Let’s Play Dice rolls in for another Bundy victory

By Pat McLeod

Brian Terry’s work-in-progress, Let’s Play Dice, took a couple of vital steps forward despite a ‘messy win’ in the Bundaberg Maiden 1000 Final on Monday.

The former Brisbane-based chaser recorded her second win from two starts since her move north to Terry’s kennels, near Bundaberg.

However, the sensationally bred Fernando Bale and Frieda Las Vegas youngster confirmed Terry’s summation that ‘she still has a lot to learn’, in the tight win over Lucy Roche’s Galaxies.

“That certainly was not pretty,” Terry said of the race.

“I thought we were beaten and had actually run third.

“I started to walk away and just happened to look up at the semaphore board, saw that she had won and thought ‘Well, I don’t know how that happened’.”

Let’s Play Dice had her first six starts with the prestigious Tony Zammit kennels.

She was then sent north to Terry, whose immediate plan was to continue her racing education.

He is excited by the prospects of the dog and those sentiments were enhanced by Monday’s win.

“She showed that she still needs a fair bit of education in running,” he said.

“She doesn't know what to do with other dogs that are going with her. She is used to chasing other dogs, not leading.

“But, that is something that can be overcome with a little bit of work in the bull ring. It is just a case of getting her to chase on.

“I'm still very enthusiastic about what we can do with this dog. She could come out next week and win by 10 lengths.”

Terry was also buoyed by the dog’s tenacity during Monday’s outing,

“She also got a check in the back straight and got turned a bit sideways,” he said.

“She was entitled to not run on, but she recovered from that. So, despite it being messy there was still a lot to be happy about in that run.

“This was another confidence booster for the dog. She will do even better now. I will just put this down to one of those awkwardly run races and she got the luck of the win.

“From here, we will just go through the grades and then step her up to 500 metres.”

In Monday’s other feature at Bundaberg, Ron Brook’s Josie Hook, pinged the start, then led all the way for a four-and-a-quarter-length win over Smart And Classy (trained by David Plummer) in the Christmas Cup Final over 460 metres, which was worth $5,005 to the winner.

Third was another Plummer dog, Durham.

The winning time was 26.19 seconds. 

Josie Hook, from a Fernando Bale and Galester Hook litter, has not been unplaced in seven starts since coming into Brook’s kennel at the start of November.

Her litter sister, Heidi Hook, who is also trained by Brook, placed fourth in Monday’s Christmas Cup.

“Both dogs are very quick early,” Brook said.

“I was very happy with Josie’s run. They both have very good first sectionals. Josie showed that when she is on the bunny she is very hard to catch.”

Josie Hook has collected $31,485 in prize money.

Brook said although there was a question mark over Josie Hook’s ability over 500 metres he would most likely now aim her towards the Country Cup over Bundaberg’s 531 metres. 

The high point of that series is the Final at Albion Park on February 1, when qualifiers from Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Townsville will vie for the $12,025 winner’s purse.