Son Of Gus Has The Eye Of The Tiger

KEARSLEY couple Bob and Pat Groizard celebrated a fifth straight victory with their homebred galloper Son Of Gus at Ladbrokes Gardens on Friday afternoon, claiming a stirring grade 5 final win over the 400m.

Heading into Friday afternoon's final on the back of four straight wins, including a 7 ½ length 22.87 heat success, the light brindle son of Able Seaman and Crystal Halo edged out Smiley Mulwee by a half-head in Friday's final, stopping the clock in a slick 22.83.

"I've always said they are all race dogs, but then there are dogs that really want to win and those that don't, and ‘Tiger' (Able Seaman) is one of those dogs that wants to win, just like his old man," said veteran conditioned Bob Groizard earlier this week.

"We've still got old Able Seaman here at home, he's nine years old now but still runs up and down in the yards like a pup – he's in that good a shape he could probably almost race! He was a very good dog for us, he won 10 races but we never got to see the best of him. Before he raced he broke a wrist which had to be pin fired and it really stopped him from getting to where he could have – especially over 500m.

"He's immaculately bred which was one of the main reasons we bred this litter from him. His grand-dam Gemma Gee is closely related to Chloe Jones, the dam of Go Forever and Trewly Special and he's a son of Over Flo who is by Brett Lee – we're really proud how the litter is going."

Dam Crystal Halo – a winner of 10 races throughout her career – was a talented chaser in her own right.

"She held the short-course record at Muswellbrook for around 18 months, she was very quick," added Groizard.

"We sent three of this litter to be broken in at Glengarrie and the reports were good and I was really pleased to hear they all had a bit of attitude and a real keenness to what they did.

"Tiger – or Gus as I mostly call him – ran 22.94 in a Gardens Performance Trial after just a few trials and he then finished fourth on debut. He then ran I think five thirds in a row and I said to my son Robbie, who does all the work with the dogs these days, that there was something wrong with him as he was going backwards. We took him to John Newell and he found a slight crack down his back leg, so we turned him out to heal and he's returned as good as ever."

Whilst Son Of Gus is flying the flag for the litter on the strength of five straight wins, Bob reports the rest of the litter aren't without their share of talent either.

"Son Of Able won his maiden on debut but then tore his groin the next start, he's not far away from returning and a bitch called My Dixie has won seven of her 16 starts for Merle Clarke, the latest at Dubbo on Sunday."

With Son Of Gus set to tackle race 11 at Ladbrokes Gardens this Friday evening, nicely drawn in box two, Groizard plans to step the light brindle chaser up in distance following this week's assignment.

"His run home times are strong so after this week I'd say we'll give him a couple of post-to-posts and see how he handles it."

And with Son Of Gus holding down the fort on the racing front, Bob and Pat's former smart chaser Time Is Precious is doing her bit in the breeding barn, recently whelping nine pups to in-form sire Dyna Double One.

"Would you believe it she had nine pups but eight dogs and one bitch," boasted Groizard.

"When they were coming out Rob kept saying dog, dog, dog – we couldn't have been happier. Time Is Precious was a terrific bitch for us and she's a lot like Able Seaman in that she just loves to run.

"I've always stuck by the motto that if you feed them right, make sure they're not sore and that they're happy and healthy, they'll do the rest!

"That's worked for us for a long time now and hopefully for plenty more to come!"