Elson enjoys unexpected treble

By Isaac Murphy

Travis Elson spoke during the week about his desire to get back to training Thursday night winners, and the trainer got what he wanted and more after all three of his runners on the card delivered him a maiden Thursday night treble.

The trainer was careful to declare any of his charges, but the trio all found the front out of the straight and never relinquished, and the best is yet to come according to Elson.

“I’ve had some good nights at the track before but this ranks right up there, I’ve come out and said it’s a goal of mine and to have all three perform, but before I expected them to was a bit surreal,” Elson said.

“Hope’s King was my best chance coming off a 22.27 395-metre run, but I still thought he was far from a good thing given the distance jump and the rain hasn’t let me work any of them - he’s gone out and won by seven lengths!

“Magic Miss has always looked like a bitch who’ll get the 600 and I’ll build her up off last night’s run.

“Mumma’s Machine had a few things go her way early but was brave late, I can’t wait until they get a proper preparation in them.”

Best 8 winner Limited Edition is going to bolster Elson’s stocks as well; the bitch is three from three since resuming over the shorts and looks primed to add her name to Elson’s Thursday night team.

Copy Workshop continues to fire

There are some dogs that are the foundation for a strong kennel, and Copy Workshop for Warren Nicholls is one of them.

The four-year-old steamed home from mid-field to win Thursday night’s Best 8 when he had no right to do so, bringing up win number 19 for a giddy Nicholls.

“He’s just a little beauty! I’m not sure what’s going on with him but just the last few months he’s got stronger, keener and that was some run,” he said.

“Going on four-and-a-half we haven’t changed anything at home; he’s fairly set in his ways, but remarkable to think early on he couldn’t get the 500 and now he’s running down Best 8 dogs.

“He’s just been steady his whole career, he’s only had the one injury - a stopper tendon which didn’t hold him back too long - and he’s been able to race week in week out and gradually build that fitness base.”

Nicholls trains and owns most of his dogs, but he’s shared Copy Workshop’s journey with the Fly Ash syndicate, bringing new people to the sport.

“I’ve always been open to syndications like the Fly Ash Racing boys who own this dog, they’re about 10 strong and mostly work up in the mines and I think nine of the 10 are first time owners who are now entrenched in the sport,” Nicholls said.

“I was getting plenty of messages last night winning a Best 8, I’d like to think there’s a couple of bottles of bourbon headed my way.

“They’ve always let me go about my business training and fortunately for both of us they picked a cracking first dog.”

Nicholls labelled the dog as an overachiever and will look to enjoy his last few months of racing with no regrets.

“I don’t like racing them too far past four-and-a-half, he’s got nine starts to bring up his 100th, so I think that’ll be at the right time to let him ease into retirement,” he said.

“For a dog who doesn’t go much quicker than 30.20 around Albion, he’s accomplished a hell of a lot; 19 wins, and our biggest prizemoney earner with over $80,000.

“I’m hoping we’ve got a few more nights like last Thursday to savour before he’s done and dusted, he deserves to go out on top.”

Flying Yuna pulls out gutsy win

Flying Yuna has been a revelation since Greg Deering got her up over more ground, but she faced the ultimate test last night first-up over the 700 and passed with flying colours, climbing off the canvas to win.

It was a special occasion for Deering and wife Kim - who has just got her handling license - and they celebrated their first Thursday night winner.

“She did what I’d hoped she’d do and hopped out straight on the lure but coming round the home corner I thought she was gone for all money, but she never stops chasing this girl,” Deering said.

“She was always going to get the question popped to her on the run home and to be headed and then respond first time over the 700 was a hell of an effort.

“I gave her a really light week, just a couple of days on the walker to keep her fresh; she’s been running over the middle-distance for a while now and she was the fittest of the lot.”

The bitch has made a fast ascent from restricted races at Ipswich to Thursday night contender, and whilst Deering had doubts, Fling Yuna delivered.

“I was always going to nominate her, but I was hoping for a nice five-dog field after a tough run last start and they’ve come up with two fifth grade heats,” he laughed.

“I think Power Point Diva who won the other heat is going to be the bitch to beat, she’s had experience at the trip and ran home strong, so we need to draw well and probably lead again to compete.

“She’s always been such a clean winded bitch - last night was probably the first time I’ve ever seen her really blowing after a run - but I got up this morning and she was jumping around ready to go, so good signs for next week.”

Famed litter continues to deliver

It seems like Ray and Mary Burman’s Aston Dee Bee/Bizarre Barbie litter have been racing for years yet they only celebrate their second birthday next week, and Regal Rocky’s win over the 600 last night was a sign they’re ready to break out.

“We started them extremely young, and it became evident pretty quickly they wanted the 600,” Mary Burman said.

“We just had to hold them back until the right time and with them turning two next week, we pulled the trigger and got Regal Rocky’s most well-rounded run yet.

“Like the whole litter he’s a wide runner, so drawing the six was a good place to start - he doesn’t like to be bottled in on the fence and he wound up just in time.

“Through pre-training and trials, he’s always been the one who’s stood out, I knew he’d win over the middle-distance sooner rather than later, but very satisfying to do it first time.”

Smart Lilly found the 600 a little earlier than her brother and graduated to the true staying trip last night.

Despite a few hiccups, she looks one to follow, coming in second and qualifying for next week’s Final.

“She got out really well but had the five outside her who’s a desperate railer and she wants to be off the fence, so they went at each other most of the run,” Burman said.

“When she finally got out late, she finished well.

“We’ve always been confident she would make it as a stayer and are probably more so after last night - the distance wasn’t a problem.

“She just needs to sharpen up a bit between the ears and you’ll see a much better version of her, hopefully she takes a step in the right direction in next week’s Final.”