Duff’s duo dangerous in Lismore Cup Final

By Isaac Murphy

Queensland has secured fantastic representation in Tuesday’s Group 2 Lismore Cup Final, headed by owner and trainer Rod Duff’s runners Best Fit and Oski.

The trainer firmly believes they’re not just making up the numbers and is intent on bringing the trophy home.

Best Fit has been a prolific winner over the short course at Ipswich, and it would have been easy to keep the dog winning Best 8s week in week out, but Duff knew he had more and it’s all starting to come together.

“We’ve had to take a few losses with him over the 500 to get his confidence and strength to where it is, but he runs out the trip markedly better than he used to even a couple of months ago,” he said.

“He’s got that fighting spirit that you can’t really teach, if he gets challenged in the run he’ll lift to that next level and knows how to find the line.

“He’s a very smart race dog who knows when he’s won as well, you can see it in his demeanour he takes a lot of confidence from winning and has been able to string plenty together over his career.”

Fresh off a career-best win at Albion Park, the dog visited Lismore for the first time, and despite normally being a front runner, he ran a drum to qualify.

“His run was enormous last week, he did well to get into third in the run from box six and was really brave running past Key West and holding off some strong ones from back in the field to give himself a shot at the final,” Duff said.

“I think the Final is going to come down to who does everything perfect on the night, he’s a quick beginner who has his tail up and the rest of them are going to have to be on their game to beat him.

“I think he can lead from the seven and if he does, I think there’s only one other in the field that can catch him, that being Sequana - she’s a freak - but hopefully he can pinch lengths on her at the start.”

For a long time, it looked like Best Fit might not reach these heights but his recent success has Duff looking forward to the next chapter.

“It’s a real achievement for me to have him in a Group 2 final, plenty of people had their doubts about him winning at Albion Park let alone being a live in a race like this, but he’s gone from strength to strength dropping his best to 29.66 and going on with it in the heats,” Duff said.

“A lot of dogs really hit their straps around three and I think that’s what he’s doing.

“He’s really coming into his own, he looks fitter and stronger and it’s reflecting in his racing - there’s still improvement to come.”

Duff’s second charge, Oski, may not have the runs on the board like Best Fit does but the trainer said her talent was limitless.

“Oski is a special bitch, there’s still an untapped factor about her, she’s come back from a long break and was a week or two short of that run but we thought hell why not and her ability has got her through to the Final,” he said.

“She missed the kick and slipped on the mat in her heat and that definitely cost her in the run, but I thought considering the circumstances her run was terrific out of foreign boxes on a foreign track - she could make a huge jump next week.”

The daughter of KC And All has managed just eight starts at almost three years old but what we’ve seen of her backs the trainer’s opinion.

“If she stays healthy there’s a good race or two in her; she did a stopper and had a few other injuries before she even had her first race start, but I guess it’s that old saying the quick ones get hurt, but we think we’ve got her right this time,” Duff said.

“The only time she’s had any kind of continuity in her career was when she won her first five starts before she was forced out again with more niggles, if we can get a full campaign into her she could be anything.

“She’s got it all as a race bitch, a big motor and can really get going when she hits the ground, I just hope people get to see the best of her because she’s nowhere near the level she can get to.”

Duff said both his runners had their claims in next week’s Final, and if they play to their strengths, they’re more than capable of bringing home to title.

“I really couldn’t separate the two when it comes to the Final, if Oski can jump like she was up at Albion she’s a live chance and she’s opened up at $16, which I think is a crazy price about her,” he said.

“Best Fit is bulletproof at box rise but I am a bit concerned about Hello Mavis in box eight who also has a lot of speed, I would have rather had him out in the pink, but it’s still a good draw for him if he can get across the favourites early.

“They are such fine margins; luck will play a part but I’m going to go down there knowing I’ve got two genuine chances in a Group 2 Final and it’s great to see the Queensland representation too.”

Regardless of results in the Lismore Cup Final, Duff said the race was a perfect bridge to the Ipswich Cup where the pair will tangle with some familiar rivals.

“It’s the old adage, we take it one race at a time but provided they both come through the run well we’ll be headed for the Ipswich Cup next month,” he said.

“Best Fit has won more than 10 races over the sprint trip there and a few over the 500 as well and I think the strong 520-metre Ipswich test Ipswich will really suit Oski as well.”