Excitement level rises up north for Townsville Wildcard heats

By Pat McLeod

Townsville’s Phillip Rudall is already rapt to be back in greyhound racing, but that excitement level is about to go up a couple of notches.

The former top regional conditioner, who returned to the industry early this year after a decade-long break, has two runners in Tuesday night’s Townsville Wildcard heats.

He will campaign both Lektra Bolt (race two and box four) and Cool Blue Star (race seven and box two) in the Wildcard, which has attracted a bumper seven heats.

The winner of next week’s Wildcard Final will get a direct passage into the September 6, $112,500 Townsville Cup Final over 498 metres.

“It is very enjoyable to be back and involved in a Cup meeting,” Rudall said.

“It is nice to be involved with these types of races because they are different from your everyday racing.

“Before I stepped out of greyhound racing, I had made three Townsville Cup Finals, but never placed. To be honest I made those races with dogs that really weren't a show.

“It was a case of being quite happy to make the Cup, but that was about it.”

This time around Rudall isn’t much more confident of making an impression on Townsville’s stellar greyhound racing event.

“At a Cup Final level these two dogs would probably be struggling,” Rudall says.

“But, if you are in it then you are always a show, aren't you. As the old saying goes: ‘You have to be in it to win it’.”

Both Lektra Bolt and Cool Blue Star came into Rudall’s kennels, which are based at Nome, just south of Townsville, as tried race dogs.

Lektra Bolt, from a Houdini Boy and Lektra Jena litter, had raced six times out of kennels in South Australia before Rudall, who trains in partnership with his son Ross, purchased the dog and brought him north.

Since beginning racing in Townsville in late April he has won five and placed twice from nine starts, all over the 380 metre journey.

Tuesday night’s Wildcard heats will be Lektra Bolt’s first time over 498 metres in Townsville.

Cool Blue Star is a former Victorian chaser. 

The Bernardo and Eye Will Reign racer had a lengthy injury break before resuming with Rudall for his first race in Townsville in June.

He has had five starts for Rudall for four wins and a fifth.

“Both of these dogs have a very similar racing style,” Rudall says.

“They have early speed, but both need to jump well. Cool Blue Star was brought north with the view to put him through these Wildcard heats. His form so far has been excellent.

“He hasn’t raced for a couple of weeks because he had a minor injury and I wanted to freshen him up for this race. He is in there with a show on Tuesday night because he has got good early speed.

“If we can get him jumping then ‘yes’, he will be a good show. Once he hits the ground he has got good early pace and good track sense. Both dogs are drawn well.”

Rudall says his biggest enjoyment this time around in greyhounds was that he was involved with his son.

“That is the really good part about it,” he says.

“My wife Gerda also does plenty of work with the dogs. It is a real family enterprise.”