Running Express prepares for Launching Pad take-off

By Isaac Murphy

Running Express was the talk of the town throughout the Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial series, with interest rife in the 16-month-old pup who’d coaxed Cole Sherwood back into training for the first time since 2014.

The youngster wasn’t able to close the deal in the Final - running fourth – however Sherwood has continued to press the issue with the pup who looks to do Queensland proud in the Launching Pad heats at Sandown Park on Thursday night, where Sherwood hopes the whole country gets to see what he has in Running Express.

“Even before he did what he did in the Vince Curry series we had very high expectations of him, with races like the Launching Pad pressing we didn’t want to muck around with him up here, so he had the one Novice run and was straight down to Melbourne,” Sherwood said.

“We chose the Launching Pad over the Golden Easter Egg given its restricted status; there aren’t any champions going into the heats, but there looks like there’s going to be plenty of future champions come out of the series.

“He’s been down there under the care of Gerard O’Keefe for the best part of a month now and every time he calls me, he’s saying he’s getting better and better - we’re looking forward to seeing how he will measure up.”

Travelling a dog at such a tender age can be treacherous, but the son of Rippin’ Sam has taken it in his stride, and Sherwood is hoping Sandown Park can become a home away from home for him.

“It was music to my ears that he’d picked up where he’d left off down there, we’re hoping this is the first of many trips interstate chasing the big races,” he said.

“I’ll be even more pleased if he can put the time on the board at Sandown Park, it’s a goal of ours to have him back at the track for the Melbourne Cup come November.

“It’s a big call to label him a Melbourne Cup dog after four starts but that’s what we think of him and with six months of racing under his belt who knows how good he’ll be.”

Knowing how important this series could be to his future, Sherwood sought out caretaker trainer Gerard O’Keefe who’s timed his preparation to the minute.

“Gerard O’Keefe has been very proactive keeping him nice and sharp for us, he’s had a slip around Warragul, a couple of box-to-boxes at Sandown where he showed improvement and had a post-to-post there Sunday just gone where he went fantastic,” Sherwood said.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to down in Melbourne that’s seen him go around have commented to myself or Gerard that the dog’s flying for an 18-month-old.

“You can’t fault his preparation, he’s jumped every hurdle we’ve asked him to, we’ve just got to hope it shows on the track tomorrow night.”

Box draws win races and Running Express snagged a handy one, with Sherwood expecting the race to map well for him.

“We were hoping for one, two or three with the draw so we were rapt to get the white rug; he doesn’t ping the lids, he takes 10 to 20 metres to muster, so I think the box will help him with clear running,” he said.

“Looking at the speed map, Aston Lavinia in the two will probably lead us early, if we can rail up behind her and find a gap inside her I think that’s our best chance of winning.

“If we can find the fence early it’ll go a long way, he’s shown even at this early stage of his development he likes to pass dogs on their inside and will take a small opening.”

A syndicate of some of Sherwood’s long-time acquaintances were the ones who lured him back to the training game and he knew from day dot they’d hit the jackpot with Running Express.

“When my mates convinced me to take him the first time, I took him down to the beach at home and he just wowed me - so clean winded and natural,” Sherwood said.

“I went back to the boys and was trying to tell them how lucky they were, I don’t think they quite realised at first, but after the Vince Curry and now having him down in Melbourne they know they’re in for a pretty good ride.

“I’m glad I got him so young because I’d describe him as a bit of a weird customer early days, he wouldn’t come when he was called and was off in his own world a bit.

“It’s taken a bit of time, but I think we’ve both worked each other out.”