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  • Monday, 05 Aug, 2019,
  • by Gerard Guthrie

Healesville’s home for Queensland raider

Dusty’s Charlie will be officially representing Queensland in the historic first-ever National Straight Track Championship (350m), to be held at Healesville on Sunday, August 18.

However, while Dusty’s Charlie qualified through the Capalaba series, he also has a very strong local connection through part-owner Darren Adams, a Healesville local who’s eyeing off a share of the $35,000 winner’s purse with his first foray into greyhound ownership.

“He’ll be representing Victoria, definitely,” laughed Darren, who runs Healesville Garden Supplies and is chairman of local radio station Yarra Valley FM.

The stars have certainly aligned for Darren with Dusty’s Charlie, which was a Christmas present from wife Lisa.

“I’ve always been interested in the greyhounds. I used to live in South Melbourne and I had seven brothers so we went out to Sandown and Olympic Park,” Darren recalled.

“Out of the blue my wife bought me a share in this dog for Christmas and then for my birthday she bought me the photo of his first win at Capalaba.

“I’m a Richmond supporter, so the name is perfect, with Dusty’s Charlie referring to Dustin Martin’s Brownlow Medal.

“When he won his second race I bought more shares – I think we’re the third biggest owners in him – because I had plenty of confidence in him. I thought he would turn out alright.”

Dusty’s Charlie has come a very long way in a short period of time, with Darren recalling that during break-in “he would turn around and run the wrong way”, which led to his relocation to Queensland and Walloon trainer Peter Furbank.

The son of former star Victorian sprinter Keybow won two of his first three starts, but hasn’t won since, earning his berth in the inaugural National Straight Track Championship by running second in his heat and third in last Sunday’s Queensland final at Capalaba.

WATCH: The Capalaba State Final; Hollow Words (box two), Certification (box five) and Dusty’s Charlie (box six). 

The innovative Straight Track format saw qualifying series conducted at Healesville, Capalaba and Murray Bridge (South Australia), with Queensland and South Australia having three positions in the final and the home state two.

“Dusty’s Charlie is really starting to come good; he’s only just been getting beaten,” Adams offered.

“I’d like to bring him back to Victoria to watch him but we couldn’t take him off Peter (Furbank) – he’s done a great job – and I haven’t missed watching any of his races.

“My sister-in-law owns shares in him as well so I think we’ll have about 20 of us there supporting him in the final.

“I think he’s got a chance to win and our share of the prizemoney would be about $2800. But we don’t really think about the money; we’re just in it for the fun of it!”

The Victorian State Final of the National Straight Track Championship will be held this Sunday afternoon, with last weekend’s three heats won by Peter Galo (19.19s), Time To Talk (19.39s) and Myrniong And All (19.41s).

Gerard GuthrieGerard Guthrie

Gerard Guthrie

One of Australia’s leading greyhound racing journalists since 2000 with the Greyhound Recorder and now with Greyhound Racing Victoria. Part-owner 2013 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Sheikha. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)

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