Dream Collector Proves There’s Still Merit For The Finish On Lure

For those who've never heard of the greyhound Dream Collector, here's a quick summary of his past:

– The son of Talk's Cheap and Shall She received a ticket for failing to chase at his second start at Park
– Successfully completed a clearance trial at on 7 November 2013
– Won his maiden in impressive fashion by fourteen lengths at Cranbourne over the 520m, clocking 30.59
– Went on to win two of his next three starts including a 29.60 performance at
– Received a second failure to chase ticket after finishing sixth at Cranbourne on 1 January 2014
– Successfully passed a clearance trial at Warragul on 11 January 2014
– Won his next start at Warragul over the 460m in a time of 26.00
– On 20 February 2014 at Sandown Park, received a third offence for failing to pursue the with due commitment in a 515m event, where he finished second. From box two, Dream Collector loomed up on the outside of the leader and looked certain to pass, before turning his head in an attempt to act in a ‘playful' manner towards the other greyhound. This resulted in a three month suspension at all tracks and requirement of a Satisfactory Trial. (See video below).

Dream Collector – Box Two

Vision courtesy of grv.org.au

It's a less than impressive rap sheet for an incredibly talented greyhound and as a result Dream Collector was sent to leading New Zealand trainer David Fahey to compete behind the controversial finish on lure. Seven starts later and this greyhound has developed into one of the brightest stars in racing, notching up six wins from seven attempts. He demolished his rivals from box five on Friday night in claiming the Group Two South Island Championship Final at 's Raceway. A sizzling run home of 12.07 over the 520m distance was described as one of the fastest of all time by commentary experts. Dream Collector severely dwelt at the start and showed blinding speed to round up the early leaders in a come from behind performance that left those experts stunned.

Dream Collector – Box Five

Vision courtesy of thedogs.co.nz

It became well publicised that many Australian trainers were against the finish on lure when it was first introduced at Albion Park in Queensland and and in South Australia in early 2009. After continuous debate between trainers and administrators, Albion Park scrapped the finish on lure in 2011. It was determined that the catching pen was the safer option after a report comparing injuries between the two lure styles.

Angle Park also reverted back to the catching pen system on 1 July 2014, with Gawler retaining the finish on lure. This decision by GRSA resulted in heated debate between the trainers in SA.

Valid arguments can be made for both types of lures, however the important question is how many greyhounds are retired early in Australia because they fail to chase the traditional catching pen style lure? Dream Collector's remarkable turnaround is just one greyhound of many that got given a second chance at racing in New Zealand and has flourished under the finish on style lure. Without this system the likely scenario is Dream Collector would have been retired from racing in Australia due to his three indiscretions. There are many other dogs retired due to not chasing that would chase the finish on lure.

It's vital for moving forward to continue developing an assertive and successful system. A vital part of this strategy should be to provide greyhounds that aren't consistent chasers with the option of a finish on lure in Australia. Although Gawler has still got the finish on lure, prizemoney is extremely limited, as are the amount of meetings conducted at the track. An increase in prizemoney and meeting numbers would provide these types of greyhounds with every opportunity to showcase their talents. A numerous amount of greyhounds have illustrated what Dream Collector has achieved and developed into Group winning greyhounds in New Zealand, largely thanks to the finish on lure.

Another fantastic local example in recent times has been Cairnlea Layla in SA. Her trainer summed it up perfectly in a past article, “Cairnlea Layla has two marring convictions in Victoria, and she is racing superbly and has done everything perfectly over here. She is keeping her head straight and she has found a home and another option after Victoria that she might not have got.”

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Philip M Brooker
Philip M Brooker
9 years ago

Great reading just about to watch the video link.

Jarrad Murray
Jarrad Murray
9 years ago

Damien Mills read this

Lisa Rasmussen
Lisa Rasmussen
9 years ago

Yes, you may learn something :)

Damien Mills
Damien Mills
9 years ago

Doona Bale proves there is no merit

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

This proves nothing. You can trial a greyhound onto the pen or the arm. You can course a greyhound. The way a greyhound finishes a race has nothing to do with it failing to pursue or marring. It’s how you train it. If the same dog trials a couple of times into a pen, it won’t hit the gate at the end of race. If it needs a grab on, why does it need it during the race? This is fanciful rubbish!

Keith Donaldson
Keith Donaldson
9 years ago

Dogs do not get hurt in NZ as much with the lure and are keener to chase There is ulterior motive to get rid of it in Aussie Same as the starting gates in Aussie gallops Tab losing thousands every year with late scratchings and scared inexperienced staff behind the barriers Never mind the injuries to jockeys If they ask me nice I will tell them what’s needed for the apprentices safety

dream_the_dream
dream_the_dream
9 years ago

To ‘somewhere out there’ it is difficult not to have my say – you have no idea what you are talking about and I suggest your words are ‘fanciful rubbish’ completely.

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

@dreamer: trials are the place to get your dog right.

