BRETT LEE    By Neil Brown
 

We could have expected it take some years to uncover a champion with all the attributes of a greyhound worthy of induction into the Hall Of Fame. Following the incredible performances in one calendar year of the mighty Rapid Journey. Most of us thought it might be a long time, even maybe never, that we would witness a dog with such extraordinary ability capable of reaching those lofty heights.

 Well we didn’t have to wait long, with only enough time to take our breath; a little black dog emerged on scene named after an Aussie fast bowler.

The speed machine that was to re-write the record books, and provide excitement where ever he went was none other than Brett Lee.

In contrast to the Rapid Journey story, the story behind Superstar Brett Lee have almost no parallels at all. One a big brindle, unfashionable bred who came from behind in most of his major victories. Raced by a family that became household names from almost obscurity.

While Brett Lee a blue blood, small and compact not even a good-looking individual, whose sheer speed found the front almost every time he raced, and quite simply broke the opposition hearts. He also changed hands twice, for record sums and was raced and trained by people in the sport with what would be considered a high profile.

The Brett Lee story begun with his dam Sobbing Sal raced by Stan and Rachel Bonsar, the brilliant black bitch raced at the highest level, a multi feature winner, Greyhound Of The Year and Top Gun nominee. She was bred in the purple from Wee Sal probable the most influential dam line of the last decade.

Following Sobbing Sal outstanding career Bonsar put her to leading sire Head Honcho. The resultant litter produced top class city performers Hotshow Sam and Hotshow Tom. It rubber stamped what was always going to be the case that any pup from Sobbing Sal was going to be a very valuable commodity.

Bonsar chose the very quick New South Wales sprinter Gun Law Osti for her second litter. The black dog represented a link into the famous “Osti” line, though a sprinter who had recorded 16 wins from 36 starts. Winning in three states, he had a track record of 29.26 at Angle Park , and record fast times of 30.29 at Wentworth Park , 30.47 at Sandown Park and 30.01 at Olympic Park.

The litter whelped on the 5^th of January 1999, consisted of three dogs and three bitches. Brett Lee’s brothers and sisters were the smart race dog Trendy Leigh, plus Commander Ben, Supa Lee, Shotgun Sal and Supa San. Amazingly only Shotgun Sal raced of the above mentioned and she had one start at Shepparton.     

Bonsar advertised the pups for $6000 each and had a few takers, but one little black dog due to fact he had no testicles was left behind.

Richard Kurkowski had raced a number of dogs with limited success some city winners, but like most of us was in search of that elusive champion. He was interested in a pup from the litter and had a look at them where they were being reared at Kelvin Iles in Devon Meadows.

“ I was wrapped in the breeding but couldn’t afford the six grand. When they were nine months old and after another inquiry Stan offered me the little pup with no testacies for three thousand. I was very interested but a little worry, so I called Graeme Bate, who assured me he had trained dogs in a similar condition with no problems at all. I also checked with Peter Dapiran who gave me the go ahead. I knew he had successfully trained the very smart Fraud who also had the same condition. So I bought the pup, and it turned out to be the best decision of my life” Kurkowski said.

Brett Lee completed his rearing at Iles and Kurkowski transferred him to Kevin McNamara’s at Majorca for breaking in.

“ He was only there three weeks, he took to the caper straight away, Kevin reported he was a natural, and in his opinion had a lot of ability and was certainly going to be city class. My next task was to find him a trainer and I contacted a few who knocked him back for one reason or another. One notable was Allan Britton but I finished up giving him to Rocky Crisafi who I met on a couple of occasions.” Kurkowski said.

That famous name Brett Lee resulted in an innocence mistake or was it? Named by NCA employee Paula Gray it was in May of 2000 that Richard Kurkowski had contacted Gray on a number of occasions in regard to the name.

Being a fast bowler for many years with sub-district club Williamstown, and given the New South Wales speedsters ever-increasing profile at the time, Kurkowski was hoping he could secure the moniker.

Lee had broken into the test team and taken five wickets on debut in the Boxing Day test against India in December 1999. The blonde, good looking tear-away seemed set for a star-studded career at the highest level.

 Now Gray is the first to admit she is no great cricket fan but she had heard of Brett Lee, and also naming was not something she did all the time, she was only helping out the ANZGA who were short staffed. The ANZGA’s policy states; dogs can’t be named after famous people.

Paula Gray didn’t think at that particular stage of his career, that the brilliant young fast bowler could be considered famous and duly granted the name, much to the delight of Richard Kurkowski.

From a publicity point of view it could not have been a better name. Lee the cricketer was very pleased with the superstar dog bearing his name and during the Australian Cup Series flew to Melbourne to appear in a range of photos that were shown around the country. He proudly posed with his canine name sake, the dog that could ran as fast as he could bowl.

Brett Lee raced for the first time in a maiden qualifying trial at Ballarat winning by six and three quarters lengths in 25.76 from box six. He then won the final in 25.66 by 10 and half-lengths.

Followed up with a loss at Ballarat, he then went to Horsham for that stunning run of 26.94, a new track record for the 480 metres.

It was on to Shepparton, for a win then the heat and final of the Geelong Guineas. The speedster had stated odds on in each of his races.

Kurkowski has fond memories of his favourite dogs early starts. “ It was very exciting for me, Rocky allowed me to handle him in every start he had for us and it was a big thrill particularly at Horsham and Geelong .”  Kurkowski said.

Next came the offers, South Australian owner-trainer Darrell Johnstone had been at Horsham the day Brett Lee broke the record and was so impressed he decided he would try and buy the youngster. Johnstone had been in the game over 30 years and raced Adelaide Cup winner, the brilliantly named Superstar.

“ Darrell first offered me 50 thousand, then came back with 70 thousand. It was tempting but I knocked it back. Low and behold he then offered me 100 thousand. It wasn’t a hard decision when we got to that amount. I have two young daughters under five that sort of money can set you up and I had no choice in the end I had to consider my family first.  It was tough to part with him. I followed the rest of his career with great passion and was absolutely wrapped with where he got too. I like a lot of fans I got a heap of thrills watching him race.” Kurkowski said.

Given the same circumstances nearly everyone would have made the same decision as Richard Kurkowski. To offset his original outlay Johnstone sold a share in Brett Lee to Darren McDonald who passed on a share to Sydney Swans superstar and close friend Tony Lockett.