Bundy Cup on radar after track record performance from Springview Magic

By Jordan Gerrans

After breaking the track record earlier this week, trainer Eric Conroy has set his sights on adding the 2023 Bundaberg Cup to Springview Magic’s resume.

The official return to racing in the “Rum City” commenced with a bang on Monday with Springview Magic bettering the fastest time ever over the grass track in a 460 metre contest.

The brindle dog bolted in by almost nine lengths in a sizzling 25.82 seconds.

Springview Magic was able to find the rail from box three in the opening stages and ran away from the chasing field in a dominant showing.

The previous record was 25.94 seconds, which was jointly shared by Shakey Diesel and Craig’s Regret.

Conroy – who prepares his small team out of his Belli Park-based kennel on the Sunshine Coast – had an inkling his three-year-old chaser might be able to do something special on Monday afternoon.

“I was over the moon,” Conroy said.

“We thought we could break the record, the young fella that owns him and I both thought he could.

“He has the early speed and being on a grass track compared to what he usually races on, it is much easier for him on grass.

“He is a trier, he is a real honest dog.”

Springview Magic had been racing at South East Queensland tracks in recent months with Bundaberg’s track being developed.

The 16-time career winner contested a non-TAB race at the venue seven days before Bundaberg officially returned for a TAB meeting on Monday for their first meeting since July of last year.

It comes after major works were recently finished to renovate the track as well as the installation of a new judges’ and broadcast tower, a new rail and lure system, new catching pen, new irrigation system, replacement of all fencing, new starts at 531 metres and 315 metres and a new sectional timing system.  

Conroy was smiling to be back racing at a track that is close to his heart after he claimed the feature Bundaberg Cup back in 2020 with Belli Ultra.

“It looks good, the club have done a good job with the track,” Conroy said.

“I like the people at Bundaberg, it is a good place to go racing.

“Everyone welcomed each other back to the track this week.”

Conroy considers the Bundaberg club as his “home track” after having raced his team of chasers at the venue for the last 24 years.

It is an almost four hour drive for the veteran trainer but he prefers heading north to race his team compared to travelling south.

“I race there more than Brisbane so you can call me a local,” he said of Bundaberg.

After breaking the track record earlier this week over 460 metres, Conroy is planning now to step up his dog in distance for a tilt at the 2023 Cup.

The Cup distance at Bundaberg is 531 metres and the trainer is hopeful Springview Magic will appreciate the further trip.

He has raced up to 525 metres at other tracks in Australia earlier in his career.

The Group 3 Bundaberg Cup heats will then be held on March 20 before the Cup Final on March 27, with $112,525 in prize money up for grabs.

“We want to try him in the Cup,” Conroy said.

“I am hoping he can get further and I think he will be able to manage the extra distance.

“I reckon on the grass he will be able to do the further trip.

“We will give it a go, that is all we can do.”

Springview Magic’s track record performance is not the only record that has been broken in the Queensland chasing ranks this week.

Blue Hornet toppled his mother Champagne Sally’s Ipswich track record on Monday, running home in 29.83 seconds over the 520 metre journey.

Blue Hornet is prepared by Raymond and Mary Burman at Park Ridge.

The Burmans also raced Champagne Sally, who had shared the record with Fernando Blaster at 29.97 seconds before Monday night’s smart effort from Blue Hornet.

Also at Bundaberg on Monday, the George Clegg kennel returned to the track with a bang, landing the opening two winners on the program.