Impact's Bad Draws Roll Into Bundaberg Cup

STAR galloper Impact has had a career of “attracting bad luck” despite the fact he has won 22 of 39 starts, according to his trainer Kevin Ellis.

Ellis said this after watching Impact (Fabregas-Velocity Willow) race to a heat victory in the Group 3 Bundaberg Cup (550m) on Monday.

“He was zooming up to go to the front in the back straight, but ran straight into the back of the leader,” said Ellis. “He used to do those sort of things when he was a youngster but I thought he'd got out of it.”

Impact scored by three and a half lengths over early leader He's So Cool as the $2.10 favourite.

But “the world's unluckiest dog” then came up with box four in the final.

Group greyhound racing made its way to Bundaberg today for heats of the Group 3 Bundaberg Cup! Next Monday, local and intrastate chasers will meet again for the $60,000 feature final from Thabeban Racetrack! See the official box draw for the final ? #QLDisRacing? pic.twitter.com/jVeyf45EDo

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) March 21, 2022

Bundaberg Cup final (550m) in box draw order: 1 Lucky Lance, 2 He's So Cool, 3 Love You Peaches, 4 Impact, 5 Sunshine Delight, 6 Jagger Moves, 7 Little Byrnes, 8 All Genres. Res: 9 Viva Belle, 10 Pokie Payout.

“He's been so unlucky with box draws, right throughout his career,” said Ellis.

And owner Steve Williams agreed.

Impact finished the Group 1 Gold Bullion at Albion Park when seventh behind Jungle Deuce with a niggling injury and Ellis took his time to get him over that.

But he made sure the dog was accustomed to the Bundaberg track by trialling him there three times prior to Monday's heat win.

“What leads around the first turn will win the final,” said Ellis. “It is a track that if you get into trouble, there is no coming back.”

Rob Ayres' Lucky Lance was impressive in winning his heat by seven and a half lengths in the fastest of the four heats in 31.05 and has come up with box one for the final.

Track record holder, Paul McIlveen's Sunshine Delight ran 31.11 to win by two lengths in its heat over Jagger Moves.

John Catton's Little Byrnes won his heat by a head in 31.32 to make yet another feature race final.