Clegg hopes ‘shot at the stumps’ earns a Bundy Cup call-up

By Pat McLeod

Gold Coast trainer George Clegg hopes a long-time love affair with the Bundaberg track is finally rewarded during the heats of that club’s premier feature race on Monday.

Clegg will campaign Honey Bar Cool and Bomber Bar Cool in two of the four heats of the $112,500 Bundaberg Cup over 531 metres.

He says he is ‘hopeful more than confident’ of earning a place in the Cup for the first time.

“I decided to give them a go in the heats because obviously they have raced there, they know the track pretty well,” Clegg explained.

“Honey Bar Cool has won a couple of races there over the 460 metres and Bomber Bar Cool is just a very strong dog who to date hasn't had a lot of luck in his races. Originally, I put them in with the thought of just making up the numbers, a shot at the stumps.

“But, you never know. A couple of years ago I did the same, came second in the heat, just missed the Final and ran second in the consolation. You just don't know in these big races.”

Clegg’s brush with a Finals berth occurred in 2022 with Viva Belle.

“When I came second in the heat back then, and like this year there were four heats, I thought: ‘I’m in the Final! I am in the Final," Clegg said. 

“But, because a Wildcard had already won through, only three of the second-placed dogs went through and of course I was the slowest of the four.

“However, Viva Belle came second in the consolation, so I was able to come away with a couple of thousand dollars.”

This year the Bundaberg Cup Wildcard will be carried through to the March 11 Final by now Brisbane-based chaser Smart And Classy.

Clegg has a high opinion of Smart And Classy, who was trained by successful Hervey Bay mentor David Plummer, before he decided to take a spell from the collar and lead and handed the dog over the Brisbane’s Tony Apap.

The Hooked On Scotch and Vince A Bella chaser has revelled in his new surroundings, winning his past four outings, including the Ipswich Corporate Dollars feature and the Bundaberg Wildcard.

“The $75,000-to-the-winner certainly attracts plenty of interest in this Cup,” Clegg said.

“There are plenty of very good metropolitan dogs in these heats. But, you can’t underestimate experience on, and knowledge of, this track.

“Last year a local dog (Springview Magic) won the race and the locals will be very competitive again this year.

“In fact, I would say Smart And Classy will start close to favourite. He is a local dog who's done a lot of racing at Bundaberg and looks like he is going really well since joining Tony’s (kennel).

“You certainly have an advantage if you know this track. A lot of the dogs across the four heats would not be used to running on grass. Racing at Capalaba is not the same."

Clegg, who is president of the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club, said he had a long-held affection for racing at Bundaberg.

“I have always been a big fan of Bundaberg,” Clegg said.

“I've been going to the Bundaberg track since I came back into greyhound racing in about 2007. I just find that it is very good for a change for the dogs. My dogs seem to like racing there because I train them in sprint lanes on the grass.

“So, they like the grass. They are used to the grass and I have never had an issue with burnt pads or things like that, which seems to be common for dogs who aren't used to racing on grass.

“I have won a lot of races there. Big Bad Bob broke the track record there over 460 metres a couple of months short of his fifth birthday. That was one of his last starts before I retired him.

“He won a Townsville Cup (2018) and came back the next year and won the Townsville Cup Consolation. But, I don't recall ever campaigning him in a Bundaberg Cup.

“For this one, I am just very happy to go in with no expectation, and you never know. My dogs are limited in how fast they will go. Hopefully they take advantage of an opportunity.”