He’s Regal living up to name

By Josh Spasaro

Sue Muller part-owns Topgun Stayers runner-up Beautiful Child and He’s Regal – and she says the half-cousins live up to their names with beautiful temperaments.

Both share the same grand-dam, Tahlia’s Way, with black bitch Beautiful Child producing a massive effort to finish second to Ayden’s Warrior at Group 1 level over 730 metres at The Meadows last Saturday night.

He’s Regal will take some good form into The Pledger Heats for Muller and her husband Philip at Capalaba on Wednesday.

The two-year-old by Aussie Infrared and out of Savannah will jump from box one under the care of Wakerley conditioner Ben McGrath, with three placings and a win from his past four starts.

McGrath trains the blue dog as well as fellow two-year-old and multiple Group placegetter, Beautiful Child.

Muller said they were both lovely-natured greyhounds away from their track duties.

“They’re beautiful dogs. Ben sent us a photo once of when he was travelling with them in these pet-friendly motels,” she said.

“They sleep in the bed with him. They don’t sleep on the floor.

“He’s marvelous with them. He’s a terrific up-and-coming trainer. He’s only been training for two years.

“He really looks after his pups. I’m very happy to have them with him.”

He’s Regal is just five starts into this preparation, and at just under 33kg he does not lack size or strength.

He has 12 career wins from 47 starts.

“He’s just coming back from an injury, and Ben says he’s come along really well,” Muller said. 

“He’s a goer. He’s all heart and he’s a lovely dog. Ben really knows him and he looks after him.

“We leave a lot up to Ben and he does a good job.”

When McGrath first laid eyes on both He’s Regal, he wanted to train him.

“We own the mother of He’s Regal, Savannah. We sent her down to a trainer down at Wagga, Gary Mitchell,” Muller said.

“He used to be in Queensland. She went to Wentworth Park, and was run down at the post and got second.

“Then he bred with her. We always got a dog or a bitch from the litters she had. He’s Regal was one of the dogs sent up to us.

“He was lovely. He was a beautiful beginner being a beautiful blue dog. Ben saw him one day here in the yard and he said ‘I wouldn’t mind trying to train that dog’.

“So we ended up with him.”

McGrath also saw something in Beautiful Child when he first saw her.

“She’s amazing. We had three bitches who all broke in at the same time at the trial track,” Muller said.

“Ben was there again and he said ‘I’ll take that one’. It was Beautiful Child.

“We didn’t realise then that she’d be a distance dog. It’s just amazing.

“In that litter, a couple have gone 520 metres and a couple have gone about 350 metres.

“She’s got out to 730.

“I just think she might’ve been one who took notice of the lure a lot more. I don’t know, but Ben said ‘I’ll pick that one’.”

Muller added Beautiful Child – with 16 wins from 30 starts – was being aimed at the Group 1 Bold Trease, with the heats at Sandown on November 21.

“She’s just having a bit of a rest after last Saturday night, which was amazing,” she said.

“Ben is looking at the Bold Trease. Whether that comes off or not, I don’t know.

“We just wait to hear what his plans are.”