Hopefully Crab Pot can get faster in Townsville

By Josh Spasaro

Father-and-son training team Phillip and Ross Rudall will have two highly capable starters in the Townsville Wildcard heats on Tuesday night, but to use a cliché they are not looking too far ahead.

Crab Pot is a handy addition to the family operation and he will jump from box one for Phillip in the first heat. 

The winner of next week’s Wildcard Final will gain automatic entry into the Townsville Cup on September 11.

Hopefully Fast finished runner-up in the Group 2 feature for Ross last year.

The Aussie Infrared and Sequana three-year-old, Crab Pot, is a proven Brisbane chaser who was sent north by Tony Apap.

He has 10 wins from 41 starts, with $73,155 in career prizemoney to his name.

But, like Hopefully Fast, he is coming back from injury and will only make his second North Queensland start for Phillip Rudall in the Wildcard heat over 498 metres.

“It’s like the footballers who take it week-by-week. We’re doing the same with the dogs,” Phillip said. 

“They’re both in the same position with not enough work that’s been put into them yet. Hopefully they’ll improve every week.”

Crab Pot finished third in the $18,780 Easter Trophy Final over 520 metres at Q2 Parklands on April 9.

But, Phillip is not getting carried away at what the black dog could do for him in Townsville.

“He was starting to find it a bit difficult down there and Tony thought there might be some easier races for him up here,” he said.

“He had an injury, so we’re taking it step-by-step and getting him back again. It wasn’t serious, but it was enough to keep him out of things for a few weeks.”

The aim with Crab Pot is the Townsville Cup, with heats on September 4.

But, he won’t be rushed after finishing sixth in his first start for the Rudall family over the 498 metre journey on August 4.

“He hasn’t had a lot of work, but if he comes up, we’ll put him in. We’ll just see how he goes in the heats,” Phillip said.

Crab Pot was named after a ‘man cave’ belonging to Apap’s son-in-law, Garry, on his 112-acre Gatton property, where friends enjoy a drink and a good time.

But, all jokes aside, he is known for his chase and resilience in the way he has overcome injury setbacks.

Phillip also believes he can improve over the coming months.

“He’s a strong dog. He’s not particularly quick early, but he is a strong dog and he’ll just get better,” he said.

“He was off for a long time with a hock injury. He hasn’t done a lot of racing, really. We’ll just plod along week-by-week and get him as fit as we can.”

Phillip added he was still figuring out what box Crab Pot liked to jump from.

He drew the coveted red rug for the first Townsville Wildcard heat on Tuesday night, but he finished sixth from the one lane for the Rudall kennel in his first start for him two weeks ago.

“I don’t really know enough about him, to be quite honest with you, to know what his favourite box is,” Phillip said.

“Having only had one start for us, he didn’t start particularly well. He’s only seen it once, so hopefully he’ll go better.”

Hopefully Fast will begin from box eight in the second Townsville Wildcard heat on Tuesday night.

Like Crab Pot, she is returning from an injury setback, with one win from four starts this preparation.

“We’ve been gradually bringing her back,” Phillip said of his son Ross’ black bitch.

“We’re in the same position with her. Hopefully we can build her up and get enough fitness into her before the Cup. I’m hoping she’s now got enough fitness to hang on against the quick dogs.

“She’s a very genuine bitch who tries her heart out every time and she loves doing it. She really loves racing.”

Along with her runner-up finish in last year’s Townsville Cup, Hopefully Fast won the North Queensland Cup on November 25 last year.

The Fernando Bale and Sandave Sky three-year-old has picked up $78,000 in career prizemoney from just 34 starts, with 13 victories.

Phillip revealed he and son Ross would like to use her as a broodbitch after she retires from track duties.

“She’s very lightly raced and we intend to breed with her, so we’re not pushing her along,” he said.

“She’s a very smart bitch, so we’ll just take it step-by-step with her. When she’s had enough, she’s had enough. But, she just loves it.”