By Jordan Gerrans
After almost six years working on a gas project in Darwin, trainer Trevor Lindsay is relishing being back within the greyhound industry in a full-time capacity.
Previously a kennel foreman and training in his own right in Victoria, Lindsay lost the enjoyment of the sport in early 2015, leading to a lengthy time away from the code.
He has been back training for just over a year, with decent success in that time, and says he has the love back for preparing a small team of greyhounds.
One of his team, Hearts Colliding, faces one of the biggest challenges – as well as opportunities – this Thursday evening in the Final of the Listed Rising Stars over 520 metres at Albion Park.
An exciting field has assembled for the $26,250 feature Final, with Lindsay hopeful his bitch can be running home late and steal the prize.
After working at the massive Inpex project in Darwin for almost six years, Lindsay is focusing his attention on having a “real good crack” at the greyhound caper at his Glasshouse Mountains-based kennel.
“I took a couple of years of work, I am financially sound enough to do that, to put all my time into the dogs, hopefully it is going good, which I think it is,” he said.
“We work hard and put a lot of time into the dogs, I said to my partner that I wanted to have some time off work and have a crack with the dogs.
“I put some money away while working in Darwin and a few mates of mine suggested I get back into the dogs and I have gone from there.
“I wanted to give 110 per cent, it is paying off right now and hopefully that can show on Thursday night.”
With just a handful of dogs at his kennel, Lindsay, who also owns Hearts Colliding, was keen to train the five-time career winner after working with her father Phenomenal earlier in his life.
Races
Trained by champion Jason Thompson, Phenomenal was Group 1 placed in his racing career, which Lindsay did all the pre-training for.
He describes Phenomenal as the fastest dog he has ever pre-trained in his 14 years associated with the leading Australian kennel.
“I always wanted one out of him,” Lindsay, whose parents were in greyhounds and raced at the Gabba in the old days, said.
“I saw Hearts Colliding being advertising online and we bought her.
“We paid $1,500 for her and she is a beautiful little animal.
“She has really thrived since she has come up here, I am really proud of the dog actually.”
Hearts Colliding booked her spot in the Final by finishing third in last Thursday’s heats, beaten just over three lengths by Showdown, and will jump from box two this week.
She ran second at massive odds in the Mick Byrne Memorial Final at Albion Park earlier this year and her trainer is hopeful of another bold showing this week, expecting there to be plenty of speed in the early stages, which will set up nicely for her to zoom home late.
Following Thursday night’s Final, Lindsay expects to step the bitch up to 600 metres for the first time in her career, such is the strength in the way she has been finishing her races of late.
“We are very proud of her,” Lindsay said.
“I am very happy with our team.
“I have a very good team around me with the dogs, my partner and wife-to-be helps with the dogs, she is a very good help.”
Hearts Colliding is rated a $26 chance to claim Thursday’s Final with Douglas Gladman’s Tyanna Belle rated the favourite, who will jump from box five.
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