Giveaway ready to cash in again in Rocky feature

By Josh Spasaro

There were certainly no complaints from owner Ben Davey when asked about Waikarie Venom’s form before the Colleen Jackson Memorial Final at Rockhampton on Wednesday night.

The two-year-old trained by Steven Scott – who won his heat by one-and-quarter lengths – was picked up by Davey without paying a cent.

Indeed, it was not a bad acquisition for his small kennel operation at South Kolan – just outside of Bundaberg – with the chaser saluting seven times from 28 starts and so far banking $22,440 in prizemoney.

“I got him for free off Brian Baker at Caboolture. He rang me and he had a couple of dogs to (transfer) by the end of the week,” Davey said.

“He said ‘if you can pick them up by Friday, you can have them’.

“So, I picked up one and gave the other one to Steve Bland and Louise Cameron. They reared the two pups for a few weeks.

“I only had room for one of them. I kept Waikarie Venom and they kept the other one. He’s turned out to be a handy little dog.”

Awesome Cambla was the other dog, whose victory over 407 metres for Cameron at Rockhampton on Sunday night was his fourth from 19 starts, for $8,620 thus far in prizemoney.

Along with acquiring Waikarie Venom for free, the juvenile dog nicknamed Billy has exceeded all early expectations.

“There wasn’t too much between either of them,” Davey said.

“He went up to Ken Boody. Ken broke him in and did everything with him and now he’s with Steve. He’s been a pretty good little giveaway.”

By Group 1-winner Orson Allen and out of One Mumma – who registered 20 wins from 93 starts – Waikarie Venom has inherited good early speed from his sire and dam.

From box two, he is expected to again start well in the small five-dog event on Wednesday night.

“He’s shown good early speed the older he’s getting. He’s really started to work out the boxes and he’s beginning quite consistently,” Davey said.

“If he gets around the first corner hassle-free and in front, then they’ll have to run well to run him down, I think. He won’t throw the towel in.”

Wednesday night’s feature will be over 510 metres and is worth $7,770.

Scott has two other runners starting – Farmor Fired Up from box six and Rockhampton Grand Prix Final-winner Custard’s Son from the eight lane.

Hara’s Poh for Hayley Wooler and King Eternal for Darren Taylor will be the other two chasers to compete.

“Custard’s Son is in the eight and he’s been in good form,” Davey said.

“He’ll be the dog to beat in the race. But, if Waikarie Venom can begin well from the inside and use the draw and punch forward early, they’ll know he’s in the race.

“And, they’ll have to run well to beat him, I think. Early in his career we were more happy with the wide boxes. But, the way he’s been beginning of late, the inside draw seems to be suiting him OK.”

Waikarie Venom showed good heart to come back and win his heat in 30.26 seconds, after he was in third place and trailing by five lengths on the back straight last Wednesday night.

“It was really impressive to see that. He’s struggled with that a little bit in the past,” Davey said.

“Over the 400, he’s run past dogs to win. But, over the 500, I don’t think he’s ever come from behind to win.

“I think he’s always led when he’s won those races. So, it was nice for him to show a bit of ticker and get the job done.”

The 28-year-old Davey works as a support worker and oversees a small four-dog operation, which will soon be five.

He was delighted to see his two-year-old bitch Canya Escape – now under the care of champion trainer Tony Brett – finish runner-up in the Group 1 Flying Amy Classic on the Q2 track on June 7.

“By a long way (she’s my best prospect). She’s got a big future ahead of her, I think,” Davey said.

“She’s a really nice dog. I gave her to Tony and he gets the best out of them.

“We’re chasing the city races with her. She’s clocked up a few city wins and now she’s a Group 1 placegetter.”