Dixie Gambles faces toughest test in Rising Star

By Alex Nolan

Sensational Central Queensland chaser Dixie Gambles will face the toughest test of her career to-date when she tackles one of four quality-packed heats of the Group 3 Rising Star at Albion Park on Thursday.

The Ken Boody-trained winner of 16 from 31 has scraped-in to the series, given she turned 30 months old on Tuesday.

The box gods have dealt the recent Townsville Futurity winner no favours, drawing the pink rug in the series opener, which comes up as race five.

The assignment appears even harder following a quick scan of her opposition, with the likes of Hara’s Skye, De Ferran and Tomahawk Hayes, among others, all set to contest the 520 metre heat.

Dixie Gambles boasts two Albion Park wins from three starts, including the TAB Regional Origin Challenge in July.  

Dalma-based Boody, who is Queensland’s leading trainer on wins with 175 this year, believes the daughter of Fernando Bale and West On Jill deserves to take her place.

“I was disheartened when I saw the draw but I have been lucky with draws this year, so I certainly can’t complain,” he said.

“They don’t give these races away and given the calibre of dogs engaged, we’re up against it.

“But, if you want to beat them in the final you’ve got to beat them in the heats and she has improved a little bit since the last time she was in Brisbane.

“When she gets a bump she can turn it up a little bit, being only a little bitch at 24kg.

“Our best chance will be if she can ease her way across and try and find a position through the first corner.”

Kennel mate San Marco makes the journey south and is likely to jump at long odds when he exits box two in heat three of the series – which is race seven on the card.

San Marco arrived at Boody’s kennel in August after winning a fifth-grade event at Wentworth Park whilst in the care of trainer Jodie Lord and quickly found his groove in Central Queensland.

He would win three of his first five starts, including a fifth-grade event over 510 metres, but has finished well adrift of more experienced campaigners like Dixie Gambles, Love You Peaches and Bro’s Girl at his past five starts.  

“He’s been a bit of a scapegoat to fill fields for the Free For All races because he’s stuck in that grade where there isn’t many mixed fourth and fifth-grade, or, third and fourth-grade races,” Boody said.

“Basically, he’s coming down to have a good look at the track and hopefully we can find a Monday race for him.

“He’s not quick early which might help him on Thursday if he can fall straight back onto the fence.”

Boody returned to training in 2020 after a near 12-year hiatus and says he was lured back by significant prize money boosts and his love of the animal.

He hit the headlines in January when he boxed seven winners at a Rockhampton meeting, describing it as his “best night at the races.”

At that point, Boody had recorded a little over 100 wins since his return to the sport.

Ten months later, that figure has swelled to 279.   

“I couldn’t believe we’d reach that number at all, it has been crazy,” Boody said.

“I don’t think we’ll have another year like this.

"We have a very handy group of dogs.

“We don’t really set goals, but we thought 100 wins was something we could try and get to but there’s still so much to learn.”

Boody leads Townsville trainer Bradley Belford - who has 145 victories - for most wins in Queensland this season.

Cyndie Elson sits third on the list with 107 wins, while last year’s Rising Star trainer Jedda Cutlack boats 95 wins in the Sunshine State, and 106 nationwide.

Boody will take another large team to Rockhampton on Tuesday night, with nine runners engaged on the 12-race card but found it difficult to label a ‘good thing’.  

“I’m looking forward to a few kicking off their careers in maiden races,” he said.

“They are handy and will win a few races.”