Bernardo’s Queen underlines potential in Pink Diamond Princess

BERNARDO’S Queen delivered further proof of her outstanding potential by delivering a popular local win in the Pink Diamond Princess Final (500m) at Bendigo on Friday night.

The daughter of Bernardo and Auspicious Queen continued trainer Ian Garland’s successful run from the litter that includes emerging star Fractions, who burst onto the scene late last year, quickly notching up four straight wins to kick-start his career.

While Fractions remains sidelined for now after fracturing a metatarsal bone, Bernardo’s Queen has stepped up to help fill the breach.

Friday night’s feature win was her fifth win from eight starts, the last three coming consecutively and giving her four from her last five runs for earnings of $28,705.

That figure was boosted by the $20,000 to the winner purse for her Pink Diamond Princess victory.

In comparison, Fractions has won four of eight starts for $17,830.

The Pink Diamond Princess was Bernardo’s Queen’s most emphatic yet.

Trailing Upended by six lengths approaching the home turn, she sprouted wings in the home straight to win by three-quarters of a length over the early pacemaker, much to the delight of his trainer and local owners from the Loves A Drink syndicate – Tim McConville, Daniel Fitzpatrick and Jake Hill.

Garland is confident of nicer things ahead for Bernardo’s Queen.

 

“She’s pretty good. I think she’ll get more distance, hopefully,” he said.

“She’ll run 600 at least, so middle to longer distance.

“I bought the mum (Auspicious Queen) as a broodie (brood bitch), but sadly she got cancer and died, so I only got two litters out of her.

“But she has shown promise from day one.

“It’s a big thrill. The Pink Diamond only comes around once a year and everyone sets their dog for it.”

Garland said Bernardo’s Queen, whose early career has consisted of six starts at Bendigo and two at Shepparton, would next be aimed at a couple of races in Melbourne before a crack at next month’s Group 1 Maturity Classic at The Meadows.

“Hopefully after that we will step her up to 600 (metres) and further,” he said.

“She’s tenacious … she just wants to win.

“It’s something she developed early, that will to win.”

 

A part-time trainer for the past 30 years, greyhound racing has become the 60-year-old’s main focus after selling his well-known hairdressing business in Bendigo last year.

He said nights like Friday made it all worth it, particularly getting to savour the moment with a great group of owners, easily distinguishable among the big crowd over the concluding stages.”

“When Upended bounced to the front, I thought she might run a nice second,” Garland said.

“I was watching the closed-circuit behind the box, which is close to about 100m behind the live action, and I heard the boys roaring.

“I still didn’t think she’d get up when they were straightening for home, but I could hear the boys roaring and could tell she got up.

“It was bloody exciting.”

Adding to the celebrations, Garland revealed Fraction was due to start galloping again in two weeks’ time.

Crackerjack Ralf delivers on promise

For months, Golden Plains trainer Jordan Cooper has maintained that Crackerjack Ralf is the fastest greyhound he has ever bred.

On Friday night at Bendigo, the talented but often enigmatic speedster finally delivered on that belief in the biggest wins of his career.

 

Crackerjack Ralf produced a brilliant front-running display to claim the Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter (500m), holding off Australian Cup winner Dramatical in a near track-record performance.

The son of Hooked On Scotch and Maximum Shirley stopped the clock in 27.56 seconds, just fractions outside the track record, as he secured the $75,000 Group Listed feature.

“When I saw Dramatical on his back, I thought we were in big trouble here,” owner, trainer and breeder Jordan Cooper said.

“But he dug in and found plenty when he needed to.”

Dramatical chased gamely into second placing, while Conceivable filled third.

The victory was another reminder of the immense talent Crackerjack Ralf possesses.

Despite having only 18 career starts, Crackerjack Ralf now boasts an impressive record of 12 wins and has stamped himself as one of Victoria’s most exciting sprinters.

The Pink Diamond success is unlikely to be the last major feature assignment for the talented chaser, with Cooper confirming Crackerjack Ralf will now head to Horsham for heats of the Group 2 Horsham Cup this Friday.

MOLLY HAINES