Thybulle out to impress in Vince Curry Memorial series

By Jordan Gerrans 

Matisse Thybulle was a revelation for the Australian Boomers in their breakthrough bronze medal campaign at the Tokyo Olympics, and trainer Darren Johnstone is optimistic a debutant greyhound with the same name can be just as successful in the Vince Curry Memorial series.

The unraced black dog, Thybulle, is owned by GH Syndications, who regularly name their dogs after high level athletes.

The syndicate has raced dogs such as Taranto, named after GWS Giants midfielder Tim, Pucovski, who gets his name from the young Australian batsman Will, as well as Xerri, Whitfield and Sergis in Sydney.

While Thybulle was not born in Australia, the lock down defender spent some of his childhood in Sydney and therefore qualified to play for the Boomers after an encouraging start to his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 24-year-old was highly regarded for his defensive tenacity and ability to space the floor as a three-point shooter during the Olympics and GH Syndications took notice.

“We do a vote where all of our owners suggest names they like and it goes to a vote,” they explained.

“Thybulle came out on top.”

Johnstone also has fellow youngster Taranto in his kennel, preparing him to two victories from his six starts so far.

The greyhound Thybulle is from a My Redeemer and Snow Fantasy litter and while Harrisville-based trainer Johnstone says the black dog shows promise, he is not quite where he would like his debutant to be ahead of beginning his career.

He has drawn perfectly in box one in the last of six heats for the Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial series on Saturday night at Ipswich.

“Thybulle’s campaign has been a bit rushed and I think he might be a run or two short, I am hoping he can just get through the heats and he can keep improving,” the experienced conditioner said.

“He has only had a couple of 520-metre trials and he does have to improve a bit.

“He is improving but I do not know exactly where he is at as he has missed a few trials.

“The owners usually name their dogs after sports players.”

Thybulle is just one of three chances from the Johnstone kennel heading towards the popular maiden series on Saturday evening at Ipswich.

Australia's richest maiden race for greyhounds, the Vince Curry Memorial, will boast an increased purse on offer in 2022 with the Final going to $75,000 this year, up from $60,000 in 2021.

All three of Johnstone’s hopeful’s will jump with the red rug on Saturday evening with Conan and Endless Summer also in the running for the series.

Following the six heats on Saturday night, semi-finals will be run in seven days’ time before the Final a fortnight later.

Conan has been beaten by over 19 lengths in his two career starts for previous trainer Janelle Falls and after transferring to the Johnstone kennel, he expects to see improvement on Saturday at Ipswich.

“He is my best chance of the three,” he said.

“He came to me four weeks ago and after his two starts in NSW, I have taken two-and-half-kilograms off him since then and he has improved as he has gone.

“He is slow out of the boxes but he is strong at the end.

“I still think there is improvement in him, his form in NSW was not great but I felt he was too heavy in those runs.”

On four-start maiden Endless Summer, the trainer says she might find the 520-metre trip a little far on Saturday and believes the black bitch is best suited to a short journey.

Johnstone’s phone has been running hot from fellow trainers after his four dogs set to go around on Saturday at Ipswich all drew box one, with plenty of banter flying around.

The Vince Curry Memorial Maiden Series has been a highlight of the greyhound calendar since 1984 with star dogs claiming the event over the decades, including Farmor Beach in recent years.

“I think it is a great series,” Johnstone said.

“The three week series, it is a hard series.”