Goldstar Racing secures first Queensland win
Peter Fenemor • April 24th, 2025 11:14 AM • 4 min read
The Goldstar racing team landed their first winner in Queensland when the reserve greyhound Goldstar Sandler impressively won his Tuesday 457m race in a swift 25.44.
Trainer Riley Evans, along with his father Steve, has made a bright start to racing at the new The Q, Q1 Lakeside track following the recent relocation of 80 Goldstar named greyhounds from Christchurch to Brisbane on a charter flight.
“Goldstar Sandler delivered on the promise he showed back home. His time was the equal second fastest recorded on the track and that came in a Grade 6 race (equivalent to NZ C1). He has plenty of scope for improvement,” advised Steve Evans.
Riley Evans lined up his first runner on the Q1 Lakeside track during Monday’s meeting.
Goldstar Syd delivered a very creditable 457m third placing, while also on Tuesday Goldstar Parker and Goldstar Jasper both claimed bold 457m second placings.
“Really pleased, stoked with the way the team has started racing over here. The Q1 Lakeside track suits a lot of our greyhounds. That’s reason why we travelled up to Palmerston North so often,” explained Steve Evans.
“Just over 40 of the team have trialled on either on the Q1 Lakeside one-turn track or the Q2 Parklands two-turn track and are cleared to race.”
“We are waiting for paperwork clearance on some others and when that’s completed we will be adding to those racing over the next couple of weeks.”
“Ginny trialled really nicely over 520m. We will wait until they card distance races and then line her up. There’s no point in racing her over the shorter distances.
“Yes, it has been tough over here being away from home without Bonnie (wife). She is coping pretty well back at home (Leeston), keeping busy with plenty of friends being with her,” an emotional Evans said. “The welcome we have received over here has been fantastic. The support offered to us has been outstanding.”
Goldstar Racing are racing nine greyhounds during this afternoon’s meeting on the Q1 Lakeside track. The leading prospects for the team includes Goldstar Foster (Race 1), Goldstar Murphy (Race 5) and Goldstar Parker (Race 11).
Busy ANZAC Day schedule
It will be a hectic period in and around the Addington Raceway tomorrow afternoon.
ANZAC Day dual code racing action features at the Raceway with the greyhound code getting a 10-race card underway at 1.06pm. Harness racing will commence their 10-race program from 2.55pm.
The action continues at the next-door Apollo Projects Stadium with the NZ Warriors taking on the Newcastle Knights with kick-off at 8.05pm.
It’s a low-grade Addington greyhound meeting however there are a number of promising young greyhounds lining up in the We Will Remember Them Stakes (Race 4) over 525m.
Included in the field is the exciting Dave Fahey and Katie Wyllie prepared Anglers Arms who has been nicely placed by his trainers as seen by him stylishly winning three Maiden races.
The class rise he faces here isn’t likely to faze him especially if he runs around his 525m 30.46 best time while wearing the TAB 3 rug.
After a consistent run of minor placings Opawa Toby gained his deserved Maiden win last week for Robin Wales.
He secures his first career trap-1 draw here.
Adding interest to the race is Madam Phaedra who, after back-to-back 295m wins, is stepped up to 525m racing by his conditioner Jason Dunn. Her breeding suggests that she will handle the longer trip.
And there’s a special treat for Hatrick patrons later on Friday evening with a rare 755m race being carded.
Highlighting the Jolt Coffee House Wanganui C1/2D field (Race 7) is the presence of the quality stayer Grande Vue Ace.
Her mentor Bob Pringle has guided her to six wins and three minor placing from her nine previous 755m races in the River City. Three of those wins came in Group races.
Grande Vue Ace has to contend with trap-eight for her assignment here, which isn’t ideal for her railing racing style.
However, in saying that, she displays great track sense which says that she can work out a clear racing passage for herself, before she unleashes her paralyzing finishing burst.
Pahiatua trainer Wayne Morris was very disappointed that his proven stayer Opawa Louise was balloted from last week’s 720m Nancy Cobain Memorial. He had indicated that he felt his charge was spot on to deliver a competitive race in the Group 2 event.
Morris gave her a Manawatu 457m warmup race on Tuesday where she was sighted strongly doing her best work at the business end of the race.
Opawa Louise is the only other stayer in the field to have won over the 755m journey.
Adding interest to race is the presence of the two Jamie Pruden trained littermates Beautiful Baloo and Sweet And Sassy.
Both of them hold a C2D grading and both of them are drawn to race handy to-the-pace throughout from their inside draws.
