Rising Stars Hope Keeping Doug and Heather Going

EIGHTY-year-olds Doug and Heather Gladman, trainers of Tyanna Belle, had been planning on scaling down their involvement in greyhound racing.

EIGHTY-year-olds Doug and Heather Gladman have been planning on scaling down their greyhound racing involvement.

They gave away a couple of broodbitches and sold off a semen straw.

But on Thursday night, the dog “that keeps us alive”, Tyanna Belle, runs for them in the final of the Listed Rising Stars (520m) at Albion Park.

The Cosmic Rumble and Shebeky bitch ran the quickest of the three Rising Stars heats last week when leading throughout from the five box to win in 29.90.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

She downed Pokie Payout and Patricia's Lass for her 17th victory in 38 starts which has earned the couple $57,000.

She comes out of the five again in the final.

“Yes,” said Heather. “She's keeping us alive.”

So much so that Doug and Heather have recently bought two new pups, last Christmas-born youngsters by Fernando Bale and Barcia Bale.

“They have only been at home for three weeks,” said Heather of the pups.

Tyanna Belle, the 331m track record holder at Albion Park, wound up her preparation for the Rising Stars with a strong gallop up the Lawnton straight on Sunday.

“If she is in the first three going through the catching pen she can win,” said Doug. “She's a marvelous dog and loves Albion Park.”

Doug rates the rails runner, the Paul McIlveen-trained Sunshine Delight, as the hardest to beat in the final.

“We've met her a few times now and Sunshine Delight beat us two runs back at Albion Park,” said Doug. “Only by three-quarters of a length.”

The Gladmans have given up trying to make Tyanna Belle an Ipswich performer.

“She hates the place even though she has been in the Futurity final there,” said Heather. “She just loves racing and loves Albion Park.”

Sunshine Delight chased home recent multiple feature race winner, Jedda Cutlack's Showdown, winner of the Silver Dollars at Albion Park and the Ipswich Derby.

Showdown ran 29.98.

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