Sullivan savours a career night

By Isaac Murphy

A grateful Peter Sullivan has enjoyed the best training night of his life, after notching up a race-to-race double with kennel star Brother Jason and promising bitch Pokie Payout.

Brother Jason has been touted as a future star off the back of slick trials around the Albion circuit, but he was yet to put time on the board in race conditions until Thursday night, blitzing the fifth-grade field in 29.83 on rain-affected going.

“I’m over the moon with that time, last week was a surprise but from box one I wanted to see him do what we’ve seen on the trial track and he’s come through,” Sullivan said.

“He’s still got a lot to learn at the jump, I’m not quite sure how he got through there, but that’s what he’s capable of on the lure.

“I’ve got no plans for him other than running again next week, I’m not even thinking of anything long term with him yet.”

The dog spent over two months off the scene getting his racing manners in order, and Sullivan is grateful for all those who’ve supported him through the period.

“It’s been a stressful journey with him knowing how good he can be, I’ve got great advice off my father-in-law Terry Guymer and Peter Wilson who’ve really helped me with his temperament,” he said.

“I’ve never had one as talented as him and really appreciate the advice and support, everyone is always asking after him and watching his races it’s quite humbling.

“He’s a big gangly 33-kilo dog that still has plenty of maturing to do, if he can win races while he grows into himself that’s even better.”

Sullivan’s night got a whole lot better in the next race when kennelmate Pokie Payout came storming home from off the speed to give him a Thursday double.

“A race-to-race double on a Thursday night, I really can’t believe it; I came here hoping Brother Jason would win and to have her back it up is a bonus,” he said.

“She’s not even two yet this bitch and she just loves to chase, when she came out of the pack in second, a lot would’ve given up - the leader was that far in front but it’s just not in her nature.

“If I could get her race smarts and Brother Jason’s talent together it would be perfect, she just does everything right.”

Under-rated Speranza returns to the winner’s circle

Brian Baker’s Speranza flies under the radar as one of the best open-class sprinters at Albion Park, and despite another tough box draw showed his class running down Magical Bill in 29.99 seconds.

“The dog’s been absolutely flying, we saw what he could do in the Golden Ticket but unfortunately since then hasn’t drawn anywhere closer than box seven and just hasn’t been able to get into the race,” Baker said.

“With no Best 8 last week, I thought it was a good chance to give him a freshen up after a month of really tough runs.

“I was confident he’d go well fresh this week but still had to overcome the five and a tearaway leader but give him space on the run home and he’ll take lengths.”

Maggie Moo Moo keeps winning

Maggie Moo Moo’s meteoric rise in the staying ranks continued for trainer Darren Johnstone, after the bitch stepped up to Free For All company following last week’s Fifth Grade win and was too good for some highly credentialled competition.

“Her times have tapered off a bit from the 41.89 she ran first-up, and then 41.90 in the Gold Cup heats, but I’m just happy to see her winning on Thursday nights,” Johnstone said.

“Apart from the Gold Cup Final, she’s been in every race she’s run and seems to be getting in the habit of winning rather than flashing late for a place.

“She was up against a Group 1 winner in Classy Ethics and a really good bitch in Waikarie Bell tonight, spotted them both a gap and ran them down.”

Johnstone is keen to push on with the bitch in winning form, but she’s due a break before Winter where she’ll look to tackle the country’s best.

“She’s been up for a long time but she’s showing no signs of wear and tear, I don’t want to push her too far in her first staying campaign but while we have the races and she’s sound we’ll press on,” he said.

“She’ll get a break sometime in the next month or two and then start the build up towards the Group races in Winter, I think she’s proven she can compete at that level.

“Second campaign over the distance she should be a lot closer to those good dogs she met in the Gold Cup, I’m still pinching myself the way she’s progressed.”

For the second week running, Johnstone also scored over the sprint with Truthiness, a dog that couldn’t buy a win early days at the Creek and now has five to his name.

“The formula of running his over the 395 on a Monday and then the 520 on a Thursday is working a treat, it’s really helped his race sense - he’s finding himself in a lot better positions,” Johnstone said.

“It was almost a replica of last week; when he settles behind the leader like that, I know he’s going to come home in style.

“I’m rapt with how he’s going but with the wins come harder races; he’s going to have to get accustomed to some racing of the best sprinters, but the way he’s going he won’t be out of place.”

See Them Try was a puzzling case for the Nicholls kennel early in his career.

The dog possesses a load of ability and after plenty of bumps in the road, he looks like he’s found his calling over the middle-distance with a last stride win.

“That was his best win yet against a Thursday field, he’s been running his good races by getting out of the boxes, but he got held up and still ran on from fourth,” Nicholls said.

“He’s got an appetite for winning at the moment, the 400 and 500 saw him running a lot of good races and just missing out, he’s found his niche.

“Considering how the track is playing tonight, 35.21 is a good effort; he’ll go a lot quicker but at this stage we’re just worrying about winning.”

See Them Try will have to improve on the clock if he wants to beat the Selena Zammit-trained Kooringa Lucy in next week’s Final, after the bitch running a slashing 34.69.

“I thought she could lead from the good box and she looked to have a bit of class on them, but that’s a big effort to run a personal best with some rain around,” Mick Zammit said.

“We’ve been working her at home as a middle-distance bitch since the Gold Bullion heats, she always had a strong 500 run home and it looks just as good over the 600.

“Hopefully we can knock over the final next week and she’ll be ready to lock horns in Free For All company.”