Advika is keeping her record in line

By Josh Spasaro

Advika is quiet as a mouse.

But, on the track she is making a name for herself, with seven wins from just 19 starts for North Queensland conditioner Ross Rudall.

The two-year-old bitch brings good form into the Townsville meeting on Tuesday night, with three wins and two runner-up finishes from her past five starts.

Rudall said he only hears from his fast-developing chaser when she lets her kennelmates know they have been a little bit too cheeky.

“She’s turned into a bit of a matron telling other dogs what to do. She’s not a big dog,” Rudall said.

“She just sits there most of the time. If someone does something naughty, she tells them off and then she goes and sits back down.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard from her unless it was someone else doing something and she had to tell them off.”

However, on the track, Advika’s times have got the North Queensland greyhound racing community talking.

That was particularly the case when she recorded three consecutive victories from January 9 to February 10.

The last of those wins saw the diminutive black bitch cross the line in a time of 21.59 seconds, with a sharp first split of 7.27 seconds.

“When we first got her, we heard that she was quick early. She showed a little bit of it,” Rudall said.

“In the past couple of weeks, she ran 7.27 seconds on the first section, which is the fastest first section we’ve had since we’ve been back racing (in late 2023).”

Advika has been blessed with inside boxes during her strong form patch over her past five starts.

On Tuesday night, she will jump from box six.

But, that will not worry Rudall too much.

“I’m still trying to work out what boxes she likes and doesn’t like. She’s a bit of a maverick,” he said.

“I really don’t have a read on the race. Because of her early speed, I expect her to get a place. I don’t expect her to win. Because she’s fast early, she’s always in with a chance.”

Rudall said he was hoping to see Advika again start well this week, before maintaining her speed throughout the sprint race.

“There are a couple of good dogs in there,” he said.

“Advika starts pretty early. She’s one of those dogs who likes to get out in front and it’s up to everyone else to catch her.

“The Woolers have got a good dog (Judi Starline in box seven). Maple Wave (box four) is also a really good dog.”

Rudall said he wasn’t sure if Advika could run further than 380 metres, adding he does not have a feature race aim for her at this stage.

But, he added he enjoyed taking her to the races every week.

“Out of all my dogs she’s the one I’m excited about. I don’t know if I’m excited about her future big picture,” he said.

“But, every week, she’s the one I most want to race. There’s nothing better than seeing your dog jump early and get to the front and stay out of trouble.”

Post-racing, Rudall said his Shima Shine and Femme Folle chaser would make an ideal broodbitch.

“She’s well bred, so once she finishes racing, we’ve always thought she might be one for us to breed from,” he said.

“That’s always in the back of our minds. Not just racing, but the breeding side of it.

“We’ve got Hopefully Fast, who might be an option once she finishes racing. And, Advika. They’re both well-bred and fast early.

“If we could match them up with something who finishes a bit stronger, that’s the dream.”

Meanwhile, Rudall said last year’s Townsville Cup runner-up Hopefully Fast was not far off making a return to the track.

The three-year-old bitch’s last start was over 498 metres at Townsville on February 17 where she finished third behind Jackknifed.

“She’s a little bit older than Advika. We’ve always been careful with her. With breeding in mind, we don’t have to race her every week,” he said.

“She usually tells us as well. She’s starting to look like she wants to race again right now. But, she’s healing and we’re not in any big hurry.

“We want quality, not necessarily to be racing every week. I definitely could’ve raced her every week – she’s that type of dog who wants to.

“But, we’ll pick her battles and do the right thing by her. We’ll do the same thing with Advika.”