Herr hoping Infra Terra finally displays true talent

By Pat McLeod

South East Queensland trainer Rod Herr doesn’t play the ‘what if’ game.

He’s happy with life and his small kennel of dogs at Jimboomba. 

He has not been without success as a trainer, but when he looks at Infra Terra, he smiles and knows that, with an ounce of luck, recent fortunes could have been different.

Just a few years ago he was looking for an addition to his kennel and liked the look of a Aussie Infrared and Double Supreme litter.

“I had the pick of the litter,” Herr recalls.

“I rang just an hour after the litter was advertised. I remember there was a black dog, a black bitch and three fawn dogs.

“I discussed it with my wife and we decided that we’d had a few black dogs back then and so decided on one of the fawn dogs.”

That fawn dog, Infra Terra, will have his 39^th start for Herr when racing resumes at Capalaba on Sunday.

To date he has tallied eight wins and 11 placings for $24,240 in prizemoney.

The black dog they passed on is now the two-time Group 1 winner Tim Zoo.

Tim Zoo has had 51 starts for 22 wins and 16 placings for a prizemoney tally of $688,650.

“My wife and I sometimes think back and laugh,” Herr says with a wry chuckle.

“More frustrating is the fact that I believe the dog we have has almost as much talent as Tim Zoo, but he has a few issues, in particular he does not like new tracks.

“But, once he is comfortable with his surroundings he is a very fast dog.

“Originally, I had a lot of trouble with him before he raced, but I sent him off to (renowned Northern NSW dog man) John Martin and in three months he turned the dog around.

“He has broken track records on private trial tracks and won his first start at Casino. But, he still has some issues and has also had a couple of injuries that have put him off the track for a few months each.

“Yes, it’s frustrating to know what the dog is capable of but that is just how greyhound racing goes.”

On Sunday, Infra Terra will jump from the eight box in a very competitive fifth grade heat over the straight track’s 366 metres. 

Herr said if his charge can jump, he is a ‘good chance’.

“He has a best of 19.53 seconds, wind assisted, at Capalaba, but he can be tardy out of the boxes," Herr said.

“But, if he gets out OK and is leading, or is close to the lead, he has speed.”

Herr, who also has Regal Romeo in race 10 at Capalaba on Sunday, says he is rapt to be back at the popular straight track.

Racing at Capalaba returns this Sunday after Cyclone Alfred flooding.

“I just love racing there,” Herr said.

“I love the atmosphere, I really like the people who run the track – it’s just a great place to go racing.”

Herr took out his greyhound licence in 2010 and has been at Jimboomba for about 12 years.

In his first year as a trainer he raced his own home-bred litter.

Eight of the litter were put through the Ipswich Auction Series.

All eight raced in the heats of the Auction’s celebrated 520 metre series.

Five made it through to the semis and two made the Final.

Herr scored first and second in the Final, with Iron Force taking out the $40,000-to-the-winner top honour.

Herr says Infra Terra will soon be in masters class and is hoping for a successful last year for his ‘well-connected’ racer.

“He has the ability, has the maturity, is only lightly raced, so here’s hoping,” Herr said.