Goodwin Produces First Up Training Masterclass

DAPTO trainer Glen Goodwin proved a master of greyhound preparation when Man Of Zeal won a heat of the Group 2 Capalaba Cup (366m) on Sunday in 19.34 after not having raced since April.

The son of Feral Franky and Oriental Zeal had started 14 times before Sunday's heat, winning just twice at Maitland for his previous trainer.

Man Of Zeal started at $41 when defeating Express Ethics by two and a quarter lengths.

His first-up straight track win was special considering he downed Express Ethics, one of the country's best straight trackers which had been second in the G3 National Straight Track and a finalist in the G2 Healesville Cup, Straight Of Origin and Richmond Straight Track Championship.

While the $41 odds may have seemed the dog went to the start friendless, some local punters were well aware of a sensational Appin trial by Man Of Zeal prior to the Cup heat.

He had not started up the straight before Sunday.

"Don't worry," said Glen. "I backed him and the boys who own him, Joe and Billy Whittle and Matt Brown, were all on him as well.

"He had trialled 15.75 up Appin and then I gave him a long slip and he ran home in 11.30. It was something.

"I told the boys I was heading to Capalaba for the Cup and they all agreed and trusted my judgement."

Glen was sitting in his local pub for a Friday afternoon drink many months ago when he happened to look at Facebook.

"There was a question on one of the Facebook pages about trial times at Mannings, so I wrote if the person wanted to know those times, he should give me a ring,” he said.

"The phone rang a few minutes later and I asked who the guy was. It was Billy Whittle and he was 300 metres away so he came down to the pub.

"We became instant friends and Billy asked if I would train some dogs for them. Man Of Zeal is one of them.

"When I first got him, he had a problem so I immediately gave him four months off and started all over again on him. He just kept improving with every run I gave him and that's when I decided to head to Capalaba."

But, Glen almost did not come back after trialling the dog in 20.03 at his first look at the track.

"But, there was a tough head wind against him and a couple of the locals advised me not to worry," said Glen who has been training since 1979.

The rest is history and Glen was quick to point out his wife Robyn is integral in all aspects of the training of the kennel.

Boom youngster, Bad Boy Wilson was super impressive winning his heat by 10 and a half lengths as the $2.10 favourite beating Swift Bill.

The Dylan Heddles owned and trained youngster ran 19.34 the equal best of the heats with Man Of Zeal.

He has now won nine of 13 starts.

Capalaba legend Valhalla put his name down for another Capalaba Cup victory when winning his heat by three and a half lengths as the $1.22 favourite and took his earnings past $300,000.

He won the Cup last year running 19.27.

Sunday's victory was Valhalla's 35th success in 62 starts and he must rate as one of the greats of straight track racing.

Valhalla's trainer Tom Tzouvelis has two in the Cup final after Simply Express scored narrowly in his heat in 19.52 downing Hara's Buddy.

Other heats went to:

Garry Gilbert's It Wasn't Me in 19.53 beating Saanvi by a length and a quarter. Claude Dacey's Daysea's Tim in 19.41 beating Rushforth Ally by almost two lengths. Steve Keep's All Lies Ahead also in 19.41 scoring by almost two lengths over Whistle Away. All Lies Ahead finished second to Valhalla in the Capalaba Cup last year.

G2 Capalaba Cup (366m): 1 Bad Boy Wilson, 2 Man Of Zeal, 3 Express Ethics, 4 All Lies Ahead, 5 It Wasn't Me, 6 Daysea's Tim, 7 Simply Express, 8n Valhalla. Res: 9 Whistle Away, 10 Rushforth Ally.

Bob Vernon Memorial Maiden: 1 Hook Me, 2 Salvatore, 3 Weather Report, 4 Pretty Boy Milo, 5 Art Of Deception, 6 Hocking, 7 Any Art, 8 Haggler. Res: 9 Jeckle, 10 Bing Bonus.