By Alex Nolan
You won’t find a greater advocate for Queensland greyhound racing than John ‘Bunny’ Brasch.
Brisbane’s premier race caller took the binoculars at Albion Park in 2018 following the retirement of legendary broadcaster Paul ‘Dogsy’ Dolan and will be at the helm on Thursday night, as the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club celebrates 50 years of night racing in the river city.
The BGRC 50th Anniversary Trophy brings together some of the Sunshine State’s best greyhounds for a $50,000 contest over 520m on Thursday night.
The occasion has given us time to reflect on some of the past champions that graced both venues.
Before he calls home the winner on Thursday, Brasch has handed down his five favourite greyhounds across the decades of greyhound racing in Brisbane.
While it’s hard to compare star chasers from different eras, these five were ‘Bunny’s’ personal favourites to grace The Gabba and Albion Park ... with a few honourable mentions.
1970s
TOP SIMBI (Milimsimbi – Susie Voile)
HERALDED as the best greyhound race at The Gabba and a two-time Queensland Greyhound of the Year. Starting 24 times for 20 wins at The Gabba, Top Simbi’s wins included the Autumn Trophy, Lord Mayor’s Cup, Springtime Cup, Gabba Sprint Championship, Exhibition Trophy and the Bacardi Rum Trophy. His legend was not restricted to The Gabba alone, going to Sydney and winning twice. His career ended having enjoyed 30 wins from 49 starts.
“He was the first ever recognised champion at The Gabba,” Brasch said.
“One of the first dogs I ever saw as a seven or eight-year-old at the time. My fascination with greyhound racing started with my brother going to the greyhounds with him and he was one of the first greyhounds I remembered.
“With his white and black spotted markings I fell in love with him.”
1980s
DANCING GAMBLE (Riverina Tiger – Dancing Damsel)
NAMED Queensland Greyhound of the Year for 1988 after victories in the Coca Cola Bottler’s (Brisbane) Cup and the Nationals Sprint Final. They complemented an earlier win in the 1987 Christmas Trophy. His 29 wins at The Gabba saw him become the first greyhound in Australia to win more than $100,000 at the one track.
“The late 1980s saw Dancing Gamble dominate The Gabba, including his win on home soil in the Nationals. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there to see it as I was on a plane to the US!” Brasch said.
“But I’ve seen the replay plenty of times.”
1990s
FLYING AMY (Amerigo Man x Tenthill Flyer)
WHEN it comes to greyhound racing in the 1990s, Flying Amy was ‘Simply The Best’. Though some of her greatest achievements came away from ‘The Creek’ (think 1995 National Sprint Championship Final at Sandown) Flying Amy was the 520m track record holder and won the 1994 Queensland Puppy Classic and 1995 Eukanuba Cup there. She retired with 42 wins from 59 career starts and 10 minor placings, and, as Queensland’s Greyhound of the Year for 1994 and 1995.
“You can’t go past Flying Amy during this period,” Brasch said.
“One of my favourite Paul Dolan calls was when he referred to Tina Turner and Jimmy Barnes because Flying Amy was ‘Simply The Best’.
“She beat them with shear speed and was the foolproof greyhound from start to finish.”
2000s
KANTARN BALE (Light Of Fire – Jindara Bale)
LIKELY to cause a stir among the locals, with the Graeme Bate-trained and late Paul Wheeler-owned greyhound racing out of Victoria. However, Kantarn Bale holds a special place in ‘Bunny’s’ heart, being the winner of the first Group 1 race he called.
“It was the 2000 Brisbane Cup and Paul Dolan was in Sydney to see the Olympics,” Brasch said.
“Even thought he was not a Queenslander, it was one of my career highlights at Albion Park and made even more special by the fact that one of my mentors, David Fowler, was hosting SKY’s coverage and crossed to me for the race.”
Kantarn Bale recorded 44 wins from 77 starts and finished his career with more than $357,000 in earnings. A Hall of Famer whose Brisbane Cup win complemented earlier victories in the Melbourne Cup and Silver Chief.
2010s
DASHING CORSAIR (Malfoy – Rose Flamenco) / CYNDIE’S MAGIC (Magic Sprite – Regal Silver)
DASHING CORSAIR remains the only greyhound to win both the National Sprint (2009) and National Distance (2011) titles and is a two-time Queensland Greyhound of the Year. A 57-time winner from 124 starts, he collected more than $455,000 in prizemoney.
“A dashing sprinter who made the transition to star stayer later in his career,” Brasch said.
Cyndie’s Magic may not have saluted at Group 1 level but her last-to-first heroics time and time again captured the imagination of racing fans from all three codes across Australia. For a greyhound that would often be closer to last than first at the 600m boxes when racing at Albion Park, it’s incredible to think she would finish her career with 45 wins and 67 minor placings from 152 starts.
“As a race broadcaster you tend to not look over the whole field as they approach the 600m boxes but when she was racing, you did, because you knew at that point she’d make her move,” Brasch said.
Honourable Mentions
Since ‘Bunny’ started broadcasting at Albion Park in 2018 he has developed a soft spot for the likes of Tornado Tears (aka Batman), Jungle Deuce, Sennachie, Thirty Talks and Dam Slippery.
“They were all terrific at Albion Park but Dam Slippery provided two of my most memorable moments in Brisbane greyhound racing,” Brasch said.
“The first was her Richmond Oaks, which was run during the Queensland Greyhound Awards. Proceedings were paused to watch the race and the entire industry got behind their local hope. One of the owners told me that would never happen in any other state.
“Then of course, she was the Queensland hero when winning the Origin Sprint, beating a hot field that included two Million Dollar Chase winners (Mystic Riot and Good Odds Harada) and a Golden Easter Egg winner (Zipping Bailey).”