Mepunga Isla looks to remain undefeated over middle distance trip

By Isaac Murphy

As everyday life returns to some normality, so does the Brisbane Summer Carnival, and this iteration will feature a number of Victorian raiders.

Adam Richardson’s gun chaser Mepunga Isla hits Thursday night’s Group 2 Golden Sands heats in the form of her life, making it an easy decision for the trainer to travel.

The bitch boasts a remarkable 21 wins from 41 starts, most of them coming against Australia’s best sprinters, but her recent jump to the middle-distance has been a masterstroke going four for four at Sandown and the Meadows.

“The timing for her just couldn’t have been any better, having won her first four over the trip she’d got up in grade fairly quickly,” Richardson said.

“If we kept her in Melbourne she would have been racing in top grade or we could come to Brisbane for a Group 2 - it was a bit of a no brainer.

“I’ve got a bit of experience bringing dogs up on the day and flying home that night; I did it with Dave Burnett who showed me the ropes, so we’ve got the same motel booked and she’s heathy and ready to go.

“She came up for the Futurity heats in December 2019, I was really buzzing about her chances and she did an achilleas in the heat, but she’s as sound as they come and we’re hoping second bite at the cherry does the trick.”

It’s hard to change distances with a bitch who wins so many races, but Richardson always felt he’d get the best out of her over the 600-metre trip and he looks spot on.

“We were going to get her to the 600 a couple of months ago, but she had a bit of a lingering injury so we stayed at the sprint,” he said.

“Her run in the Melbourne Cup Prelude was just bloody massive, she got home like a rocket that night and we thought that was as good a time as any to give her a go.

“She won her first Fifth Grade which was fantastic and has rattled off another three straight in good company, she’s up to Third Grade now and with a lack of races I noticed the Golden Sands and said let’s do it.”

Richardson wants to maximise Mepunga Isla’s potential which he still believes is trending in the right direction at three-years-old.

“She’s always been just that half a length off being an absolute elite 500-metre bitch, she would just miss it by half a length and charge home, so the 600 did look ideal, but we weren’t expecting four straight,” he said.

“When she was running into all those good dogs at the first corner over the sprint you don’t get a true indication of how good she is and since she’s gone to the 600, she’s been out in front and showing what she can do without getting hit.

“I’m hoping it’s more of the same tomorrow night, I’ve heard you have to be on your toes from wide boxes there and I don’t know a huge amount about the local dogs.

“It’s going to be a test, but if she doesn’t lead she’ll chase her heart out to get to the front.”

Mepunga Isla has been within touching distance of that elusive Group triumph and Richardson firmly believes it will come eventually over the middle-distance.

“She’s been right on the verge on winning Group races over the sprint, things just haven’t quite gone right, but she’s got an amazing record and now she’s at her right trip we’re hoping she can crack a Group race,” he said.

“The 600 metres is definitely her future, but we’re very blessed she can go back to the 500 if there aren’t any suitable races.”

Richardson is known as one of the good guys of racing and he’s never taken Mepunga Isla for granted, having put him on the map as a trainer.

“I’m only a little hobby trainer and to be the lucky one that gets to train a bitch like her, it’s been life changing for me,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s a stretch to say she could turn up anywhere in Australia over the sprint or middle-distance and be a winning chance, she’s been wonderful bitch and I hope the ride continues.”