Bundaberg stalwart shoots for Cup

By Jordan Gerrans

Edging closer to his 90^th birthday, John White is still loving preparing winners on his home track of Bundaberg and a 'surprising’ dog has given him an unexpected opportunity at the Cup of 2024.

Burn Out was a shock winner of a Bundaberg Wildcard heat on Monday afternoon for the punters, saluting at $26.

It was even a shock for the Bucca-based owner and trainer.

Burn Out had predominantly done her racing over the shorter 460 metre trip on the grass at Bundaberg – winning on 10 occasions from 34 attempts – with 12 other minor placings.

The black bitch was yet to win in 26 efforts over 500 metres or more before Monday.

“It was a very surprising win,” the veteran dog man said.

“I have been putting a bit of extra work into her, changing her training a bit to get her a bit fitter.

“She is getting on a bit as a dog but she has been good. She might win a few more races but not a lot I do not think.”

Burn Out began from the two alley on Monday and found the rail in the early stages before running over the top of favourite Springview Magic in the straight.

The 88-year-old White previously had a clear plan for his team of greyhounds.

Burn Out raced over the shorter trip of 460 metres while her litter sister Bro’s Girl – from a My Bro Fabio and Spin That Wheel mating - was the stayer in the team, regularly winning over 550 metres at ‘Bundy’.

In this way, White could separate his dogs and run them in different races. 

Bro’s Girl even enjoyed success further north as she ran third in the Group 3 Rockhampton Cup of last year.

She was eventually retired late last year with a health concern.

“It looks like Burn Out has to do the lot now,” White said with a laugh.

“It was disappointing as she was a good dog, Bro’s Girl, as she won a lot of races.”

Burn Out – who is nearing five years of age herself – has picked up the slack nicely since her litter sister ran her last race.

Burn Out claimed the first Wildcard heat on Monday in 30.80 seconds before Tony Apap’s Smart And Classy sent a message to the Final field with a blistering 29.97 second performance.

The Bundaberg Wildcard is for locally trained greyhounds and provides the winner with automatic entry into the Group 2 Bundaberg Cup Final.

The reigning ‘Bundy Cup’ champion – Springview Magic – finished third in Burn Out’s heat as the brindle chaser aims to win the coveted prize in two consecutive years.

White is considered a stalwart of the greyhound game in the Wide Bay region of the Sunshine State.

He has two racing dogs in his kennel – Burn Out and Hotshot Bear – as well as three young pups he is working with.

The pups are sired by multiple Group 1 champion Wow.

Despite nearing his 90^th birthday, White is still planning for the future with his kennel of dogs and is enjoying the challenges that come along with training.

White has been training since he was around 50 years of age and is aided by his son in preparing his kennel.

He jokes that his joints are a little sorer than they used to be but greyhounds remain his passion.

“They are about 12 months old,” he said of his three new pups.

“They look alright and I think they will be ok. The three were down at George Zammit’s place getting reared so I bought three of them up here. I am hoping for the best.”

Smart And Classy claimed victory in the Corporate Dollars Challenge on Saturday night at Ipswich before fronting up at Bundy on Monday.

White thinks Apap’s top dog will be hard to hold out come the Wildcard Final next week but he is hopeful his bitch can make her presence felt.

“She likes an inside draw and if she can get one of those again, then she is a chance,” White said of Burn Out.

“Naturally, she will not run the time that Smart And Classy ran.

“It will be a top notch field for the Final, there is a lot of good dogs around up here at the moment. But, she will give them a run for their money.”

The Group 2 Bundaberg Cup will be run with $112,525 on the line this year.