Age hasn’t dulled Swerve's hunger to race

By Josh Spasaro

Swerve is in the veteran stage of her career, but trainer Mark Bube believes she has given no indication she wants to finish up on the track.

Swerve has had more than 100 career starts and will run over 407 metres at Rockhampton on Wednesday night, 

The four-and-a-half-year-old bitch carries consistent form into the $2,950 race with two wins and four placings from her past 12 starts.

Bube lauded her toughness and longevity.

“She loves to run. Greyhounds usually tell you when they’ve had enough. She’s running as good as she ever did and she just loves it,” Bube said.

“But, she is finding the younger dogs have got her measure in the third and fourth grade.

“She does everything right. She’s not a standout out of the boxes. She does well, but she’s not a standout. So, it just depends on what sort of run she gets.”

Bube said Swerve would enjoy starting from box one in race six.

“She likes box one, but she is getting on in age and she does struggle against those sorts of younger dogs in grade,” he said.

The two-year-old bitch Dream Design (six wins from 16 starts) and Tusken Wind (six wins from 13 starts) loom as formidable younger juvenile opponents for Swerve with promising careers ahead of them. 

“This grade of race is usually pretty strong. While she is boxed well, I’m not going to say she’ll win or anything like that,” Bube said.

“But, she does what she does every time she races. She’ll do her best and if she gets lucky, she gets lucky.

“That’s probably the top grade for her.”

Bube said his Superior Panama and Sashay bitch had an excellent temperament which would serve her well after her racing days conclude.

“She’s well-bred herself. (Breeding) is not something I’ve done much of. But, if she doesn’t become a broodbitch, she’ll make a lovely pet. She’s beautiful around the house,” he said.

Bube, also the Rockhampton Greyhound Racing Club President, trains four dogs and is based at Glendale.

He said racing in Central Queensland was of a high standard at present.

“There used to be an adage that any dog from Brisbane would be a shoo-in to win here,” he said.

“But, now that’s not the case. There are some very good trainers here and they’re getting some quality dogs.”