Pagan Midnight was one of two greyhounds for trainer Rob Britton to win a heat of the $450,000 Launching Pad last Thursday night at Sandown Park.
Pagan Midnight led all of the way in heat 9 in a swift 29.48 – the fastest heat win.
“If anything it was the price ($20.60) that surprised me the most as I thought the dog was going pretty well – I thought his runs have been good even when he hasn’t won,” said Britton.
Pagan Midnight started his racing career with a bang being the fastest maiden winner ever over 461m at Hobart, he was then sold to New South Wales where he struggled to put his best paw forward.
“Chris Priestly the syndicate manager said ‘we’re at a little bit of a loose end would you like to train him’, I wanted to give him a go but to be honest I didn’t quite know how to get him going.”
“When he arrived at the kennel his confidence was an issue – every week I’ve had him his confidence has grown and now he really wants to be at the track.”
Britton believes a part of Pagan Midnight’s growth in confidence has been getting him familiar with Sandown Park and racing on the new finish on lure.
“I’ve been trialing him every Wednesday at Sandown and racing him on the finish on lure, I think that’s been an absolute key for him. The fact that I’ve only trialed him and raced him at Sandown means he’s now got to the stage where he’s confident to go there – given that I’m almost reluctant to take him anywhere else,” Britton laughed.
“In his first couple of trials he was a bit worried when going to rail under dogs and would take the easy option of easing back or trying to go around the other dog – as time has gone on he’s turned a corner and has got more serious about what he’s doing.”
Britton has been a big believer and advocate for the Launching Pad series since its new format was introduced in 2015. This year’s edition has seen more significant changes with the introduction of semi-finals and a consolation series.
“I think the series will just grow, it was introduced when greyhound racing was probably at its lowest. I think its got big potential – it’ll eventually get to a stage where people buy a ticket early regardless of what dog they’ve got at the time.”
This year’s series has seen greyhounds come from all around the country to compete, including New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and of course Victoria.
“The most important thing for people to realise is that if they haven’t got a good dog they can be still be involved in the series by buying a spot. For example, Tony Devola, I’ve trained his dogs for years and he doesn’t have many at the moment though was really keen to buy a spot – he’s got a share in both dogs (Pagan Midnight and Reichenbach) I’ve got in the series. He loves the fact that he’s involved in the series and for three weeks you’re on a hell of a ride.”
Britton highlighted the fact that you only have to be a registered person to be eligible to buy an entry into the series, one of its unique features.
“You don’t have to be an owner or trainer to be involved, and that’s where I think this series will grow. It can be a little old lady who has an interest in greyhound racing, who can buy a spot every year and be represented in the race.”
Britton’s Pagan Midnight and Reichenbach feature in this Thursday night’s Launching Pad semi-finals.
Click here for semi-final draws
Click here for details on the Launching Pad
