Iona trainer Michael Chilcott (far right) with his family, from left, Christopher, Julie and Amber, and his Horsham finalists, from left, Hot Terrain, Crash Bang Boofy, Bomba Style and Go Buddy. 28102 Picture: Luke PlummerBy Paul Pickering
IONA greyhound trainer Michael Chilcott didn’t know where to look at Horsham on Sunday night.
The poultry farmer and hobby trainer could have been excused for pinching himself as his quartet of runners filed into their boxes for the third race on the Horsham Cup card.
Chilcott knew the odds were on his side in the 336m grade-five final, but that didn’t stifle the celebrations as his $2.80 favourite Hot Terrain streaked to a three-length victory.
Hot Terrain, owned by Kooweerup locals Shane and Leslie Piggott, started from box three and negotiated some heavy traffic, but was never headed after securing the inside running.
Chilcott also picked up third place with Crash Bang Boofy ($6.60), while kennelmates Go Buddy ($3.90) and Bomba Style ($14.90) finished fifth and sixth.
The victorious trainer, who scored his first treble with three wins and a second in the heats last Tuesday, said it was a strange feeling seeing his kennel stars go head-to-head.
“It was certainly difficult to watch, because you’re trying to see who’s up the front and where the rest of them are,” he said.
“It’s hard enough following one.”
Chilcott is a relative newcomer to the greyhound racing game, having bought into his first dog just five years ago.
He had some success with competitive bitch Tiza Moment – that won more than $30,000 in stakes on 13 wins and 25 placings – and started to spy a future in the sport.
Chilcott is reluctant to identify a favourite among his dogs, but he has a real soft spot for Bomba Style that was handed over to him when the previous owner’s patience ran out.
Chilcott gave his teenage children, Christopher and Amber, a share in Bomba Style and the whole family – including wife Julie – has taken on responsibility for walking and looking after him.
So when Bomba Style dashed to his sixth win last Tuesday night – at the generous odds of $29 – it was a special feeling.
He says the recent success has given him some much-needed encouragement.
“When I first started, I went through a stage where I did get a bit depressed, because I was doing all the work and not getting the results,” he explained.
Chilcott vowed that he would take a more professional approach to training and move dogs on if they couldn’t cut it.
It worked and now he’s on the cusp of taking his hobby to the next stage.
“It’s something I’m really passionate about and I’d certainly like to pursue it at a higher level,” he said.
