Former Gold Coaster betting on Lakeside Cup glory

By Jordan Gerrans

Gold Coast product Cameron Betts is loving being back in the Sunshine State and is hopeful of striking gold in Thursday’s Lakeside Cup.

Betts departed Queensland about 15 years ago to follow his partner and his footy to Tasmania and at the time had never had any involvement in the greyhound industry.

He has made a name for himself preparing a kennel at Wynyard in Tasmania, qualifying for August’s National Distance Championship Final at The Q.

Betts’ chaser Beast Royale didn’t figure in the finish in the big Group 1 prize over the staying trip, but he has been back to his home state since with Rupee's Revenge and a few other kennelmates.

Rupee's Revenge ran into second by Travis Elson’s Super Scrub in last Thursday’s 457 metre heat on the Q1 Lakeside surface.

The 25.36 second gallop from Rupee's Revenge was sharp enough to qualify for the decider where the fawn dog has been handed the three alley.

With $100,000 on the line to the winner on Thursday, a classy field will assemble for the Lakeside Cup.

Rupee's Revenge has placed in all three of his starts at Q1 Lakeside and while Betts understands he is taking on an imposing field on Thursday, he is optimistic his son of Aston Rupee can be competitive.

“In his last couple of starts, he has been improving a lot and getting used to the track,” Betts said.

“He has done enough to qualify and there are some super dogs in this race.

“He is going to need to sharpen up his second section and come out with another good first section to be right in it.

“These dogs in this race, they are probably a little bit better than us, but I am still confident there is improvement in him to come.

“I am really pleased he has qualified and hopefully he can put his best foot forward on Thursday night.

“It is a hot field with dogs like Blue Blend and others; it is going to be a great race.”

Blue Blend – who will start from the two in the decider - was sharp in his 24.96 second heat triumph for mentor Jeff Crawford. 

When Betts departed the Gold Coast a decade-and-a-half ago, he wouldn’t have thought he would be back on home turf racing in prestigious greyhound races anytime soon. 

But, he linked up with a few mates in Tasmania who had an eye for a greyhound and his kennel and passion has only grown from there.

He is staying with his parents on the Gold Coast during his ‘working holiday’ with his small team of travelling chasers. 

While Betts’ kennel hasn’t won a race since lobbing in early October, they have been mighty competitive. 

The trainer – who is a painter away from his dog interests - originally came north for the recent Ipswich Derby series but stayed on with the lucrative Lakeside Cup.

“With the new The Q, I came up for the Nationals and I checked out all the new facilities and saw how good they were,” he said.

“It was great to come back and do some racing here.

“I have already looked at the calendar and there is a lot of good racing in January.

“That summer carnival in Queensland is very tempting with lots of good races worth plenty of money over Christmas and into January and February.

“Who knows, I might turn around and come back.”

Betts said he was open to relocating back to Queensland down the line if the time was right for his kennel and family.

Beast Royale remained in the Sunshine State following the Nationals campaign and is now being prepared by leading local dog man Tom Tzouvelis.

The brindle dog has eventually found his grounding in Queensland and ran a nice race to finish second in a heat of the Past Members Trophy last week.

He will start from the seven in the 642 metre feature on Thursday.

“Tom has done a terrific job with the dog,” Betts said.

Betts still owns Beast Royale so it could be a lucrative evening at The Q on Thursday if all goes to plan.

Betts is likely to head south following Thursday’s Lakeside Cup with heats of the Hobart 1000, one of the most sought-after events in the state, fast approaching.

The impressive Rupee's Rocket was also a part of Betts’ travelling party, but the blue dog has headed home.