Kibble and Biscuits Mick's Happy with Townsville ... - Greyhound-Data

Allan Chauncy ended a half century-long career training greyhounds when he won his final raceat Tweed Heads during the Galaxy carnival. Journal Editor DAVID BRASCH sat down with Chauncyand took a look at the success of one of this country’s greatest trainers.TriviaQuizTest your knowledge ofgreyhound racing in TheJournal's Trivia Quiz ...andwin aVetsearchProductsPackAnswer the quiz below, send yourentries to: Vetsearch Quiz, c/o GRAJournal, PO Box 93, Nundah, Qld,4012 and the first correct entryopened will win the VetsearchProducts.1 Bitch donated by Thruppsfor charity litter2 RGB Mix boss3 First name "Tunney" Moran4 Trivia Quiz sponsors5 Allan Chauncy's pickas best greyhoundhe has seen6 3rd 2005 Gold Coast Cup7 Mark Saal's first winner8 4th to Ben's Fury inGroup 1 Silver Chief9 Trainer Elite Force10 Dam of Flying ScottAnswers will be printed in theOctober edition with the winner ofthe Vetsearch Pack. Entries must bereceived by September 16.Vetsearch Customer Service1800 242100August Answers1 $6602 Renald and Martin3 Judy Stevens4 O'shanti5 August 25, 266 Jason Thompson7 Millennium Star8 $25,0009 Stylish Teddy10 Flash ParadeWinner: Wayne ClarkTHERE’S a joke at the Chauncyretirement home on the GoldCoast that Allan is hiring a coupleof poodles every day to take them for a walk,just so he can still feel a collar and lead in hishand.Chauncy has been retired since early inJune, ending a half-century of traininggreyhounds better than most ... and he’sbored.He still owns a couple of dogs, but a fewhealth problems with he and wife Fay haveforced him into a retirement village, sellingthe small acreage property he has owned atGaven since he moved to Queensland 16years ago.And he’s still an avid punter ... always willbe.Allan Chauncy was born in Taree. Hisfather Alec was a taxi driver and mum Rita ahousewife.“Dad won first prize of 6000 pounds inthe state lottery when I was about 10 so wesold up and moved to Maroubra in Sydney,”Allan explained. “He wanted to give his kidsthe best education they could get ... and Iended up a greyhound trainer.”When Allan left school at 16, he startedworking life as a telegram boy for the PMGworking out of the GPO in Sydney.At 19 he switched work to the AustralianPaper Manufacturers and then shifted toNestle driving a big red van selling chocolatesto shops, and “eating as much as I would sell”.He and Fay were married in 1953 whenAllan was 21. They lived at rented rooms atKingsford where greyhound racing was tograb hold of him for the first time.“Joey Johnson had a couple of dogs andhe would walk them down a lane behind therooms where Fay and I were living at the time,on his way to slip them or free gallop them atthe East Lakes Golf Course nearby,” Allantold The Journal.“As I watched Joey walk those dogs downthat lane one day, I mentioned to one of mymates that we should get a dog because itwould be good exercise.”So Allan and his mate leased a dog calledChief Con (a son of Chief Havoc) fromJohnson and the legend was born.“Chief Con had a lot of ability, but hewouldn’t chase. He had won a few andbecause he was so well bred he had beenstanding at stud, but he wouldn’t chase forus. He was a brother to a very good dog calledHappy Banquet.”Chief Con did win one race, atWollongong in 1953.“He was number two in the race and thebitch who was number one and led out thefield was on season at the time,” saidChauncy. “She jumped well and led and hechased his heart out to keep up with her andhe won.”Chauncy’s second dog was called EvenStevens. “He was named that even before thegreat New Zealand racehorse had even beenthought of,” he said. “I can tell you I had agood win on the racehorse when he won theCups double. But the dog never won a race.”Allan and Fay moved to Dundas and hetrained out of his back yard.It was at this time he met Sam Clugstonone of the great coursing trainings of the time.“I didn’t have any dogs at the time butSam and I got on well and he asked me totake two dogs to train for his son Ashley,” hesaid. “Sam couldn’t get on with Ashley, infact no-one could get on with Ashley.”The dogs were Matel and Yuki Lad.Chauncy produced them at the same meetingat Wentworth Park, backed them both at 33-1 and they both won. “I was working for sevenpound a week at the time,” he said. “I was soexcited I even forgot to get the prizemoney.“I had 100 pound to three on both of themwith a bookie and then backed them on thetote as well.”When Allan walked into AshleyClugston’s business the following Monday,he was berated. “I’d told him to back themboth, but he didn’t and then went mad at methat they both won. I gave both dogs straightback to him.”It was the start.From then on a procession of greatgreyhounds have passed through theChauncy kennel.Revella Star was a good bitch and camenot long after those two dogs won at Wenty.“She won six at Wentworth Park,” said Allan.“She was unbroken when I bought her for aclient, but came from the same damlines asMacareena and Miss Okey. In fact, she wassupposed to go to the US but I bought herinstead.”It wasn’t long after that Allan and Faymoved to Minto just nearby a breaking-incomplex run by legendary Stan Cleverly.It was at this time he got Roman Honeyand the bitch was to prove a huge success asa broodbitch for Chauncy and his now kennelclients.“She was by Roman Earl from Honey Dolland was a test mating for Roman Earl whenhe went to stud,” he said. “Roman Honeyproduced Maybe Now who won the LadiesBracelet.”The Chauncys had 10 acres at Minto butcould never get council approval to build ahome on the land. Eventually they sold outand for $66,000 they bought 66 acres at Calgaand called it Honey Star Farm.The property is now owned by SamCauchi and is Rocky Ridge Farm.Frank Kennedy was a household name ingreyhound racing at the time and herecommended a young paraplegic boy namedGary Wilson give Allan two pups Kennedyhad picked out for him.The two pups became Pacermatic and TopStreak, both outstanding gallopers and theGary Wilson fame was started.“Pacermatic was outstanding,” saidChauncy. “He won the Cannonball atRichmond, ran a track record at Wyong andwon a heap of races at Wentworth Park.”He was to stand stud duties for Chauncyand become the sire of Mockacindy one ofthe best stayers this country has seen beforea broken hock curtailed her career when shewas just two and a half and just after she hadwon the Gabba Gold Cup.Mockacindy was a fantastic broodbitchfor Chauncy but also the source of someregret.“It was 1973 by this time and I was getting$1000 for every one of her pups and that wasa lot of money for pups in those days,” hesaid. “But if I had my time over again I wouldhave kept the bitches from her, stayed at Calgaand done a Paul Wheeler ... bred and sentthem out to trainers.”The (September, 2005) Journal Page 8