Caption: Central Queensland trainer Ken Boody
Chase writer MIKE HILL’s Queensland regional wrap
LEADING Central Queensland trainer Ken Boody was guaranteed the first four in last night’s (Wednesday night’s) Free-For-All (510m) at Rockhampton even before he stepped on to the track.
Highlighting the quality of his top sprinters, Boody was the only trainer to have runners in the $3600 feature event.
He rugged all four starters after earlier scratching a fifth runner – Barely Friendly.
And it was Dixie Gambles, who has assumed the mantle of kennel star in recent weeks, that came out on top.
An impressive Futurity winner at Townsville eight nights earlier, the $1.28 hot fancy gave her kennelmates a galloping lesson, leading all the way in a slick 29.74s.
The talented Fernando Bale bitch beat the somewhat unlucky Love You Peaches ($3.90) by six-and-a-quarter lengths with San Marco ($16) a close third.
Despite the small field Love You Peaches had trouble getting a clear run, but once in open space finished strongly from well back.
Wink At Me, the $34 outsider, was the fourth kennel representative in the race.
Boody, based at Dalma west of Rockhampton, is having an amazing year.
Not only did he rug up the first four in last night’s FFA, he also led in another three winners – Friend Lee’s Boy ($6.50), Zip Stream ($4) and Saron ($2 fav).
He is dominating the local trainers premiership with a tally of 136 wins for the year – more than double his closest rival.
But it doesn’t stop there.
With feature winners at Albion Park in Brisbane, Ipswich and Townsville, remarkably Boody is sitting in ninth spot on the national trainers points table with 171 wins and total prizemoney in excess of $475,000.
His winning strike of 27 per cent is better than trainer in the national top 10.
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SEATON Key should go into next week’s $4700 Townsville Maiden 1000 Final (380m) a warm favourite after trouncing his rivals by almost seven lengths in the last of three heats on Tuesday night.
The black sprinter is from a promising Keybow-Bogie Princess litter bred by owner Ricky Muller at Placid Hills near Gatton, west of Brisbane.
Trained at Black River north of Townsville by Greta Thomson, Seaton Key was in the second half of the field early after a moderate start.
However, the black sprinter – a $3.70 chance behind $3.50 equal favourites Barry Cool and Wally’s Boy – warmed to his task pushing through the field and taking control before the turn.
Seaton Key exploded away in the straight beating the Rhonda Essery-trained Scotch Queen ($5.50) with Michael Hickmott’s I’m A Dancer ($17) one-and-a-half lengths away third.
The Thomson sprinter clocked a smart 22.11s, about four lengths quicker than the other two heat winners – Hara’s Bones (Lee Pearce) and Midnight Image (Brad Belford) – which returned identical times of 22.51s.
Seaton Key was lucky to stay on his feet in his debut run at Townsville four days earlier.
Sent out a $3.60 favourite on the back of a smart trial, the sprinter was making a promising move forward after jumping from box eight when he was caught up in a scrimmage that resulted in Miss Von Strudel taking a tumble and Seaton Key losing many lengths.
However, connections would have been encouraged by the way the youngster tacked on to the field and finished off the race.
His heat victory suggests he could develop into a smart chaser, matching the deeds of the only other litter mates to have hit the tracks so far.
Appearing to be the best of the group early, Journey Beyond, trained by Cayla Cottrell at Pearcedale in Victoria, is unbeaten in three starts over 400m at Warragul.
The youngster recorded a last-start BON time of 22.42s, while another brother Super Shanks, trained by Chris Brydon at Churchable in southern Queensland, has a 5: 2-1-1 record with wins at Capalaba (366m) and Albion Park (395m).
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WORK on the Bundaberg grass track upgrade is progressing well, says club president Steve Bland.
“At the moment we’re on target to relaunch racing at Bundaberg in mid-December,” he said.
Bland said the extensive upgrade, costing more than $1 million, would include a complete renovation of the track, new rail and lure system, a new multi-purpose tower, a revamped kennel block providing enough housing for a 12-race meeting, new padded fencing all-round, an upgraded vets room and air-conditioned day kennels for trialling dogs.
“All the base work for the track has been completed and gravel is currently being laid,” he said.
“The track drainage infrastructure has been done and at this point everything is going to plan.
“And the new rail system is on its way from NSW.”
Bland said although some trainers had pushed for a sand track, most supported the retention of the grass surface.
“It’s the only grass circle track remaining in Queensland and many like it,” he said.
“The upgrade, once finished, will be fabulous for the industry.
“With our new racing distances, it will allow us to heavily promote the club and the sport in the region.
“We will be racing over 315m, 460m and 531m and there is also talk that we might have a one-off feature race each year over 710m, starting from the 250m trial boxes.”
The club boss also said the 320m straight sand track used for trials would also undergo a revamp, while officials will benefit massively from the new multi-purpose tower.
“The tower, similar to the new structure at Rockhampton, will house the judging officials, stewards, race-caller and camera operators,” Bland said.
“And the kennel block renovations will allow us to program 12-race meetings, up from 10 events in the past.”
He also reminded members that the club’s AGM will be held on Sunday, October 16.
“We would like as many members and friends of the club as possible to attend,” Bland said.
“We’re short on committee members at present and we’d like to see some new faces involved.
“Our membership fee is only $25.”
