JOHNSON SWEEPS KINGS V QUEENS TITLE

Gary Johnson’s dominance of Tasmanian greyhound racing kept rolling on in Launceston on Monday night, by preparing the first four placegetters in the $6,975 Miners Gold Brewery Kings V Queens Tasbred Final.

In a brilliant training performance supplying six of the runners in the $4,860-to-the-winner 515m event, Gary dominated the finish with Buckle Up Elise, Eli, Bahati and Ginna all from the one home-bred litter.

Robyn Johnson, Gary’s wife, produced the whelping / rearing of the Sennachie x Buckle Up Ellie mating.

Buckle Up Elise, the $$1.90 favourite on the Tasracing Official Price, settled in second heading out of the straight behind her littermate Buckle Up Bahati with Buckle Up Aria and Buckle Up Eli running on well.

Proving too strong, Buckle Up Elise gained the lead turning for home going onto score by three quarters of a length over Buckle Up Eli ($4.10), with Buckle Up Bahati ($31) and Buckle Up Ginna ($18) in the minors clocking 29.91s.

She brought up her 16th career victory with 20 placings from 58 starts and $55,515 in prize money earned.

“It’s pretty amazing, nothing is for certain how the race plays out when you have numerous runners in the field, but we’re very proud of the effort especially the first-four being from the one litter,” Robyn Johnson said.

“Buckle Up Elise is a tremendous chaser who has to work hard in most races trying to come from behind.”

It was sixth time lucky for Buckle Up Elise in claiming a feature race win, having made such finals as the Devonport Country Oaks, Tasmanian Oaks, J.G. Nelson Cup, Ladies Bracelet and the Tasmanian Laurels.

Robyn Johnson was quick to praise the efforts of the Launceston club in establishing the Kings V Queens race.

“It’s a great concept and hopefully going forward with the right programming, trying to avoid clashes with other features, the series can receive enough nominations to conduct heats for both groups,” Robyn stated.