Starline Express Stamps Himself A Star

REG Gardoll landed the Dave Brett Memorial Maiden final with promising Starline Express at Albion Park on Thursday night.

But, his celebration was he had to pull over on the side of the road on the way home to Pillar Valley near Grafton for a sleep.

“I'm 75 now you know,” said Reg. “I didn't get home until 5am.”

Starline Express (Fernando Bale-Spooky Sensation) was impressive through scorching early sections to lead throughout to win the Brett Memorial (520m) in 29.88.

“There was a bit of a pile up early and that helped us,” said Reg.

But he was downplaying the win.

Running 29.88 in front, it was impossible for his rivals to run him down.

Mark Saal's promising King Of Cool did best to get second with Black Monaro in third for John Catton.

Starline Express earned $15,600 for the win.

He had been second to Steve Keep's Sal's Blue Boy in the Pop Northfield Maiden at Casino on October 28.

“He's not a bad little dog,” said Reg of Starline Express.

“Keepie got the breaks early at Casino but our bloke ran well.

STARLINE EXPRESS was in a league of his own in the Listed Dave Brett Memorial, thrashing his opposition with ease ?‍? #QLDisRacing? @BrisGreys pic.twitter.com/Z8yqe6vUBZ

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) November 24, 2022

“But in three runs around Albion Park, he has improved every time, coming down from 30.23 to 30.11 and now to 29.88.”

Owner Dave Mennie and Gardoll had raced the dam Spooky Sensation to 11 wins.

“Dave gave her away as a broodbitch and got a pup from her first litter to Moreira,” said Reg. “But when he saw she had a litter by Fernando Bale he bought a couple.

“Dave and I shared the rearing of them a month at a time.

“Dave lives south of Grafton along the beach and he would take the pups for a month to let them run on the beach, then they would come back here to be reared in the paddocks.”

Mennie was planning on being at Albion Park on Thursday night but what he thought was to be day surgery on an ear turned into an overnight stay in hospital.

“I will see how the pup pulls up and maybe head back for a Novice next Thursday night,” said Reg.

“Then we might think about looking for another nice race for him.

“He's only 20 months old.”

TWO heats of the Listed Queensland Flame, to send the ultimate winner into the $1.65  million The Phoenix at The Meadows during December, were run.

De Ferran ran 29.83 to win the opening heat over Springtime Storm, then Shipwreck ran 29.68 to win the other heat over Springtime Jet.

Queensland Flame (520m): 1 Tungsten Miss, 2 Tyanna Belle, 3 Jay Is Jay, 4 Hara's Herbie, 5 De Ferran, 6 Springtime Jet, 7 Shipwreck, 8 Springtime  Storm. Res: 9 Luminosity, 10 Feel The Heat.