Phil’s return to racing hits another high in Townsville

By Pat McLeod

Born-again country greyhound trainer Phil Rudall continues his successful return to the industry with promising youngster Lektra Bolt a strong chance in Tuesday night’s Townsville Young Guns Final. 

The 72-year-old Rudall stepped away from the industry in 2013 after a successful career based in Townsville.

He was victorious with the very first runner he rugged upon return – Showtime Dirk (in a maiden over 380 metres) – in the middle of April.

Since then, he’s led in string of winners, including Lektra Bolt, who has won his past two outings.

Rudall says his comeback has been sweetened by the fact that it is in partnership with son Ross.

“I'm really enjoying being back involved in greyhound racing,” Rudall said.

“I love racing the dogs, don't get me wrong, but I certainly love working the dogs, putting time into them and getting the best out of each dog that is in my care. That is the satisfaction that I get.”

And, that is the case with Lektra Bolt.

The Houdini Boy and Lektra Jena chaser began his race career in South Australia and was identified as a possible kennel acquisition by Phil’s son Ross.

“Ross saw the dog, made approaches and we ended with the dog coming up here,” Rudall explains.

“We saw a couple of videos of his early starts and he showed a great deal of speed out of the boxes and although he didn't have a lot of strength, we thought we could work on that.

“That’s exactly what he showed when he arrived up here, a quick beginner, but with no stamina.

“But, now he is really finding some strength. He is not flying the boxes like he originally was, but he is certainly strong now coming home.

“Whether he has got more distance, well at this stage he is surprising me all the time. He has come down almost a second from when we first trialed him through to his most recent race. So, he just keeps surprising us.”

Rudall said there was a little bit of room for confidence going into Tuesday’s Final.

“There are a number of dangers in the field, but I believe the biggest threat is Mick Hickmott’s Good Odds Viking,” he said.

“He is a very quick dog. For us it is just a case of getting the dog as right as you can for the race.

“You can't do much more than that.

“He jumps from the three box and that should be fine, but it is a case of you just take what is given to you. You have to be philosophical about it.”

Rudall knows what it takes to prepare a top racer.

In a 14-month period between December 2000 and March 2002, Rudall experienced the highs of the sport with his outstanding front-running white-and-fawn bitch Bentley Babe.

The wonderfully bred stayer (from a Head Honcho and Malawi Blue litter) qualified for 10 Group Finals, winning the Group 1 Sandown Cup over 715 metres, Group 2 Sale Cup over 630 metres and Group 2 City of Hume Cup over 725 metres at The Meadows and the Group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial  over 715 metres at Sandown and placing in another two.

Bentley Babe retired from the track in the middle of 2002 with a 62: 28-9-8 record and prize money just over $200,000.

Phil and Ross are based out of an 18-acre property, at Nome, just south of Townsville.

They moved in at Christmas and have transformed the green-field site into a working greyhound operation.

“It has been a lot of hard work, but is really coming along well,” Rudall said.

When Rudall decided to hang up the collar and lead in 2013, he and wife Gerda pursued another of their passions – musical entertainment.

Every month they are part of a four-piece band that performs at aged care centres around Townsville – usually six shows a month.

“We are continuing to do that since we returned to greyhound racing,” Rudall said.

“It is a hobby, we do it on a voluntary basis and we absolutely love it.

“My wife is a good singer. I can strum a tune and make a bit of a noise and they haven’t thrown me out yet, so I guess we are going alright.”