When it comes to racing, everyone loves a roughie.
So as we look forward to the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Country Classic at Dubbo this weekend, here’s four greyhound versions of David, ready to take on some of the sport’s Goliath’s…
Punting Potential | "She’s a place hope but she’s up against some fast dogs and great trainers"
What The Trainer Said | This is the biggest race we’ve ever been in and it has nothing to do with our training efforts, it’s all her and a bit of luck that got us here.
Most people would take Box 1 but she wants to use a bit of the track so she’ll come out and go right straight away. She usually flies out of the boxes but she prefers to trail a dog so her only hope is following a fast one along.
She ran 42.4 at Wenty Park in her first go over 700m behind a handy dog back in January so she should see out the trip OK.
She’s only won two races in her career and just under $17,000 in prizemoney so we don’t expect to make the final but when she was broken in, they never thought she’d even be able to race so we’ve persevered with her and she’s a really beautiful dog. We’re not training greyhounds for the money, we just love them to death.
Last 5 Starts
4th at Temora NG 570m in 32.74 | 5.75 lengths behind Bella Una (replay below)
7th at Wentworth Park 5th Grade 720m in 43.37 | 16.75 lengths behind Sin Rap Explode
1st at Temora Mixed 4th/5th Grade 570m in 33.23 | 0.75 lengths ahead of Ollie’s Ruben
5th at Dapto 5th Grade 520m in 30.64 | 11.25 lengths behind Forners Storm
Punting Potential | "He’s going to need lots of luck but you need to be in it to win it"
What The Trainer Said | We bought the dog three or four months ago and we chucked him in The Clarence a few weeks ago. He didn’t make the final initially but got a run as a reserve and finished fourth to qualify which was a good surprise.
The 660m up there is a tough run so that should hold him in good stead for the 605m at Dubbo but I don’t give him much hope. They’re bloody tough dogs he’s up against and it’s a big jump in class.
He has won a few races over the distance but I think he’s more of a 500/600m dog. He usually comes out nice but then hits a bit of a flat spot mid race before he picks up again.
He has raced at Dubbo before despite being a Melbourne-based dog. The Camilleri’s had him before us but back in 2022, he had two starts at the track. I wanted to trial him last week but he had a little niggle so we held him back. So I’ve been swimming him in the above ground pool in the back yard to keep him ticking along.
Last 5 Starts 4th at Grafton NG 660m in 39.02 | 10 lengths behind Scintillate (replay below)
5th at Grafton NG 660m in 39.16 | 16.25 lengths behind Off The Richter
Two Good Charlie | Errol Hughes Kennel Name | Charlie (Errol lives in Twogood Lane in FORBES, thus the name Two Good Charlie)
Ladbrokes Price | $81
Punting Potential | Pop and Gran can have their $10 on him for a place.
What The Trainer Said | He showed a lot of promise as a young dog and was showing quite a bit until he had a couple of serious tendon injuries. He finally seems back to his old self now and he’s been running some nice races.
He hasn’t seen a race like this, but you know what, he can’t read so he doesn’t know who he’s up against. I think he’s drawn the hardest heat as well. I trialled him at Dubbo yesterday and he ran 35.20 something which would win a fifth grade there. His last section was probably his best but he just sort of grinds away and he’s not real quick early. Box 8 does him no favours either but I just hope he can drop in behind them and get a good run on the fence.
He’s by Feral [Franky] just like his kennel mate Palawa King, and he’s out of a city winning bitch in Bogan Villa. Her half-sister, Bogan Doonie, was a Group 1 Paws Of Thunder finalists a few years ago.
Last 5 Starts
3rd at Temora NG 570m in 32.59 | 3.75 lengths behind Bella Una.
5th at Dubbo Mixed 4th/5th Grade 516m in 30.46 | 10 lengths behind Irinka Daniel
1st at Dubbo 5th Grade 516m in 29.71 | 3 lengths ahead of Fancy Mal (replay below)
2nd at Temora Mixed 4th/5th Grade 570m in 32.89 | 3.5 lengths behind Jackpot Jewel
5th at Dubbo Mixed 4th/5th Grade 516m in 32.00 | 32.25 lengths behind Candice Keeping
Punting Potential | Beautiful price. I think he’s over the odds if he leads.
What The Trainer Said | Box 4 won’t be the big problem, it’ll be Bell Mac Blazer who has a lot of pace in the red. If it leads, it will upset Rebel Ethics’ race pattern and if it holds him out to the first turn, it’ll be hard for my guy to win.
But if he gets on the arm and they get mixed up in behind, he could surprise. He’s made the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals, the Group 3 Bidgee Cup, he was reserve for a listed race in QLD four starts ago and now he’s in the Country Classic semis so he’s been thereabouts in some big feature races.
He’s probably not a genuine 600m dog though and I think if Bell Mac Blazer leads, it could go all the way to the post in front. We’ll get him through this and then the Ultra Sense and Masters Meteor later this year are his goals.
I like the idea and the concept of the Country Classic though. The regional heats are similar to the MDC and I think the final night at Dubbo would be a big night. Dubbo looks like a town that goes off.
Last 5 Starts
3rd at Nowra NG 630m in 37.08 | 2.75 lengths behind Zipping Ronaldo (replay below)
3rd at Gosford Mixed 4th/5th Grade 515m in 29.86 | 5.25 lengths behind Lip Stick Chaser
The four semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Country Classic will be run this Saturday, March 9 at Dubbo. The top two from each race will advance to the $125,000 final on March 16.
