba Cup on Sunday, the family finally experienced the euphoria of winning an elite-level feature.

“The tears were flowing and the drinks were flowing, as well,” he said.

“As a family, Mum and Dad have been in the industry 25 to 30 years. And, they’d never won a Group race until Sunday.

“It was such a thrill for them.

“When I got back home, it hadn’t hit me yet until I saw my partner Charly. She caught the dog.

“That was when the tears started flowing.”

Can Dargusch create his own piece of greyhound racing history this week as Wentworth Park hosts its last night of racing on Million Dollar Chase night?

“We’re pushing it uphill to run top four. She’s got the ability, but so does every other dog in the field,” he said.

“It’s a real good race. She’ll need to ping and get on the money, but she’s a rough top four chance.”

Midnight Queen qualified for Friday night’s Group 2 staying feature over 720 metres by finishing fourth in the second heat, crossing the line in 42.34 seconds from box eight.

Beautiful Child registered her second consecutive victory in that heat, winning in 41.64 seconds.

But, Midnight Queen, who has recorded 17 wins from 65 starts throughout her career, never gave up.

“She’s the most honest chaser you could get. She’s fast, as well. A lot of fast dogs have their issues, but there’s not a fault with her,” Dargusch said.

“She never gives up. I know she’s not the strongest 700 metre dog in the world, but she’ll still kick when she has to.

“I thought she was going to end up spectating the race with all the fans. But, she straightened back up quick and took on the straight, which surprised me.

“It was a big effort to get in after what happened early on.”

Dargusch said he was fortunate to have Midnight Queen as his first starter.

“And, she won on debut, so we both got off to a winning start,” he said.

“I’m pretty blessed in the sense that I had her as one of my first dogs training as young as I am. She’s taken me on a journey. I don’t know when I’m going to get another dog of her calibre.”

He added she was capable of finding a few lengths in the Sydney Cup Final and was happy she drew inside Beautiful Child.

“She’s seen Wenty a few times now, but she wasn’t out of the boxes until last week,” he said.

“She drew out wide last week, which was not ideal. I think she’ll jump a bit better. Normally she leads 700 metre races or sits with them early.

“I think she can sit with them. I think she will improve. I think she will run 42 seconds. It probably won’t be good enough to win, but she can pounce on the bunny.

“If she can step and hold out Beautiful Child, she’s a chance. But, I’m just happy to be inside her. I didn’t want to be outside her, that’s for sure.”

Dargusch said Midnight Queen was the standout of her Bernardo and Rinadeena litter.

“The others have more quirks than her. Pozzi Tonozzi doesn’t give you 100 per cent all the time,” he said.

“She runs the distance, but she’s more injury-prone. Jenny Dutton was the same as Pozzi – she could run the distance and was strong. She was injury-prone and didn’t give 100 per cent every week.

“The whole litter is fast. Queen is the only one who gives her all every time she goes out, which I think has given her the edge over the others.”