Apap’s smart chaser heads to Bundy after Ipswich Dollars splash

By Pat McLeod

Country boy, Smart And Classy, is heading back to ‘the bush’ for a Bundaberg Cup campaign after continuing his infatuation with the Ipswich track with victory in the Corporate Dollars Challenge on Saturday night.

“This dog loves the Ipswich track, but he also loves Bundaberg and that is why we are heading back there,” respected metropolitan conditioner Tony Apap said after the $12,025 collect.

“Bundaberg is where Smart And Classy did most of his early racing. He had a fair bit of success there (11 wins and nine placings from 26 starts) and has a great affinity for that track.”

Smart And Classy (from a Hooked On Scotch and Vince A Bella litter) certainly lived up to his name with a professional three-and-three-quarters-of-a-length win in 30.39 seconds in the annual Corporate Dollars Challenge.

Jeff Crawford’s Mukali ‘pinged’ from the six box to lead for the majority of the journey, closely tracked by Smart And Classy (box three).

However, exiting the home turn Apap’s chaser took a stranglehold on the race, shooting clear with $3 favourite Narkunda (trained by Gerard Bowe), from box one, running into second and Mukali third.

“This dog certainly has ability,” Apap said.

“He showed that up in Bundaberg where he ran almost a track record. So, he has shown that ability for some time.

“He has certainly taken a liking to this Ipswich track. He has been a little disappointing in his Albion Park performances.

“A couple of runs there he has looked good, but there are a couple of others when he just didn't push through hard enough. He just didn't chase as hard as he does here at Ipswich. He has only had a few starts here at Ipswich, but has taken a liking to the track.”

Smart And Classy had been under the expert tutelage of Fraser Coast mentor David Plummer, before that trainer took a hiatus from the industry late last year.

The smart chaser was then sent to the metro arena under Apap’s care.

In his seven starts so far across Albion Park and Ipswich in 2024 he has accumulated two wins (both at Ipswich) and three placings.

The dog’s Bundy background, and current form, prompted Apap, and the dog’s owners, to send Smart and Classy back to Bundaberg for Monday’s Bundaberg Cup Wildcard heats over 531 metres, despite the short turnaround.

Apap said the decision to tackle the Wildcard, with the first four runners from each of two heats progressing through to next Monday’s Final, was made after a discussion with the owners.

The winner of the Wildcard Final gets a direct passage through to the $112,500 Bundaberg Cup Final, on March 11.

Depending on his dog’s fortunes in the Wildcard, Apap, of course, has the option of contesting the Cup heats on March 4.

Long-time Ipswich official Rob Essex said the Corporate Dollars Challenge was again very successful.

“This initiative has been in place since 2006 and has introduced many local business identities to greyhound racing,” Essex said.

“It has resulted in numerous long-lasting relationships between the Ipswich club and local business.”

The winning sponsor for 2024 was the Chase Newspaper, who will have naming rights to the Ipswich winning post for the next 12 months.

In the main under card event on Saturday night, the Dash For Cash Final over 288 metres, Shane Staples’ Cedar showed plenty of determination to run down Ned Snow’s Out Of Austrian, with Sprint Rock (Pauline Byers) third, in a smart 16.85 seconds. 

“That was fantastic,” Staples said after the one-and-three-quarters length win.

“I was a little worried about the three dog (Rusty Demon), but I thought that if we could just hold him out at the first turn, then we might be able to get away.

“When the red (Out Of Austrian), was underneath my dog, I thought we were in a little bit of trouble. But, he is such a terrific chasing dog. He has a great will to win and this is just a massive thrill.

“I am over the moon. Cedar is a very fast dog and just a short course dog, so we will let him be a fast dog and not push him. And, hopefully we will win quite a few more races with him.”