Bellata bullet wins again in Gunnedah for Kevin Campbell

Lagoon Dark Eyes’ phenomenal start to his young greyhound racing career continued with a second consecutive victory in Gunnedah last Thursday.

The in-form one-year-old, trained by Bellata’s Kevin Cambell, has now lined up for four starts and raced to top-two finishes on all four occasions.

His career began with back-to-back second-placed finishes in Gunnedah in two 431-metre maiden events on September 9 and 16 respectively.

A week later at the same venue on Thursday, September 23, he got the job done with a five-length victory in his third attempt at the 431-metre maiden as he ran a 24.86, his best time of the three races.

Lagoon Dark Eyes returned to Gunnedah last Thursday where he lined up in a 340-metre grade five event in the ninth race of the evening.

The shorter trip suited the Bellata bullet as he jumped quickly from the number three box and secured his most dominant victory yet.

He started well and was one of four dogs which established themselves at the front of the pack.

With about 275 metres left to race, Lagoon Dark Eyes found a gear that not even his closest competitor could dream of finding.

He eventually charged home down the final straight to a seven-length win to earn the $1500 top prizemoney on offer.

There were six 340-metre races held on the day, out of which Lagoon Dark Eyes ran the fourth fastest time of the 46 runners as he clocked an eye-catching 19.75.

Campbell told The Courier that Lagoon Dark Eyes was a classy dog which would have a successful career.

“He’s a pretty handy dog, he’ll win a few and improve a bit,” Campbell said.

“His times have all been pretty good so far.

“He’s in grade five and now he’ll need to win a few more to go up a grade.

“There’s nowhere much to race at the moment though, that’s the problem. Gunnedah won’t race until the 28th (of October) again.

“If I had a few more I’d go down to Maitland or down to The Gardens but I can’t really go with one.

“But he’ll be in again at Gunnedah on the 28th.”

Campbell, who has been a greyhound trainer for about 40 years, said that he had some good quality dogs in his time and while it was still too early to judge, he expected Lagoon Dark Eyes to be up there with the best of them in the months and years to come.

Campbell also declared that Lagoon Dark Eyes’ sister, Lagoon Camille, could make her debut in Gunnedah on October 28.

“I got him from Ray Webster down in Sydney, and his sister (Lagoon Camille) came with him too,” he said.

“She hasn’t had a start yet but she’ll go alright as well.

“They are top breed dogs, other dogs from the same litter have been winning down there in Sydney and everywhere really.”

Meanwhile, two Wee Waa-trained greyhounds were also in action at Gunnedah last Thursday.

Colin Anderson’s Fire Fly Angel was also victorious in a 340-metre grade five event in race five.

The two-year-old jumped best out of the number six box before leading from start to finish, eventually passing the finish post a length and a quarter ahead of the second-placed finisher.

In her seven starts for the Wee Waa trainer since June 12, Fire Fly Angel has now won twice and raced to three more podium finishes.

The seventh race of the evening was a 431-metre grade four/five event in which Timothy Anderson’s Lagoon Lockdown jumped from box six and ran home fourth.