White Caviar charges clear to win the 302m Outback Fly at Moree by more than five lengths. Photo: Bill Poulos
CASINO greyhound trainer Bruce Caden capped a huge Moree carnival on Monday when impressive white and black dog White Caviar led throughout from box one to win the 302m Gordon Legg’s South Moree Butchery Outback Fly in a blistering 17.05 seconds – just 0.35 of a second outside the six-year-old track record.
Caden had 14 starters at the three-day carnival and collected wins with White Caviar (twice), Slamdance, Stupendously and Lesson One as well as minor placings with Lesson One, Real Time (twice) and Little Down Duke (twice).
Former West Australian White Caviar, a raging 6/4-on favourite on the strength of its heat win the previous week in 17.26, raced away to win by more than five lengths from Kerry Perrett’s kennelmates Mojo’s Angel (3-1) and Mojo Rocks.
“He hadn’t been to Moree before but we brought him here last week and he ran the fastest time in the heats,” Caden said.
“He’s a good little dog. He can be a bit hit-and-miss at the start but since he’s come here (to Moree) he’s jumped good both times.
“He can run. He’s a good dog – I’m over the moon,” he said.
Caden also started 4-1 chance Slamdance – a winner of four from seven – with the blue bitch running a huge race to finish fourth.
“She ran a real good race but just couldn’t get across – plus she got galloped on from behind,” Caden said.
The trainer, who makes regular trips to Moree at carnival times, joined a chorus of concerns over Greyhound Racing NSW’s decision to suspend Moree Greyhound Racing Club’s licence until December 31 – a suspension that could ultimately be the demise of greyhound racing in the town.
“We just don’t want that happening,” Caden said.
“We don’t want to lose country clubs and we don’t want to lose this club. We’re all battlers and we need clubs like Moree.”
Like many coastal trainers, Caden uses the Moree track to build a greyhound’s confidence – crucial in the development of young, immature dogs.
He says the Moree circuit gives every runner a chance.
“Dogs here aren’t on corner starts getting knocked around – every dog gets a fair start out of the boxes,” he said.
“It’s good for young dogs. It helps build their confidence.
“This dog (White Caviar) had no confidence at all but he came here last week and went bang (in the heats). He came out again today and ran time – time that hasn’t been run here for a good while.
“The win today is an indication of the amount of confidence he’s gained from his heat win the week before,” Caden said.