Howie (aka Cambla Kid), may not have been a champion on the track, but he could always sniff out a yarn. Now retired, each month Howie hunts up morsels of news from his beloved Bundaberg club. Here’s his latest offering:
ALLAN Watts landed his biggest race win when All Genres was successful in the inaugural $25,000 Bundaberg Wildcard Series (550m) last month.
The victory gave All Genres direct entry into the Bundaberg Cup and as Chase was going to print a star-studded field was lining up for the rich $60,000 feature final.
Watts, who only has a small team of four dogs in work, said he was over the moon with the Wildcard success, describing it as the biggest victory of his career.
Originally from Mackay, he relocated to Bundaberg a couple of years ago.
After winning her heat (from box 4) seven days earlier as an $18 outsider, All Genres (Over Limit-Every Sound) stepped smartly from the boxes – again wearing the blue rug – to lead narrowly past the winning post the first time in the $15,600-to-the-winner final.
A $9.50 chance, she showed strength down the back straight to gradually extend her advantage, eventually winning by one-and-a-half lengths from the fast-finishing Darren Taylor-trained Barcia Bullet ($3.30) with another Taylor runner Off Break ($19) two-and-three-quarter lengths away third.
“We are very happy with her,” Watts said of All Genres after the win.
“She is a little dog that we brought up from Victoria a year-and-a-half ago but she has had a lot of injuries.
“She is just starting to put it all together now.”
The buzz having the Wildcard as a lead-up to the Bundy Cup has been infectious.
With a guaranteed local in the final, it has given the locals a pooch to really get behind.
Everyone at the Bundaberg track was thrilled to see Allan win the inaugural Wildcard.
A well-liked owner-trainer, he has become a solid supporter of the club often seen helping others trialling and on race day. Congratulations!
Still to come before we close for renovations: Easter Cup over the 460m is always a great day for the kids with plenty of Easter eggs to keep them going, Anzac Day Cup and Maiden 1000 in April.
Bundy on a Mundy … what a great way to spend a day.
Yours in racing spirit
Howie (AKA Cambla Kid)
Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club