Kayla Cottrell’s amazing affinity with blue greyhounds continued at Shepparton on Monday night when kennel newcomer Blue Tungsten sensationally smashed the 385m track record at his first start for the young training star.
While blue dogs can be an ‘acquired taste’, Cottrell would welcome a kennel full of them.
The 20-year-old came within a half-head of winning the 2021 Group 1 Australian Cup with runner-up Fernando Bluey, while just on twelve months ago she won the G2 Warragul Cup with Robbie Rotten.
“It’s funny. We seem to have a lot of success with blue dogs,” she said.
“Fernando Bluey’s kennel name was ‘Bluey’ and Blue Tungsten’s name is ‘Bluey’ too, so it’s like having Fernando Bluey back in the shed again!”
“It didn’t surprise me at all, with what he’d been trialling.”
While Blue Tungsten has a long way to go to match the deeds of Fernando Bluey, winner of 27 from 51, he couldn’t have been more impressive first-up for Pearcedale-based Cottrell, daughter of G1-winning trainers Dave Knocker and Janet Cottrell.
A December ’20 son of Bernardo and Someday Lady, Blue Tungsten was making his first appearance since October 22, when he finished at the tail of the field in a 525m event at The Meadows.
On debut at Shepparton in a Restricted Win (1-4) heat, Blue Tungsten ($4.30) exploded out of box 4, setting a new first split record of 7.84sec as he romped to a 6.2L victory over Pick Star ($4.90) in a scorching 21.195sec.
His scintillating run shaved 1.5L off the previous record of 21.30sec, set by Aston Flame in November 2021.
“He went super,” a delighted Cottrell said.
“It didn’t surprise me at all, with what he’d been trialling.
“We trialled him out of the puppy boxes at Shepparton and he ran 17.77sec, which I’m pretty sure broke the record.
WATCH: “That’s a remarkable run. I don’t believe it!” BLUE TUNGSTEN (B4) broke Shepparton’s 385m record on Monday night, clocking 21.195sec at his first start since October 22.
“Andrew (Xerri) previously trained him and we got him in December. It was just a kennel change and the dog hasn’t looked back since.
“In all his trials he’s shown us he’s a very good beginner. He’s really got that speed to burn early.”
Blue Tungsten is Cottrell’s first record breaker and continues her uncanny knack of entering a new year in a blaze of glory.
In February 2021, Kayla became Victorian greyhound racing’s youngest G1-winning trainer when Fernando Cazz, a litter sister to Fernando Bluey, won the Rookie Rebel, while in January 2022, Robbie Rotten won the Warragul Cup.
Blue Tungsten, which is raced by breeder Michael Lewis, has now won four of his 14 starts and he’s certain to be a much shorter quote when he exits box two in next Monday night’s final.
“He’s drawn box 2 next week, but I don’t think boxes matter with him,” Cottrell said.
“He has won at Sandown over ‘500’, so we’ll eventually get him back to two-turns.
“He’s only just turned two, so he’s still a baby and still learning, so we’ll just let him tell us where to go, but there’ll be plenty of nice races for him.”
