Lucrative future awaits Rogue Bandit

By Josh Spasaro

More ground, higher grades and a broodbitch career could be Rogue Bandit’s future if she keeps winning.

And, the 21-month-old hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in her track career, with a perfect three wins from her first three starts.

The Droopys Sydney and Good Odds Emma black bitch looms as one of the chasers to beat in the Dave Brett Memorial Final over 457 metres at Q1 Lakeside on Saturday night.

“She’s a very nice little bitch who’s up-and-coming and she’s been ticking all the boxes thus far,” trainer Jeff Crawford said.

“I rate her a really good, solid chance going into the race on Saturday night.”

Rogue Bandit prevailed over 520 metres in her first two starts. 

She then saluted in her heat last weekend, crossing the line in 25.39 seconds.

What has been noticeable has been her lovely, long-striding action, particularly when finishing off her races.

“She’s got more ground written all over her even this early in her career,” Crawford said.

“She really drives through the line at the end of her races and she does have a nice stride on her.

“She’ll slowly go through the grades and we know that at some point in the future we’ll have more options with her over more ground.”

Well-bred by top New South Wales trainer and breeder Andy Lord at Clover Park near Goulburn, she has already been identified as a future broodbitch.

“Andy likes to hang on to his bitches with that in mind - if they might go on to become broodbitches,” Crawford said.

“The breeding is there - there’s a really nice outcross in Droopys Sydney, so further down the track there’ll be plenty of options for her as a broodie.

“There’ll be nice sires to be able to choose from and go from there.”

Red fawn bitch Good Odds Emma won the Group 1 Dapto Megastar Final, also over 520 metres, for Lord in 2022.

The six-year-old has made a good impression as a dam after her track retirement three years ago.

“There were some very nice pups in her first litter. The second litter is only just starting out, so they’re certainly a work in progress,” Crawford said.

“I’ve got two of them with me at the moment that Andy sent up and she’s the first to start racing. Very promising.

“These are the first dogs I’ve got from Andy from Clover Park.”

Crawford will also have Professor Moana start outside Rogue Bandit from box four in the Dave Brett Memorial Final on Saturday night.

The 18-month-old blue bitch by Bernardo and out of Professor Snitch won on debut in her heat last weekend.

She flashed home late to salute over Party Pants for Corey Mutton, registering a time of 25.43 seconds.

The way she found on the home straight impressed Crawford.

“I was really taken by that because in her trials, she’s led and got it her way. And, the other night, she had to learn to go around a dog who was going OK out in front,” he said.

“She wasn’t quite sure on the home turn whether to go in or out and she made the choice to go out.

“It was probably the winning move in the end, as it turned out. And, she just hung on from a late-closing Corey Mutton pup off the one that was rattling home late. It was full of heart, that run.”

Despite his joy at the way both his Dave Brett Memorial runners have started their careers, Crawford conceded he will be watching box rise closely.

“Professor Moana is a very nice bitch. She’s just got a bit of a habit of wanting to come out and cut hard left and that’s going to be the risk with both of my dogs on Saturday night,” he said.

“I think she’s going to develop into a really nice 500 metre dog in time.

“All her trials have been very, very good, along with her sisters. They’ve got good speed and the litter has just started out, they’re winning everywhere - in Melbourne and up here.”

Crawford also trains Professor Moana’s litter sister, black bitch Professor Pearl.

She, too, has had the one start, going unplaced in her heat.

“It’s a very exciting time for that litter. I’m really glad to have a couple of them in my kennels,” he said.

“Whatever Professor Moana does on Saturday night, she’ll improve on a truckload because she’s a very young bitch.

“But, I’m looking forward to being part of her career moving forward. We’ve got a few nice ones coming through slowly and we’re very patient with them. They don’t have to win every race.

“They tell us when they’re ready and then we kick off their careers.”