Bundaberg standard of racing set to rise following 2023 Cup

By Jordan Gerrans

The 2023 Bundaberg Cup field being dominated by South East Queensland kennels is only going to improve the standard of racing in the Wide Bay region.

That is the view of Bundaberg Greyhound Racing Club president Stephen Bland ahead of Monday’s $112,525 Cup, which will be run at Group 3 level.

The majority of the runners for the 531 metre Cup will be prepared by trainers that reside in SEQ.

Midnight Cambla, who is trained by Louise Cameron, will be the lone local representative in the Cup after coming through the Bundaberg Wildcard path.

Following a massive redevelopment to the Bundaberg club and track worth $1.4 million, Bland believes the level of racing in the city will also soon rise.

Bland – who is also a local trainer in the area – thinks the Cup field in 2024 will have more of a local presence on the back of the prize money increases and facility improvements.

“The local guys are upgrading their dogs now so they have better stock,” the president said.

“In future, I think we will well and truly be competitive with the city dogs.”

The first heat winner from Monday’s program – Tony Zammit’s Deemed A Liar – was the quickest of the four and has drawn the eight alley for the Final.

The black bitch trialled on the track before her first run on the grass for the heats and the Hall Of Fame dog man said he would have preferred an inside draw as Deemed A Liar appreciates jumping on the rail.

“She improved on her trial time here and showed good speed by leading in the heat,” Tony said of the heat performance. 

Tony will also have kennel mate Go Bing with Deemed A Liar in the Final after she won in 30.26 seconds in the second heat.  

Go Bing will commence from three.

The champion conditioner believes the $75,000 on offer is a big carrot for SEQ trainers.

“It is a great prize for a country Cup, it is a great boost for the racing industry to be able to get this prize money for our country tracks,” Tony said.

“It is a race that many trainers look out for now.

“It is a big buzz for the owners to win a race with this kind of prize money.

“People will travel with this kind of prize on offer.”

Deemed A Liar’s 29.94 second dash from box four was the fastest time from Monday’s heats and Bland expects the winning time in the Final to be even quicker.

“The times they ran in the heats, I think it is going to be a very strong Cup,” Bland said.

“They were very, very good times.

“The times that were run in the heats were run on a not very fast track.

“If we get a dry track, then the times will come down even more.”

The Cup field is set to be a Zammit dominated affair with two from Tony’s kennel while Selena Zammit has also qualified two runners.

Selena’s Inevitable won a heat while All Natural qualified as the third fastest second-place finisher.

Selena’s pair have been drawn in seven (Inevitable) and two (All Natural).

Kennel representative for Selena – husband Mick – thinks there is improvement in both the dogs from the kennel from the heats towards the Final.

“I was very impressed with his run as he had not seen the track before today,” Mick said of heat winner Inevitable.

“He looked a little bit green at the top corner and seemed to be labouring.

“But, I think the leader went pretty good as well, so I was impressed with the way he hit the line hard.

“I reckon there is a bit of improvement in the dog, I think he can find a bit.”

Tom Tzouvelis – kennel representative for trainer Jedda Cutlack – was pleased with the way Shaye performed in the bitch’s first look at the Bundaberg track.

Shaye won the last of four heats, beating home All Natural. 

“She should improve again from that run,” Tzouvelis said.

The Cutlack kennel will also have Showdown in the decider after he was the fastest second place finisher.