Staines' Double Delight At Grafton

Neil Staines qualified his first finalist for the Listed Taylor Family Maiden Classic (407m) on Monday night.

Gerard Guthrie07 July 2018

AFTER years of making the expedition from Yass to Grafton for the famous July Carnival, Neil Staines qualified his first finalist for the lucrative Listed Clarence Valley Sheds-sponsored Taylor Family Maiden Classic (407m) on Monday night.

And Staines has an undeniable chance of claiming the $15,000 winner's purse next Wednesday after first starter Club Double, a 36.9 kilogram August '16 son of Dyna Double One and Stumpy Grant, produced the standout heat performance on Monday.

"I missed last year's Carnival but apart from that we go up to Grafton every year," Neil Staines said.

"I've never ever got a dog through to the Maiden Final before but we usually come away with some sort of event. We won the Stayers Cup in 2014 with Pumped Up Zarr."

Drawn in box three in the first of six heats, Club Double was on the third line of TAB's market at $5.40, with My Kinda Song, trained by Alan Pringle, the $2.60 favourite, shading Dennis Barnes' rails runner Nangar Hawke at $2.80.

Without the benefit of a trial at Grafton, Club Double was best to begin and the debutant showed great acceleration to quickly open up an unassailable lead as he careered away to an 8.75 length victory over Walkaway Plastic in a best of night 23.04.

"I was very happy with the dog," Staines offered.

"When we started off with him I was looking at this race but we ran into a bit of trouble. He's a big, rangy dog and he kept pulling up sore. I didn't want to rush him and when we went up to Grafton to trial I didn't take him because he was sore at the time, so he went into the heats cold.

"But if they can begin that's a big help and right from the start he's been a good beginner, a good box dog.

"If everything went right I thought he could win his heat but we got some pretty strong information from the locals about the dog in the eight (My Kinda Song) and you've always got to respect Dennis Barnes' dogs.

"I wasn't surprised he won but I was surprised that he gapped them like he did. Hopefully he can improve with the look at the track, as long as he doesn't get too far ahead of himself, which some of them can do at their second start.

"I said to his owner, Jack Savaglia, who's from South Australia, that every time we do something with him he keeps improving.

"Dave Grant and his missus from Canowindra bred him and he broke in at Dennis Barnes' place. The owners were looking for a trainer in NSW and Dave threw my hat in the ring. I also had a brother that was equally as good as Club Double but unfortunately we lost him a couple of months ago."

Club Double was easily the fastest heat winner, with the other five run-offs won by Nangar Phantom (Jagger Swagger – Fancy Lola) in 23.32, Nangar Fever (Buck Fever – Fancy Nangar) in 23.36, Betty Boo Bonus (Fernando Bale – Dark And Stormy) in 23.56, Hip Hop Hope (Collision – Physical) in 23.57, and Shake My World (Shakey Jakey – Miss Direction) in 23.69.

After once again drawing box three for next Wednesday night's prestigious Classic, Club Double looks the testing material, although Staines has been around too long to take anything for granted.

"He's come up with the three again, which I'm happy with. The closer to the fence the better for him I'd say," Staines said.

"Without being over confident, he's just got to step and he's a really good hope but there are some smart blokes on the ends of the other leads!"

Box Draw For Taylor Family Maiden Classic (407m)