Cambla Diva racing with raw speed

By Jordan Gerrans

Trainer Louise Cameron believes impressive debutant Cambla Diva is racing on raw ability as the young bitch looms as a key contender in the Rockhampton Maiden 1000 Final.

Cambla Diva ran the fastest first split of any race over 407 metres on the Callaghan Park surface on Wednesday evening in a heat of the series, breaking nine seconds.

She also posted a best-of-the-night time of 23.63 seconds in only her first look at the track under race conditions. 

A total of two heats of the rich maiden series were contested on Wednesday evening with the opening heat taken out by Gary Keep’s Mr. Unflappable in 24.04 seconds. 

Cameron hails from the Bundaberg region of the Sunshine State and regularly makes the trip north to race her team at Rockhampton.

She admits with a laugh to not being an expert when it comes to greyhounds' times, she just likes to see her dogs get around safely.

But, Cameron was chuffed with the performance of the black bitch after she broke the chaser in.

“She is a freak, she is just smart,” Cameron said.

“We have taught her nothing and had to do nothing with her.

“She chases the lure, she goes on the bull ring and she just boxes herself.

“Even when you go to the races, she puts herself in the box.

“She has taught herself everything, she does everything herself.”

The daughter of champion Western Australian dog Tommy Shelby began quickly from the seven alley in Wednesday’s heat and held enough of a lead throughout to fend off race favourite Deep State.

Steven Scott’s Deep State is a noted talent but can struggle when the boxes rise.

Cameron was told by a few in the local industry in Central Queensland that Cambla Diva had to jump well clear of Deep State to ensure that she could hold on in the end.

Rockhampton’s Sky Racing caller Liam Mulry was full of praise for Cambla Diva following Wednesday’s dash.

“That is a hot gallop,” Mulry said.

“That is outstanding on debut.”

Cameron had been trialing Cambla Diva at Rockhampton for the last few months in preparation for Maiden 1000 series and she was pleased with the times she was putting on the board.

“I knew she had speed, but it was about doing it in a race against other dogs,” she said.

“I was worried because she had never been in a race at all against other dogs, except for one time against her littermate who is 10 lengths slower than her.

“I knew she could do it, but it was about if she could put it all together on the night.”

The Cameron kennel also started litter brother Cambla Blaze on Wednesday evening with the black dog running into fourth in the earlier heat.

Cambla Blaze and Cambla Diva are from a Tommy Shelby and Princess Zeal mating.

Cameron and her training partner Stephen Bland have enjoyed success in the past from broodbitch Princess Zeal as they have raced Cambla Bliss and Go Go Cambla from an earlier litter.

The trainer says Cambla Blaze is immature compared to his litter sister, but they are hopeful he will progress over time.

The Cameron and Bland team are regularly racing around eight dogs while also caring for a number of retired chasers at their Goodwood kennel.

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s Final, Cameron would prefer an inside alley.

“I don’t think the draw matters to her too much because she gets out quickly and holds her line,” she said.

“An inside draw would be nice.

“It is nice to have a dog that is going to make us a bit happy.”

Cameron is employed at a pharmacy with Cambla Diva named after one of her workmates.