Sportspunter
Sportspunter
9 years ago

Do you think Dream Collector was racing the same class of dog over there? Or a dog that leaves Victoria is racing in the same class in SA? I’m all for the FOL but to put the improvement down to that alone as your title suggests is a very long bow.
He had given them a cold half way through that race in NZ, nothing like the Sandown race. What other techniques had changed for him over there? Was that researched?
Are you happy to breed on with a dog that has turned his head twice?

dream_the_dream
dream_the_dream
9 years ago

Dream Collector is only a very young dog – perhaps it is not the same class of dogs but we give credit to the ‘run on lure’ which seems to keep their mind on the job – when you have bred the fastest dog you have ever had (over a period of 30 years) the dog deserved to get the best chance to show his form.  He hasn’t looked like turning his head in NZ and if all was fair he would’ve been pulled up for marring here -but that was the stewards observation. So what is is. Yes happy… Read more »

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

@dreamer:  At least you’ve finally admitted ‘the dog is only young’. I for one can only say glad your nonnie is in another country. Keep it’s pups there if you are breeding from it. The sooner we get true chasers only over here the better. They should be able to run after something (anything that moves) without mid-race incidents. If we’re saying how you pull up a dog determines that, send them elsewhere please. I’m not against FOL. It is an excellent tool to get a dog chasing correctly – when they are learning- but there is no reason for… Read more »

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

@dream_the_dream: And for someone who ‘who has to have there say’ when disagreeing with me. I don’t think sportspunter needs to provide you with any qualifications at all. He/she is entitled to their viewpoint. Very valid viewpoint imho. Simply them questioning the change in trainer, location, diet and oh, let’s just say everything including the lure finish system sounds rather reasonable to a rational individual. It certaintly doesn’t require them posting their CV in response.

Philip M Brooker
Philip M Brooker
9 years ago

Great reading just about to watch the video link.

Jarrad Murray
Jarrad Murray
9 years ago

Damien Mills read this

Lisa Rasmussen
Lisa Rasmussen
9 years ago

Yes, you may learn something :)

Damien Mills
Damien Mills
9 years ago

Doona Bale proves there is no merit

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

This proves nothing. You can trial a greyhound onto the pen or the arm. You can course a greyhound. The way a greyhound finishes a race has nothing to do with it failing to pursue or marring. It’s how you train it. If the same dog trials a couple of times into a pen, it won’t hit the gate at the end of race. If it needs a grab on, why does it need it during the race? This is fanciful rubbish!

Keith Donaldson
Keith Donaldson
9 years ago

Dogs do not get hurt in NZ as much with the lure and are keener to chase There is ulterior motive to get rid of it in Aussie Same as the starting gates in Aussie gallops Tab losing thousands every year with late scratchings and scared inexperienced staff behind the barriers Never mind the injuries to jockeys If they ask me nice I will tell them what’s needed for the apprentices safety

dream_the_dream
dream_the_dream
9 years ago

To ‘somewhere out there’ it is difficult not to have my say – you have no idea what you are talking about and I suggest your words are ‘fanciful rubbish’ completely.

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

@dreamer: trials are the place to get your dog right.

Sportspunter
Sportspunter
9 years ago

Do you think Dream Collector was racing the same class of dog over there? Or a dog that leaves Victoria is racing in the same class in SA? I’m all for the FOL but to put the improvement down to that alone as your title suggests is a very long bow.

He had given them a cold half way through that race in NZ, nothing like the Sandown race. What other techniques had changed for him over there? Was that researched?

Are you happy to breed on with a dog that has turned his head twice?

dream_the_dream
dream_the_dream
9 years ago

Dream Collector is only a very young dog – perhaps it is not the same class of dogs but we give credit to the ‘run on lure’ which seems to keep their mind on the job – when you have bred the fastest dog you have ever had (over a period of 30 years) the dog deserved to get the best chance to show his form.  He hasn’t looked like turning his head in NZ and if all was fair he would’ve been pulled up for marring here -but that was the stewards observation. So what is is. Yes happy… Read more »

windalegangster
windalegangster
9 years ago

The best thing to get a dog going in NZ lives up a tree .

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

@dreamer:  At least you’ve finally admitted ‘the dog is only young’. I for one can only say glad your nonnie is in another country. Keep it’s pups there if you are breeding from it. The sooner we get true chasers only over here the better. They should be able to run after something (anything that moves) without mid-race incidents. If we’re saying how you pull up a dog determines that, send them elsewhere please. I’m not against FOL. It is an excellent tool to get a dog chasing correctly – when they are learning- but there is no reason for… Read more »

Somewhere out there
Somewhere out there
9 years ago

@dream_the_dream: And for someone who ‘who has to have there say’ when disagreeing with me. I don’t think sportspunter needs to provide you with any qualifications at all. He/she is entitled to their viewpoint. Very valid viewpoint imho. Simply them questioning the change in trainer, location, diet and oh, let’s just say everything including the lure finish system sounds rather reasonable to a rational individual. It certaintly doesn’t require them posting their CV in response.