Beckett’s ‘buckshot effect’ is the perfect medicine for Play Dirty

By Pat McLeod

Central Queensland trainer Dallas Beckett calls it his ‘buckshot effect’ and it has worked with almost miraculous results on kennel newcomer Play Dirty.

The Speed Star and Sapphire Ruby chaser has transformed from an intermittent performer to a picture of speed consistency.

In his five starts so far for the Gracemere trainer Play Dirty has a perfect winning record.

His next assignment is Tuesday night’s Rockhampton Christmas Cup Final over 510 metres against a strong field.

“This dog came to me with a few issues,” explains Beckett of Play Dirty’s journey to ‘Rocky’.

“He broke in exceptionally well, would race well, but then would go off, lose form. He had been with a couple of trainers and then the owners, (Victorian breeders) Sonia and Craig Davis, sent him up to me.

“I have been training for them for about six years. I knew he had ability, but there was something amiss with him.

“Mentally he was very keen, so no issue with his desire to chase. So, I decided to bring in the ‘buckshot effect’. That is when I treat a dog for everything – look at almost every reason for the dog to be under-performing.

“Quite early I picked up that he had a slight injury to a muscle at the front to his track-side leg.

“It was very difficult to pick up because there was only very slight swelling and he showed no signs of limping when he walked or ran. However, I noticed when he jogged, there was just a limp.”

With that fixed Play Dirty then went on his five-in-a-row run.

Beckett believes that if the dog stays sound, he will improve even more on his new home track and could develop into a country Cups contender.

“He is three years old, but has only had 28 starts,” the respected trainer said.

“I believe he still has a lot of very good racing in him.

“Last week’s Christmas Cup heat was his first time over the 510 metres at Rockhampton and you could see that he was feeling his way around, so I expect him to improve two or three lengths on that.

“The draw (box six) isn’t a worry, as long as he gets out OK. But, this is also a good test for him with some good dogs in this Final, including Tuta Storm (box three) for Steven Scott and Canya Escape (Ben Davey) out of box seven.”

Beckett said the owners were ‘very happy’ with Play Dirty’s winning form, however that should come as no surprise to them.

Beckett laughs when he recalls one of the earliest associations he had with the Davis’, with a give-away.

“It was a young dog that was proving to be quite a handful for them,” he says.

“They told me that the first time he was put in the bullring, he did one lap and then jumped clean out of there.

“Craig rang me, told me what had happened and said, ‘you can have him’.”

Beckett took on the ‘problem child’, who was then about 14 months old.

With expert guidance and plenty of attention in the small kennel, the youngster started to show real potential.

As an indicator of what the original owners may have missed out on, Beckett called the dog ‘Craig’s Regret’, and launched him onto the track.

Craig’s Regret went on to have a long and successful career – 124 starts for 28 wins and 48 placings.