Friendship Forged Leads To Flying Amy Glory

A PARTNERSHIP formed amid rivalry some years ago between Victorian Geoff Scott-Smith and Queenslander Rusty Dillon landed the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic (520m) with Dundee Rebel at Albion Park on Thursday night.

Geoff bred, owns and trains Dundee Rebel (Feral Franky-Dundee Calypso) which wore down Umberto to win the Classic by three-quarters of a length in 30.10 with Magistrate in third.

It was a $150,000 pay day for Geoff who took Dundee Rebel and his litter brother Dundee Smokey to Queensland two weeks ago and left them with Rusty Dillon to prepare for the Winter Carnival riches.

Geoff had former his Topgun and Sale Cup winner Dundee Osprey racing against Rusty's staying star Big Easy Red all those years ago and they became mates.

Group 2 @tabcomau Flying Amy Classic 520m

1st: Dundee Rebel (6)
2nd: Umberto (1)
3rd: Magistrate (5)#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomau @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @SEN_track @GRV_News @Thedogs_com_au pic.twitter.com/UFyWpzDpKH

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) June 8, 2023

“They just love the Queensland sunshine,” said Rusty after Dundee Rebel took his career to 29 starts for eight wins and nine placings for stakes of $198,000.

For Geoff it was “so exciting”.

Rusty tried for 30 minutes after the win to contact Geoff but his phone was full of well wishes and congratulatory texts.

“He's always been a good young dog,” said Geoff.

“He got a virus when he was young but once he got over that he really started to put it together.

“That's when he made the Launching Pad final and he's been running some very good times since then.”

A hiccup came when Dundee Rebel fell at The Meadows at his start prior to heading to Queensland.

“But, his run in the heat of the Flying Amy was great,” said Geoff.

“He ran second and his time was quicker than the other six heats.

“I could not believe he was $26 early and then came in to $21 late. He was way over the odds.”

Geoff bred the litter from his former star stayer Dundee Calypso (Barcia Bale-Crown Poker)  winner of the G3 Lizrene and a G1 finalist in the Superstayers, Sandown Cup and Albion Park Gold Cup.

“We bred a couple of litters out of her but some of them were crazy,” he said.

“I loved Feral Franky when he was racing and decided to put Calypso to him and it has been a litter with such beautiful natures.”

Geoff “always had in the back of my mind to head towards the Flying Amy” with Rebel.

“Now he, and his brother Dundee Smokey, will stay in Queensland to head towards the Brisbane Cup,” said Geoff.

“Smokey has a bit more early pace than his brother.”

Geoff is 75 and he and his parents spent time in greyhound racing back in the 1970s.

“I had a break of 30 years and came back in 2011,” he said.

“I really enjoy it and this time in, from only a very small kennel of a few dogs, we have done very well.

“It's great to be able to take on the big boys with their big kennels and beat them occasionally.”