Blazing Chaos – Still Blazing In Retirement
With a kennel name of Dude the March 2008 son of Surf Lorian and She's Adams was always going to be special. Queensland bred he would grace the track as Blazing Chaos and go on to win over $60,000 in prizemoney for the Sensationals Syndicate. With a race career that would traverse across 5 states the striking black greyhound finished his race career with the great record of 52 starts for 14-17-8.
Dude started his race career in Victoria in the rich Gold Rush Maiden series at Bendigo. His first start in the heats resulted in a good 2nd. The following week he would win his semi and qualify for the final. Drawn box 8 he would have no luck and finish 7th. The result – Dude was on a plane and headed north to Queensland – his first flight of many more to come. He quickly won at Albion Park in best of night and connections knew he had ability. He went to Lismore for 2 starts but returned without a win. By start number 6 he had raced in three different states and his education was fast developing.
The team of Adam Hines and syndicate head Broc Wright wanted to test his ability and the fast approaching national sprint would be the target. His heat resulted in a strong second behind Mr Prizz in BON and that result was enough to qualify him for the final. The following week and against older and more experienced opposition he would win the final in BON with a great win from box 7. Dude had done what connections hoped he would. He would now be set the task to represent Queensland at the G1 national sprint final at Angle Park. Amazingly he had beaten Queensland's best as a fifth grader.
His record now stood at 16 starts for 6 wins – and at Albion Park he was ultra consistent with 11 starts resulting in 5 wins and 6 seconds.
A few weeks later and after another flight to South Australia Dude was set for the G1 national sprint final at Angle Park. After drawing the yellow box no luck would see him finish 6th in the final behind Smooth Fancy. Dude was straight back to Queensland. After a short spell he was back to Albion Park where first up he won in BON. The ability was there and a racing decision was needed to be made.
Broc Wright and trainer Adam Hines discussed their options and a decision was made to send Dude back south to Victoria where he would campaign with Darren MacDonald and try his luck in the rich Melbourne Cup. His heat would result in a great second behind Aston Galilee but the following week luck eluded him and he finished 4th in his semi final. He would miss the final and start the following week over the 595m instead finishing 3rd. A Victorian win had eluded him but he showed he had class and that he could compete with the best in the country.
The G1 Brisbane Cup heats were approaching and the decision was made to bring him home. After only 3 Victorian starts he was on another plan. His record at Albion Park was outstanding with 12 starts for 6 wins and 6 seconds so it was a formality that he would compete and be one of the fancies.
Dude was on another flight back to Brisbane and back with Adam Hines. Dude would draw box 1 for his heat and finish second behind Red Rocket. More importantly – he again showed his ability by qualifying for his second group 1 final. The G1 final would see the son of Surf Lorian draw box three and finish fourth behind the champ He Knows Uno. Immediately afterwards he was on another flight to Victoria and back to Darren MacDonald. From here he would head to Tasmania. 2 starts in Tasmania resulted in a third behind Dee Winter and an unplaced run. The decision was made to target the Victorian racing scene.
Over the next few months he raced at Ballarat, Warnambool, Horsham, Warragul, Sandown as well as The Meadows where he was 2 from 2 in fast time. He was competing against quality dogs winning his fair share and giving the 11 members of the Sensationals Syndicate the ride of their lives. He would be set for the Golden Easter Egg. A public trial first look at Wentworth Park and a 29.79 run had connections very excited for what might be. It quickly turned to frustration as he was overlooked as being only a Victorian 5th grader. He wouldn't be drawn in a heat and immediately returned to Victoria, but the bad luck of missing the egg would follow.
On the 5th of May 2011 a race fall at Sandown would change his career. Written off by many and with most suggesting that he would never race again, the Syndicate opted for surgery. A fractured right humorous would result in a plate and 7 screws. A long stint on the sidelines would ensue and his recovery wouldn't be known for sometime. Dude boarded a plane and returned to Queensland.
After 9 months Dude returned to racing in a FFA at Albion park on the 9th of February 2012 where he would finish 5th and show connections that although the body was bruised he still wanted to compete. He won the following week – a proud moment for connections and trainer Hines who proved the doubters wrong. Although he would never reach the same heights, he campaigned weekly over the following 6 weeks before another injury meant a further 2 months on the sidelines. He returned, but not for long. Injury had taken is toll and it was time to retire. A journey of racing in 5 different states had finally come to a end. Dude had changed the lives of the those around him.
The syndicate looked around to find him a home. Dude would continue to influence the lives of those around him. He found a home in Rochedale South with the Osmond family, Shane, Rachael and their two young boys. Shane's father was a jockey, steward and trainer and he knew how great a pet greyhound would be. “Dude is the biggest sook – he loves attention and the side of anyone's hip” he said. At the park the striking black dog still draws attention and influences those he meets – “everyone wants to pat him and people can't believe how friendly greyhounds are. He is well known in the area and people love him and more than that they like seeing him around.” Just like they did when he was racing on the track.