Bundy late bloomer has ‘early’ claims on Maiden 1000

By Pat McLeod

Ben Davey is hopeful late bloomer Mendacious will continue her fast-starting pattern and be a major threat in Wednesday night’s Rockhampton Maiden 1000 Final. 

“There are some very handy dogs in this Final, but I believe she is a good place chance,” the Bundaberg trainer predicts.

“In her work with me so far, she is showing that she is quite a good starter, so I hope that is the case on Wednesday night.

“The two (Gerard Agius’ Canya Atomic) ran the hands off the clock (23.52 seconds) in the heats, so he is the obvious danger.

“But, if my girl can get out and lead then you never know what might happen, especially with dogs that are still young and learning.

“That is the one advantage I have in that Mendacious was a bit of a late starter to racing, because she came into season, so is a little older.”

Davey made his first foray into greyhound racing about two years ago when he and two mates bought NSW chaser Springview Magic for $8,000.

That turned into a great buy when the Fernando Bale and Nangar Miss flyer won the 2023 $75,000-to-the-winner Group 3 Bundaberg Cup over 531 metres.

He took out a trainer’s licence in the middle of 2023 and currently has three dogs in work.

The disability support worker said he had received Mendacious as a give-away from trainer and breeder Daniel Lee, who is based in the Scenic Rim, west of the Gold Coast.

“I just happened to be talking to Daniel at an Ipswich meeting and he mentioned that he had bred a litter, but couldn’t keep them all,” Davey explains.

“I was interested and he said I could have her as a give-away.

“She has only been with me for a couple of months, but is a beautiful dog to have around the kennels.

“I also really like white dogs. The first couple of times I trialed her (at Rockhampton) the conditions weren’t great because of rain, but she went pretty well.

“In her only start, in the heats, she was boxed in the five, which wasn’t ideal, and she was very green in running, which was expected.

“But, she finished well (in third place). Overall, I am very happy with her.”

Agius, who is based at Marian (near Mackay), has three runners in the Final – the $1.40 favourite Canya Atomic, (box two), Mondo Cortez (box three) and Kelly’s Way (box seven).