Old stager Blackpool Astro lines up for his 105th start in the Straights Veterans final (300m) – Race 4, 12.14pm – at Healesville on Sunday.
The Jan ’18 Banjo Boy x Crackerjack Bale dog qualified for the $2500 to-the-winner final after finishing second to Lady Fabio in a heat last week.
Prepared by Ian Beattie – a popular and regular figure at Healesville – Blackpool Astro won at his 100th start on August 7 at the picturesque Yarra Valley venue.
The old-timer is a model of consistency with 16 wins, 24 seconds and 17 thirds. His stakes total $34,235.
“But probably the main thing that you could take is to put in the love and care… What you put into them they will give back to you.”
And RSN race-caller Victoria Shaw recently caught up with Beattie – a former track work rider – and captured his emotions about “Astro” winning his centennial event.
“One of my best days in greyhound training,” he said straight from the heart. This bloke (Blackpool Astro) was one of the first that I started to train, and I started about a year and a half ago.
“He trialled about two weeks after I got him and chipped a bone in his hock. But, with a bit of time and effort, I got him back to racing after six months.
“So, for him to come back and have 70 starts since then, it has been a big effort by the boy.”
WATCH: Ian Beattie discusses BLACKPOOL ASTRO’s win at start number 100 with GRV’s Victoria Shaw.
Shaw asked Beattie if he has brought anything to greyhound racing from his years preparing racehorses.
“Some things are similar with them, and a lot of things are very different with them.
“But probably the main thing that you could take is to put in the love and care, and make sure they are injury free and feed them well. What you put into them they will give back to you.”
The smile on Beattie’s face was a bit of a giveaway when Shaw asked him how much he was enjoying greyhound racing.
“To be quite honest, quite a bit,” he quipped.
Beattie backed up Blackpool Astro at Healesville in the Straights Veteran heats two days after his 100th start win.
“Backing him up in two days won’t worry him too much, as he doesn’t do much at home. He just potters around and has a little bit of a walk each day.
“He races at Healesville to make sure I can look after that hock, so that he doesn’t re-injure it. He is too important to have him get hurt again.”
WATCH: BLACKPOOL ASTRO (B2) wins at his 100th start ‘magical milestone’ for trainer Ian Beattie at Healesville on August 7.
