Springview Magic claims Bundaberg Cup but ownership controversy may dampen win
Springview Magic yesterday won his first group race final taking out the $75,000 to-the-winner Group 3 Bundaberg Cup leading all the way from box one.
The Eric Conroy-trained dog began brilliantly from the red box on the grass track, leading easily and dug deep late to hold off a determined finish from the Selena Zammit-trained All Natural to win by 0.5 of a length in 29.91.
The Zammit family filled the “Bundy Cup” placings with Tony Zammit's Deemed A Liar finishing third.
Springvale Magic's win represented the much travelled greyhounds first group success after previously having contested the 2021 Group 3 Magic Maiden Final in March 2021, finishing fourth behind the Andy Lord-trained Bandit Ned.
Following the Magic Maiden final, Springvale Magic stayed in Michael Hardman's kennel until July 2021, before a short unsuccessful stint in Victoria where Matthew Clark took over training.
The son of Fernando Bale and Nangar Miss returned to Hardman's NSW kennels before transferring to fellow NSW trainer Geoff Sheather in July 2022.
Sheather started Springview Magic just four times for two wins and a second, before the current ownership group bought in to the greyhound and send him to his current trainer in Queensland, Eric Conroy in August 2022.
According to all public official records Eric Conroy owns the greyhound, but a recent article by David Brasch regarding the greyhound has reported the greyhound is owned by “Ben Davey, race-caller Jarrod Wessel and Tylen Wallace”.
According to Brasch, Ben Davey is quoted as saying “We saw this dog advertised on Greyhound Data and paid $6000 for a half share. The original owners, stayed in him.
“But after he won his second start for us, at Ipswich, they wanted to sell their half and we paid an extra $2000 to buy him outright.
“Yes, we bought him to win the Bundy Cup, in our own home town where we have grown up together playing sport together and going to school together.”
No doubt the Queensland Racing and Integrity Commission (QRIC) will be calling upon the official owner/trainer Eric Conroy and the named other three as it is illegal under Australian Racing Rules to falsify greyhound ownership, especially given the emphasis on ownership responsibilities and life-cycle tracking.
Despite that controversy though, Brasch quoted Conroy saying the victory provided his “greatest excitement in many years in the sport.”
2023 Bundaberg Cup – Springview Magic (29.91) T: Eric Conroy
Springview Magic has now had 49 starts for 17 wins and 17 minor placings.
The enormous winners prizemoney of $75,0000 for a Group 3 race took Springview Magic's career prizemoney total to $125,250.
Conroy will now target the Rockhampton Cup with the greyhound.