It's A Blaze Stuns In Near Record Cranbourne Romp

IN terms of debut performances they don't come any better.

But for trainer Kel Greenough it was more relief than excitement following It's A Blaze's stunning near record run at Cranbourne on Wednesday night.

"It's been a slow and steady process to get him to the races; it certainly hasn't been easy," declared Greenough.

Keen observers would have noticed It's A Blaze sporting blinkers for his mesmerising 29.75 victory on Wednesday night, scoring by an ever widening 16 ½ lengths.

"In all my years of training I've never used a set of blinkers on a dog," Greenough said.

"When I started working the dog early on he was doing a lot wrong. Not fighting so much as just stuffing around and losing his concentration.

"I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do and one day Angie (daughter) asked me why I don't give blinkers a go. I said to her I'd never used them in my life and she came back by asking me what I had to lose? So we gave them a crack.”

If Wednesday night's rampaging debut is any indication, the recent ‘gear change' is working wonders.

Not that Greenough is getting too carried away.

"They've definitely switched him on; he's been doing everything right since but it's still very early," Greenough said.

"I can't predict the future but hopefully in November we're talking and you say to me I've won the Melbourne Cup with that blinker dog. Or it could go the other way in a few starts time, you just don't know.

“Later on he should get over a bit of ground which could help as well with less pressure in the early part of the races.”

Owned by Tyrone Whittington and Greg Sprod, It's A Blaze is from their former top stayer It's A Fling out of champion sire Fernando Bale.

"I've been talking to Tyrone for quite a while about this dog … the ability has always been there," Greenough said.

"I'll sound like a big mouth if I tell you the times he's been running in trials but last night's time didn't surprise me off what he's been doing.

"His ability isn't the problem it's what's between the ears."

And while It's A Blaze's stunning debut was the highlight at Cranbourne on Wednesday night, Greenough also guided Houdini Boy through to next week's Winter Cup Final with a fast finishing second in his heat behind Manila Knight.

"I wish god would send me the perfect dog," Greenough chuckled.

"A dog with blinkers and another that won't come out of the boxes.

"There's nothing easy about this training caper. You just have to do the best with what you've got."