North Queensland Cup adds to Ken Boody's stunning 2022

By Jordan Gerrans

Central Queensland’s Ken Boody has quickly developed his kennel into one of the most prolific in the Sunshine State over the last couple of years.

And, just hours after Ken grabbed another feature victory – this time the Listed North Queensland Cup at Townsville on Tuesday evening with Zip Stream – his closest mentors were grinning with pride back home in Rockhampton.

Ken returned to the code in 2020 after 12 years on the sidelines as he concentrated on his work and family commitments.

While Ken was no longer training during that time, his uncle and aunty – Amber and Mick Boody – were preparing their kennel of dogs in South East Queensland.

They have over the last couple of years switched roles, Ken training, with Amber and Mick now on the sidelines offering advice and guidance.

While Amber and Mick are not as hands on as they once were with the dogs, they still help out their nephew at their Dalma property and they could not be happier with what he has been able to achieve over the last 24 months.

“We are very proud of him and you have to have the cattle to win races like this,” Amber said.

“He is doing very good.”

Amber and Mick relocated to Central Queensland in August of last year to help their nephew with his training pursuits.

They were a training force when based in Brisbane, winning several feature races, including the time-honoured Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden series in 2008 with Red Aces.

While Ken has a lot more talent and depth in his kennel in this training stint, compared to his first, his uncle Mick says he is able to adapt and learn from others well.

“He was there and doing it before but he did not have the animals like this previously,” Mick said.

“Ken is a good learner, he comes to us for her advice and we help him, he is the type of person that you only need to tell him something once and then he does it.

“At the moment he has got five dogs that have either have won 20 races or have gone close to winning that many.

“Some people are lucky to have five dogs that can win 20 races in their lifetime.”

Ken is ranked just outside the top 30 for greyhound trainers in Australia for prize money this year, with his team amassing $558,763, as of Wednesday morning.

He has prepared 202 winners at a strike-rate of 28%.

Ken has 11 dogs accepted to race on his home track of Rockhampton on Wednesday evening with that strike-rate and winning stakes for the season likely to increase.

It has been a busy recent period for the Boodys.

Kennel star Love You Peaches claimed the feature Country Cup over 520 metres at Albion Park earlier this year before heading back to Brisbane for heats of the Ipswich Cup not long after. 

Blue bitch Love You Peaches finished fourth in her heat and did not qualify for the Group 2 decider.

The Boody kennel claimed the Rockhampton Greyhound Racing Club Greyhound of the Year with Love You Peaches earlier this year.

As well as Love You Peaches and Zip Stream, Dixie Gambles, Barely Friendly and First Black Jack have also been prolific dogs for the team. 

Zip Stream – who is regarded as the leading sprinter outside of South East Queensland in the state - has also been prominent in black-type events in 2022.

The black bitch earned her 31^st triumph of her career on Tuesday night, winning the Listed North Queensland Cup in 28.70 seconds.

The daughter of Night Time Lover – who the Boodys raced – has also claimed the Rockhampton Grand Prix Final this year as well as winning through to the Group 3 Rockhampton Cup through the local Rockhampton Wildcard series.

Zip Stream – who went past $100,000 in career earnings with the Townsville Showgrounds romp on Tuesday night – went on to finish third in the Rockhampton Cup of 2022 after winning the direst passage through.

Previously trained by Pamela Field in the south of Queensland before landing with Ken, Zip Stream has 22 victories to her name at Rockhampton and Townsville.

While Ken trains the star bitch, Amber owns Zip Stream. 

“We have been totally shocked really with how well she has gone and she just kept going and going,” Mick said.

“While they are only country races, she has won many races that have Final’s attached to them that are worth anything.”

Mick jokes that he is hopeful of living long enough to see Zip Stream and Love You Peaches’ pups race.

The initial plan is for Zip Stream to be put to Pindari Express.

“That is what we are thinking at this stage, unless another young dog emerges,” Mick said.

“That will be next year.”