Beck And Call Maintains Winning Rage

WHEN Beck And Call raced to a 30.58 victory at Ipswich on Thursday night in the heats of a 520m 5th Grade, breeder, owner and trainer Christine Bourke once again felt justified.

Christine bred the son of Bekim Bale-High Class Belle and his successful littermates and copped plenty of criticism for doing so.

“Everyone bagged me when I put High Class Belle to Bekim Bale,” said Christine. “She had nine pups and Greg Mellen came in halves with me in the litter.

“All of them can run and we also have Shot The Sheriff and Don't Tell Helen who are very good dogs.”

Shot The Sheriff has won eight and been placed six times in 15 starts and Don't Tell Helen has won six of nine and been placed twice.

Beck And Call's win at Ipswich took his career to eight starts for five wins and two seconds.

“Beck And Call will run in the final next week, then all three of the littermates will head back to Capalaba for a Young Guns series,” said Christine.

Bourke, rising 72, has stuck solid to Beck And Call's direct damline for decades.

“Our very first greyhound was a $500 puppy buy from Reg Kay which we named Madame Acacia and she is the fifth mother of this litter,” she said.

Along the way, the Madame Acacia descendants have included former star staying bitch Pass The Parcel, right down to High Class Belle the winner of nine races.

“We still have Beck And Call's grandmother Pinata Belle who is 13 years old and lives on the lounge in our home,” said Christine.

Christine is adamant she would like to breed again with High Class Belle with champion sire Fernando Bale an ideal potential mate.

“But, I'm due to have a hip replacement in four weeks time and will be out of action for at least eight weeks,” she said.

“Our daughter Lou is on hand to help with the dogs, and our other daughter Shelly and her husband Mike Michalke are coming from Melbourne to lend a hand as well.

“Mike is due to retire on April 27 and he loves the dogs. Shelly has given him permission to stay as long as he likes.”