2023 Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup champion Quantifiable will return to the Southern Tablelands on Friday attempting to create her own piece of history.
The multiple Group finalist will tackle the 350m Goulburn Fireball this year and if she’s able to claim the crown for Chris O’Brien, she will become the first greyhound in history to win both club feature races.
And even though ‘Julie’ celebrated her fourth birthday on Monday, her trainer says she’s showing no signs of slowing down.
“I’ve kept her over the sprinting trips lately and she’s going well. She’s masters age now but you wouldn’t know it…we’re both masters age actually,” O’Brien chuckled after celebrating a birthday of his own this month.
“But I’ve just been keeping her fresh and free galloping…she seems to be responding to that. During the cooler months I kept her away from Wenty Park and I knew the Fireball was around the corner so I steered her towards Goulburn.”
Father Rick came close to taking out both races a couple of years ago, with the Ray Webster-trained marvel winning the Fireball back in 2021 before running third in the 2022 Cup decider behind Mellcat Big Boy.
Quantifiable gets her tilt at history underway in the opening heat of the $25,000 feature, with the Daren Sultana-prepared All Up Jimmy (Box 1), Dapto Megastar placegetter Overflow Jill (Box 4) and GRNSW Thunderbolt semi-finalist Mashle Wave looming as her toughest opponents.
“She’s always had that good early speed. She went within a tenth of the record over the shorts at Dapto last year (a PB of 16.73), she was close to the Bulli record recently as well when she ran 18.87 (the record over 340m is 18.75). So she’s still pinging out and has that early speed,” O’Brien added.
“She’ll let me know when she wants to stop racing though. Her form might taper off, the times on the board in races or trials give you a good indication and if you notice they aren’t taking the runs they used to take, that’s always a sign. You get to know the dog pretty well after this many starts.”
The 29-time winner has now earned over $164,000 in prizemoney for connections and only recently went past the mark set by litter sister and Group 1 placegetter, Mortified.
“She raced under the radar of Mortified for a while, but she’s probably been more consistent than her and she’s not as quirky,” O’Brien said.
“They’ve both been really good to me though and Quantifiable will make a nice brood bitch too when she’s done. She’s a nice 30kg greyhound and we’re just waiting for her sister to come on season before we go to Bernardo with her so hopefully that works out well.”
Quantifiable with Chris O'Brien and connections after claiming the 2023 Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup
Four Fireball heats in total will be contested at the Greyhound Racing Club, with the likes of Running Reds (dual GRNSW Thunderbolt finalist), 17-time winner and Richmond Cannonball victor Zip Out Zipper, as well as Blazing Ferrero - who ran 19.59 at the track and trip in April – all engaged.
Earlier in the program, four heats of the Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup highlight the card with 2023 runner-up Nangar Jim among a host of chances in a wide-open series.
Nangar Larry (eighth in the Goulburn Cup final last year) and littermates Omega Jacob and Omega Travis will hold the hopes of the Andy and Jodie Lord kennel.
Anthony Azzopardi – who coincidentally has won both Goulburn feature races as a trainer - is bringing Gold Scotch, Temora Cup placegetter Tattooed and Judgement Day back to the scene of his Goulburn Fireball victory in 2023 with Packham Silk.
And Group 1-placed Ferness and Harmony Fire will also take part for Ronnie Evans and Neil Staines respectively.
The top two from each heat of the Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup ($40,000) and Goulburn Fireball ($25,000) will advance to the finals on Friday, November 1.
