Pakenham trainer Brad Sands is hoping Flying Pie can ‘uphold the Magpies name’ in the Mark Hughes Foundation The Prospector heats (425m) at Bendigo on Sunday.
A staunch Collingwood supporter – hence Flying Pie’s moniker – Sands is quietly confident his exciting prospect can make a ‘cakewalk’ of heat one – Race 10, 1.47pm.
Sands may not believe in omens. However, Flying Pie (Box 2) – whose kennel name is “Daicos” – will wear the ‘black and white’ rug!
Flying Pie has won four races from only 10 starts and was recently third in the Listed Pink Diamond Rookie Short Course final (390m) at Ballarat before dead-heating for second in the Healesville Puppy Championship final (300m).
His emergence has been some consolation for the unexpected loss of his kennel star Mighty Pie in April.
“I was devastated, but you’ve got to move on… You’ve got to pick yourself up,” Sands said.
Flying Pie has also helped Sands, 51, through a redundancy as a Telstra technician in November 2020. He now combines greyhound training with property maintenance work.
And greyhounds are a family affair in the Sands household with sons Jarrod, 13, Aaron, 12, and Ryan, 10, all lending a hand.
“All three boys are interested – particularly Aaron,” Sands said. “He knows what box I’ve got before I know what box I’ve got.”
Amazingly, Flying Pie was a ‘giveaway’.
“Two breaking-in ‘educators’ couldn’t get him going, so I took him on,” Sands added. “It took me 4-6 months to get him chasing properly.”
Sands says Flying Pie has a “fairly good chance if he begins okay”. “He’ll make it through to the ($15,000 to-the-winner) final.”
It’s ‘side by side we stick together’ with Sands and his mate, Flying Pie.
“He’s an absolute gentleman in the kennel and never barks… “He’s placid and loves a pat; I wish I had 10 of him,” Sands said.
“He does everything right, and I’ve warmed to him.”
Sands is also hoping for a ‘multi’ on Sunday – Flying Pie into Collingwood to defeat the GWS Giants at the MCG.
Recently, form analyst Dale Code selected Flying Pie as a ‘Dog to Follow’.
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Flying Pie’s main threats appear to be Always A Thrill (Box 8), which has won four from seven, and I’m Talking (Box 7), which has won four from nine.
Meanwhile, in heat two (Race 11, 2.08pm), Unleash Collinda (Box 4) – a litter brother of Mr. Audacious – looks the testing material. But interest also surrounds the aptly named Numerology (Box 5) – a last-start winner at The Meadows, paying $97.90! – which ‘did a number’ on G1 winners Rapaki Rocks and Idolize.
Two heats of the Beanie For Brain Cancer Bendigo Roses (425m) will also be decided on the program.
Obviously one to watch will be Aston Reina (Box 6) in heat one – Race 3, 11.31am.
A recent Listed Pink Diamond Rookie Sprinter finalist, Aston Reina is a younger half-sister of retired superstar Aston Rupee whose litter sister, Aston Flame, contested last year’s Bendigo Roses final.
WATCH: It was ‘good old Collingwood forever’ for FLYING PIE (B6), which sets the Healesville Puppy Championship heats time standard (16.78sec) on June 12.
