'Grand slam' tip for Col

AT this moment, you can bet that Col Harris is smiling from above.

Col Harris

AT this moment, you can bet that Col Harris is smiling from above.

There weren't many aspects of greyhound racing in which Harris wasn't involved.

Everything from breeder, owner, trainer, administrator and sponsor through his Queensland Greyhound Form Guide business.

Prior to his death in 2009, Harris sponsored a race series at Ipswich, specifically for lower grade greyhounds over the distance of 630 metres.

He always felt any trainer prepared to put in the time and effort of trying to win a staying race should be rewarded.

Since his death, members of the Harris family have continued the race sponsorship.

Tomorrow night there are three heats of the Col Harris Gold Sovereign series over 630 metres, for greyhounds with between nil and four wins.

Harris would be rapt to see full fields and reserves for those heats.

In heat one, Run With Faith for Lyn Massey is the likely favourite from box one.

The daughter of hugely successful sire Barcia Bale is stepping up in distance to 630 metres for the first time but gives every indication of running out the trip strongly.

It's a similar story in heat two.

The Peter O'Reilly trained Double Spur, drawn box one, is stepping up to 630 metres for the first time and looks well suited.

I'm tipping a box one "grand slam'' in the Gold Sovereign heats.

Jumping from that box in heat three is the Tony Zammit trained Bergamo, proven at the distance with a 37.95 win last month, leading all the way.

Tomorrow's meeting commences at 4.58pm.

The Gold Sovereign heats are the treble legs, run at 6.46, 7.04 and 7.24pm.

Auction race put back

DUE to a shortfall in entries, this year's Ipswich Magical Puppy Auction has been put back from August to September.

The age eligibility has been changed as well, with the sale now open to pups born between September 1 last year and June 1 this year.

The new sale date is Sunday, September 23.

Entries close at the end of this month, with no extension beyond July 31.

Byers leads way

AT the halfway mark of this year, Toowoomba based Col Byers is well on the way to another Ipswich training premiership win.

Byers has 360 points on the board. Mal Cuneo is second placed with 240, then Jason Aylward 184.

Pam Field leads the lady trainers title with 84 points.

There are plenty of pursuers though.

Karen Davies and Kerry Hogan have 57 points. Amy Donnelly and Serena Lawrance sit on 56.

In the greyhound of the year competition, the Ian Dionysius trained Snowball Otto is on 60 points.

Willy Toula, for Amy Donnelly, has 47 followed by Mal Cuneo's Mondella and Surfboard for Ricky Rolls, both on 43.

Snowball Otto has box one in race eight at the Showgrounds today.

Willy Toula has box one in race three tomorrow night.

The name "Willy Toula'' attracts some laughs and comments when the racecallers say that name. Think about it.

Consider this

WHO knew what time it was when the first clock was made?

Originally published as 'Grand slam' tip for Col