Mick has Amber’s birthday flowers, now for Anniversary present

By Pat McLeod

Greyhound racing romantic Mick Boody earlier this week was shopping for flowers for wife Amber’s birthday, but he’s hoping her main present arrives on Wednesday.

“I don’t normally buy birthday presents,” the 69-year-old industry stalwart admitted.

“But, I will this year.

“Amber’s birthday is on Tuesday and hopefully she will have reason to celebrate on the following day as well.”

On Wednesday night, Mick and Amber, a fellow trainer, will box nine dogs across the 12-race program at Rockhampton, including two in race eight, the Anniversary Cup Final over 510 metres.

Of special interest to Mick Boody is the performance of Out The Bottle in that race.

He won his heat last week in his first time out of the 510 metre boxes at the track.

“He started his career racing at Brisbane and Ipswich and I was disappointed that he did not come away with better results,” Mick said of the seven starts for a win and four placings.

“He is a much better dog than that.

“He raced through the Vince Curry series without a lot of luck. He then went on to the 431 metre Auction Series, but that was too short.

“I was still happy enough with his runs there considering how inexperienced he is. There is no doubt the dog can run and, in my opinion, is definitely a metropolitan class dog.

“He doesn’t have a lot of early speed, but the further he goes the more he winds up. His best will probably be over 600 metres, but you never know until they actually go over the distance.”

Mick said there was room for confidence going into the Anniversary Cup Final, but said it was a very competitive field.  

“This is a good field and when I look across it everyone is a danger,” Mick said.

“My dog is just a young dog and learning, but does find the line.”

Out The Bottle will jump from the six box, while kennel mate Sergeant Green will exit box three.

“He (Sergeant Green) is similar to Out The Bottle, not a quick starter, but is very strong," Mick said. 

“He will eventually be a good race dog, again probably over more distance.

“As far as Wednesday night goes, with him I am more hopeful than confident.”

Mick’s nephew, Ken Boody, has four chances in the Final, all sent north from South East Queensland metropolitan kennels – Mr. Takeover, Tagovailoa and Lightning Buzz from Brisbane’s Tom Tzouvelis’ kennel and Who’s Billy, from Cyndie Elson’s prolific Churchable property.

Mick Boody said Out The Bottle would be heading back to Ipswich for this weekend’s Golden Chase series heats, but then would also be given a crack at the Rockhampton Cup (heats on April 19 and Final on April 26).

“It would be great if he could get through to the Cup Final, but he is still very young and at this stage (Townsville Cup winner) More Peaches would be our biggest chance in the Cup,” Mick said.

Mick and Amber Boody are based just outside Rockhampton, at Dalma, and despite being a familiar face at Brisbane and Ipswich in recent months he says there is no chance the couple will be relocating to South East Queensland.

“We have some really good young dogs coming through, and more on the way,” Mick said.

“In fact, we have one of the strongest kennels we have ever had. But, Amber and I are getting older now.

“We will be quite happy to breed pups that are good enough to race down south and we'll be happy to send them to city trainers.

“Ultimately that is our plan. And, we will keep one or two to race at Bundaberg and Rockhampton.”