Ferndale Flyer Out To Kick WA Derby Goal

GORDON Hind expects Cannington to be flooded with former Ferndale Soccer Club members for next Saturday night's final of the Group 2 WA Derby (520m).

Gordon bred and trains Ferndale Flyer (Vice Grip-Happy Talk) which flashed up to win his heat of the Derby on Saturday night in 29.98.

Gordon lives next door and spends all day working at the kennels of Chris Halse and Linda Britton.

"Chris and I have been mates since I arrived with my family from Scotland when I was a kid of 11," Hind said.

READ: ‘Group 1 Gordy's' Golden Touch Continues

"We played with Ferndale Club for years until it finally closed down a few years ago."

But Gordon and most of those mates he and Chris met at the club have stayed close friends.

"A few years ago I talked five of them into buying a pup, but unfortunately it did not make it to the track," he added.

"Chris and Linda gave me Happy Talk initially as a house pet for me and my family, but eventually I decided to get a litter out of her.

"We put her to Vice Grip because he was such a great race dog and fierce chaser.

"I told those mates of mine I would give them a share in whatever prizemoney won by the dog I kept. It is Ferndale Flyer."

Gordon says those soccer club mates regularly put on a "Scotland v England" match that stopped only five years ago when the team members were pushing 60.

"Each year we all head to Bali for golf and a holiday and the numbers on those trips are huge," he said.

"The boys have been coming to Cannington to watch Ferndale Flyer race, more and more as he starts winning.”

Happy Talk is in pup to Hector Fawley and due very soon.

"This dog is very strong, but he falls out of the boxes," he said.

"We have tried everything to get him to jump. In the starting boxes on the bull ring and up the straight he comes right to the front.

"But, in a race he sits back."

Gordon says he knows the dog will develop into a fine stayer of the future.

Other heats of the Derby went to:

James Jeffries' Junk Yard Clyde was brilliant in winning his heat in 29.47. Francis Farrell's Incredible Rogue went 29.62, Steve Withers' Echoes Of Dad ran 29.82, and Giacomo for Chris Halse won in 30.00.

G2 WA Derby: 1 Echoes Of Dad, 2 Our Ozzie Salute, 3 Giacomo, 4 Incredible Rogue, 5 Ferndale Flyer, 6 Canya Bypass, 7 Mailata, 8 Junk Yard Clyde. Res: 9 Tommy The Lion, 10 Incredible King.