By Isaac Murphy
Two weeks ago, Bobby The Brute was winning in 29.8 seconds by 10 lengths over the 525 metres at The Meadows for trainer Jacqueline Greenough.
Not surprisingly, the win caught the eye of Justin and Gerard Bowe, earmarking the dog as a potential Queensland star.
Two weeks later, Bobby The Brute gets his first look at the Sunshine State in the Group 3 Flying Amy for the Bowe kennel who have big plans moving forward.
Justin Bowe said both himself and Gerard had their ear to the ground about any potential youngsters for the Greyhound Junkies/On The Bunny Syndicate they were training for, and Bobby The Brute fit the mould perfectly.
“The way we syndicate some of our dogs we’re always on the lookout for potential whether it be in Brisbane or in this case Melbourne and there was plenty about the dog we really liked,” Justin Bowe said.
“He can be a bit tardy early and has needed an inside draw to win most of his races down in Melbourne, but when he gets going he’s really something, he won by ten lengths two starts ago over the 525 metres at The Meadows.
“That win really got us interested, we wanted a 600 metre dog and he looks the perfect prospect to step up to that distance.
“With 25 starts at two-and-a-half years old we think he can be a force over the middle distance up here.”
The dog only arrived in Queensland just over a week ago and has never having run the 600 metres, however the Bowe’s decided the Group 3 Flying Amy wasn’t beyond him, but they have visions over further ground.
“We’ve only had him up here for about a week and have only been able to get him the one trial around Albion where he went 30.16, which he’ll obviously have to improve on if he wants to progress in The Flying Amy this week,” Bowe said.
“While we’d love to see him make his way into a Group 3 final first start for us, he’s probably three of four weeks away from really settling in and hitting his straps in Queensland.
“In saying that, we nominated him for a reason; his best is very good and if things go his way, he’s got the class to go with the dogs in the field - it’s just been a very rushed preparation.”
After the series concludes, expect to see Bobby The Brute making his 600-metre debut, something he was ready for when he left Melbourne.
“Jacqueline Greenough - who had him in Melbourne - told us she was planning to get him up to the 600 his next start as well, so we’ll get through the Flying Amy Series and look to get him straight to the trip,” Bowe said.
“The Chairman’s Handicap is on in about three weeks; he should be cherry ripe for a race like that with a couple of 600 metre runs under his belt.
“We got a taste of 600-metre racing with Slick Raven and the pathways for him to get to the top level were excellent, we’ll just try to place this guy right and he may even get 700 in the future.”
Bowe said it’s all about miles in the legs for the new acquisition, who they think will settle into racing at headquarters quite nicely.
“The more time he goes around Albion the better he’s going to get, and it may seem like throwing him in the deep end but racing our top young dogs early on up here could be the making of him down the track,” he said.
“We think he’ll suit the big track at Albion a little better than Melbourne, where he really needed an inside box to win.
“We think he can really improve, especially when we get him to the 600-metre start.
“He’s very similar in his racing style to Hirstglen, who will be a good reference point for us in how to train a dog who isn’t brilliant early but will come home with the best of them.”
Bowe said the On The Bunny syndicate had not been shy in pouring their money into the purchase and was looking forward to getting them some bang for their buck.
“They go by On The Bunny syndicate, they’re a bunch of first time owners who wanted a city class dog and I think we’ve got them one that’s going to give them plenty of value for money in Bobby The Brute,” Bowe said.
“It’s good to see a bunch of young blokes getting involved and putting their money into the industry, so we’ll be doing everything we can to make it worth their while.”
Bobby The Brute reunites with KC And All/She’s Scandalous litter sister Oski, who runs in the other Flying Amy Heat.
“KC And All is an American sire who doesn’t have a whole lot of straws left, but this litter is full of talent,” Bowe said.
“Darren Russell has the litter sisters Oski - who’s unbeaten and in the Flying Amy heats as well - and Javens, who’s a strong 520 metre bitch as well.
“I’ve got a couple of nice young pups from KC And All’s next litter, Engage who won in 30.55 at Ipswich and is in his novice tomorrow night and one yet to start.
The good news doesn’t end there for team Bowe, who have sprinter Final Plea in career best form coming off a scorching 30.27 win at Ipswich last Saturday night and looks well placed in fifth grade company on Thursday night.
“Final Plea is in great form; his last four runs have yielded two wins and two thirds, the placings coming about from getting interference early,” Bowe said.
“We saw him draw the eight and get out cleanly and he showed the time he could run when he gets on the bunny, which he’ll hopefully do again tomorrow night.
“If he can put himself in the race, he’ll certainly be hard to beat; Sequana probably isn’t at her best at the moment but she’s not far off and Bad Benny in box two can run as well - it’s no walkover.”