Fitzgerald is planning another major ambush in Legacy Classic Final

By Pat McLeod

Ex-military man David Fitzgerald has engineered two major ambushes during his greyhound career and he’s plotting a third in the Legacy Classic Final at Albion Park on Thursday night.

In 1984, he became a media hit in Melbourne when he won the Australian Cup with Tangairn as a first-time owner and trainer.

In 2004, he won the last ever (Group 3) Singleton Stayers Cup and broke the track record with Pretty Patty, a greyhound that had not won a race in 12 months.

On Thursday night he is facing a Group-quality field with a four-year-old give-away, Rolling Empire.

And, in true military form, Fitzgerald is not fazed by the strength of the opposition.

“If she jumps well and can get to the lead, which she is capable of doing, she will be very hard to run down,” he said of his chaser.

“As an ex-military man, to win the Legacy Classic Final would be the icing on the cake.”

Fitzgerald served in the Australian Navy for 15 years and while based in America he decided to buy a dog – Tangairn.

When he returned to Australia he took over the training of the dog while stationed at the Cerberus Naval Base in Victoria.

In a major upset the rookie trainer took the dog through to victory in the Group 1 Australian Cup at Olympic Park.

While that was a life-defining moment for Fitzgerald, he rates the Singleton Stayers Cup win almost as highly.

“Pretty Patty had not won a race for 12 months before that Cup series,” he said. “So that was special from a training point of view.”

The story is similar this Thursday night with Rolling Empire.

The veteran of 65 starts was almost retired because of a niggling injury, however, Fitzgerald patiently persevered with her recovery and then initiated a new training regime that has had spectacular results.

She won last week’s heat in her fastest ever 520 metres at Albion Park – 29.81 seconds. 

“I am not sure whether it was the break from the track or the new training routine, but she is racing well at the moment,” he said.

“There are some brilliant dogs in this race. If she can jump her best, and clears the two (Springtime Storm), then she can do OK.

“The one (Hello Mike) is obviously a worry. The four (Tomahawk Hayze) is also a good dog. But, let's face it, they're all good dogs in this Final. In fact, they are very good trainers, it will be a hard race.

“In her (Rolling Empire’s) two recent wins her race pattern was different in each. In one she went out hard and won and in the other she finished strongly to win. Maybe that has to do with how I have changed her training since she came back from injury.

“She seems to be able to adapt to whatever the race conditions are now.”

After leaving the Navy in the late 1980s Fitzgerald remained involved in greyhounds, had a stint in Macau and then moved to South East Queensland about 12 years ago.

He now runs a small team out of his Eagleby, just south of Brisbane, kennels.

“I have enjoyed my stint in Queensland,” he said. “The greyhound industry is in a great shape at the moment. Prizemoney is really good. 

“Looking into the future, I will breed from this dog when she retires. I would be crazy not to, although I have not bred a litter for at least 30 years.”

Fitzgerald applauded the Brisbane club for having a focus on Legacy, an organisation that has supported the families of military personnel since 1923.

“I am certainly aware of the Legacy organisation,” he said. “Fortunately, I have never required it's assistance, however it is a very admirable organisation. A great cause that does a great job.”

The Anzac week theme also resonates strongly with long-time Brisbane club committeeman Bob Lambert.

Lambert's father, Cec Lambert, served in New Guinea during World War II, joined the regular army at war’s end and then was heavily involved with the RSL and Legacy in Bundaberg.

“I saw first-hand the great work that Legacy does for the families of those who have served their country,” Lambert said.

“Each year the club stages the Legacy Classic, has representatives of Legacy at the track for the running of the Final and also makes a donation to Legacy, such an important organisation.”