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  • Wednesday, 23 Mar, 2022,
  • by Gerard Guthrie

Kasemi’s crash ‘Course’ to success

Kristie Collyer’s “amazing ride” with Kasemi continued when the coursing revelation was anointed Coursing Female of the Year at the National Coursing Association of Victoria’s annual awards.

Kasemi did enough to earn the title in the back half of the 2021 coursing season, winning the Gippsland Cup at her first assignment, and then running a close second in the prestigious Waterloo Cup – coursing’s Holy Grail.

“I was pretty shocked she won the award, because she only coursed for about half the season,” said Kristie, 35, who’s no stranger to coursing success, teaming with father Murray to win the Waterloo Cup in 2009 with Voodoo Oak.

“My brother Steven and I decided to take Kasemi and her sister Uncle’s Girl coursing for something different and to get some confidence back. Coursing is really good for their fitness too.

“Kasemi was only just beaten in the Waterloo Cup when All Inn Billy took over right at the end. We’ll be back to have another go this year for sure.

“I was pretty shocked she won the award, because she only coursed for about half the season.”

“Uncle’s Girl also did well; she won the Gary Brett Memorial at Longwood.

“It definitely benefited Kasemi on the racetrack too.

“Unfortunately, she injured the cartilage in her wrist about a month ago. She came back and won at Healesville – her class prevailed – but then she pulled up a bit sore after running at Shepparton on Monday.

“She’s wearing pretty tapes now, in exactly the same spot as her mother did!

“She’ll be okay, and coursing starts again soon, which will be perfect for her.”

Kasemi’s meteoric rise to coursing stardom is all the more remarkable considering the winner of 11 of her 50 racetrack starts is the product of the first, and thus far only, litter Coburg North-based Kristie has bred.

It was fate when Kristie “fell in love” with Kasemi’s mother, West On Xandi, when campaigning in Perth while working for champion trainer Robert Britton. The rest is history.

Coursing Female of the Year Kasemi in full flight during the 2021 Waterloo Cup series.

“It’s been an amazing ride from where it all started,” said Kristie.

“I used to go over to Perth with Robert’s dogs – I actually won the Galaxy twice, with Space Star and Born Ali – and I stayed with Robert’s sister Linda, who was training West On Xandi.

“Linda asked if I wanted to take West On Xandi over to Melbourne and I also got her sister, Showtime Mystery.

“They were my little racing team for a while and they were going to be my broodbitches too, but unfortunately, I lost Showtime Mystery last year.

“I bred the Unlawful Entry x West On Xandi litter and did it all myself. I reared them, broke them in and it’s been a very handy litter. The eight of them all broke their maidens!

“I would like to breed another litter but it’s a little bit difficult living in the city.

“West On Xandi is a crazy girl and I’m a little bit crazy myself, so Kasemi didn’t have any chance! We’re ‘The Crazy Team’ and our theme song is ‘Welcome to the Madhouse’ by Tones And I!”

The NCA Awards function at Sandown Park provided a welcome boost to Kristie’s spirits in more ways than one.

“I have an auto-immune disease, lupus, and I’ve hardly been going out at all because I don’t want to catch COVID, so it was really good to get out and enjoy the night and winning the award made it even better!”

Kasemi and Kristie Collyer pictured after a victory at The Meadows.

Gerard GuthrieGerard Guthrie

Gerard Guthrie

One of Australia’s leading greyhound racing journalists since 2000 with the Greyhound Recorder and now with Greyhound Racing Victoria. Part-owner 2013 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Sheikha. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)

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