TRAINER David Burnett has only two greyhounds under his care at his Geelong kennels and one of them has already taken him around Australia.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Burnett prepares Kiss Me Ketut, which has attracted a cult following following on from the highly popular AAMI insurance advertisements.
Kiss Me Ketut took Burnett to Sydney at the weekend for the heats of the Paws of Thunder at Wentworth Park.
Today Burnett finds himself in Tasmania where his other greyhound Archie Gumballs will contest the $35,300 Dowling McCarthy Devonport Cup (452 metres).
"It has been unbelievable the following that Kiss Me Ketut has been able to generate," Burnett said.
Kiss Me Ketut has raced 39 times for 17 wins and 11 minor placings and creates plenty of publicity wherever he goes.
Burnett explained that Melbourne man Kadek Mahardika who plays the part of Balinese taxi driver Ketut in the AAMI ads is a regular at whatever track his greyhound is racing.
"He's a forklift driver from Melbourne and he keeps asking me "where is he racing next Mr David".
Burnett said Kiss Me Ketut had raced in every mainland capital city as his legion of fans continues to grow.
Today Archie Gumballs is the only interstate greyhound in the race and Burnett is hoping for better luck than his brother Shunted experienced when unplaced behind Gardam Prince in 2010.
Burnett is staying with his good friend Mick Stringer during his trip to Tasmania and has tipped Stringer's Yappin' Jack as the greyhound to beat.
