Reg Kay reckons Happy Haswell is on a par with previous champions at his young age – and he should know.
The exciting sprinter goes for the former Australian trainer of the year Kay in the last of four Group 3 tattsbet.com Gold Coast Cup (520m) heats on Thursday night at Albion Park.
Happy Haswell has already earned an eye-catching 11 wins from 15 starts, including six of his eight previous visits to the Brisbane track.
He and his handy brother 600m specialist brother, Good Call Paul, are the latest eye-catching performers from Kay’s kennels and the trainer reckons they could both be special.
“They are just the perfect dogs to handle,” Kay said.
“I’ve had good dogs like (Group 1 winner) Knocka Norris and I would say at his age Happy Haswell is as good if not better than them.
“He is still a baby yet though and we’ll have to see how he goes.”
Happy Haswell starts from box three in a tough race also featuring last year’s Lismore Cup winner Regal Lauryn (box one) and improving Visualize It, who starts from the outside.
“He’s not a brilliant beginner,” Kay said. “He doesn’t muster a lot of speed early.
“He is a desperate railer so maybe three will not suit him.
“If his first sectionals were a bit quicker I would say he was real top drawer, but even without that he’s still handy.”
Kay said he may aim the greyhound for the Group 2 Lismore Workers Gold Cup later this month and November’s Group 3 Ipswich Gold Cup.
He may also transfer him to the Victorian kennels of Jason Thompson, with whom he has enjoyed a successful partnership, for a shot at that state.
There are not many more experienced trainers around than Kay, who has been involved with the sport for about 50 years.
The 71-year-old shares his Lowood property with fellow trainer Peter Ruetschi, with their kennels producing about 140 winners so far this year.
Kay owned the Thompson-trained Don’t Knocka Him, the winner of the 2012 Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg and produced plenty of other class greyhounds including Group 1 winners Elite Oriental and Made To Size.
Gun Queensland trainer Tony Brett has hopefuls in all four heats, including recent National Sprint Finalist and Dapto Sportingbet Megastar placegetter Flash Reality (pictured, blue rug) in the second heat.
NSW’s best hopes seem to lie with this year’s Group 2 Black Top finalist Miner’s Moss, who goes in the second heat.
Ten races are on the card at Albion Park and action starts at 6.43pm.
For Albion Park fields, form and expert tips, click here.
