Born To Run shooting for National Straight Track Championship Final spot

By Jordan Gerrans

If breeder, trainer and owner Clint Kratzmann has the up-and-coming Born To Run in the same conversation as retired champion Oh Mickey, that shows the potential of the dog.

While the Warner-based Kratzmann does not think Born To Run – a winner of 10 from 17 career starts – will be as great as his Group 1-winner Oh Mickey, he believes he might be just as quick.

Kratzmann was forced to make the tough call to retire one of Queensland’s favourite dogs, Oh Mickey, after a crack in a stopper bone halted his career earlier this year.

Oh Mickey and Born To Run are both from litters from champion brood bitch Iona Champion, who Kratzmann also raced.

Born To Run is aiming to be a key player in The National Straight Track Championship Final on December 19, 2021 at the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club, with heats kicking off at the club this Sunday.

Kratzmann describes Born To Run as a “serious animal”.

“Oh Mickey has been the stand out from Iona Champion but this dog, he is not as strong as Mickey but I tell you, up to 450 metres he would be quicker,” he said at Born To Run.

“He is quick, do not worry about that. If he stays sound, next year watch out if we could get him to Grafton or Maitland - you wait.

“He is not better than Mickey – he is a different style of dog – but he has as much speed as he had.

“He is a different animal, Mickey was stronger and professional, while this one is full on and had some niggles.”

Oh Mickey had a relatively injury-free career before the stopper bone concern, getting to the races for 33 starts for 18 wins and seven placings, earning a total of $215,000 in stakes, including a Group 1 National Derby triumph early in his career.

Kratzmann, who has just two dogs in work these days, raced Iona Champion and continues to be blown away with the quality of progeny she has produced.

“We have got two or three pups out of every litter and I honestly cannot name a slow one,” he said.

“It has been unbelievable. The best pup she threw for me was Oh Mickey.

"It has been a great ride; she has thrown so many fast jokes – it is no joke.”

The renowned owner and breeder has only recently taken on the training duties of the Capalaba specialist.

Fellow greyhound man, Scott Gould, prepared the dog in the early stages of his career before work and family commitments forced him to step away from training.

Kratzmann has trained his black dog in his last three trips to the races – all wins at Capalaba – after he spent six months on the sidelines following a minor surgery.

“He has come back perfect, he keeps pulling up well and he is going as good as ever,” Kratzmann, who regularly takes his dogs to the beach between runs, said.

“He has only had the 17 starts and he is nearly three years of age, he has not had a lot of racing, he is lightly raced.

“That is paying off for us now because he has not done a lot of miles in his career, he is six months younger in his body than what the form guide says. He is at the peak of his powers.”

Queensland state qualifying heats commence this Sunday with the state qualifying final on December 12, with all participating states (GRV, GRNSW, GRSA, and RQ) committed to the series.

Interstate qualification will take place at Healesville (GRV), Richmond (GRNSW), and Murray Bridge (GRSA) with all state finals carrying prize money of $5,000 to the winner.

Two greyhounds from each state will qualify for the NSTC Final at Capalaba worth total prize money of $37,500 ($25,000 to the winner).

"The National Straight Track Championships is a welcome addition to the calendar," Capalaba committee member Erin Cameron said.

"Straight racing continues to rise in popularity and with the best of the best in attendance, we're looking forward to the national champion being crowned at Capalaba."

Kratzmann described The National Straight Track Championship as a “great concept”, believing the locals will be hard to beat at the southern Brisbane track later this month.

“He is good and sound, we are in good shape to have a go at that,” Kratzmann said of Born To Run.

“He has always been a very fast dog. He will be very competitive in a series like this.

“It is an exciting series that we will see over the next few weeks – I just love racing at Capalaba – I do all my pre-training and educating there.”

Kennel mate of Born To Run - In No Rush – will head towards heats of the Queensland Derby next Thursday evening at Albion Park as the 2021-22 TAB Golden Greys Summer Carnival builds momentum.

Staged from December to February, Group racing commences at Albion Park on December 16 with the Queensland Derby and the Bogie Leigh Futurity.

Click here to see the full program for the 2021/22 TAB Golden Greys Summer Carnival.