What About It winds back the clock
Just over 18 months ago Mick Patterson’s bitch What About It was at the peak of her powers, running second in the $110,000 Listed Gold Cup.
A combination of Covid and injuries cruelled the bitch in her prime.
But Patterson knew she wasn’t done yet and third-up she powered home from midfield to win her way into next week’s master’s final.
“It’s such a thrill to see her back at the track healthy, let alone going out and winning after all this time," he said.
“I’ve always loved coming up from Iluka knowing I have a winning chance at Albion Park, it’s always been this girls favourite track and it’s great having her back.
“She’ll improve lengths on that performance especially if we can come up with an inside draw, as we saw tonight she can run them down from mid-field.”
Johnny Hot Feet shows a clean set of heels
Darren Johnstone has timed his run at the master’s series perfectly with Johnny Hot Feet.
The dog has been building his way up in distance and produced a huge run after missing the kick in his heat, pulling out three wide down the back to round them up.
The trainer is happy with where he’s at.
“On his form a couple of weeks ago when we won in this grade, he was always going to be very competitive and despite playing up a bit and getting back on his heels in the boxes, he’s found a way,” Johnstone said.
“He’s a dog who’s done plenty of his racing over the Ipswich 500 metres, so I knew he had it in him to come from behind and we were fortunate enough to find our way into third around the first corner.
“He can win a few different ways and given a good week at home I think he’ll be as good a chance as any in the final.”
Champagne performance in novice grade
Champagne Jazzy took care of her competition in a first out first home win in the novice for Ray and Mary Burman.
The bitch has been looking like winning her novice for a few weeks and at 18 months of age is ready to step out against the older dogs next week.
“She’d been beating herself the last few weeks running up the back of the leaders and just making a few mistakes, as a young bitch can,” Mary Burman said.
“It’s been a few runs between her debut win and tonight, so it was nice to come up with the red and she was able to get out in front and run her own race."
Rival trainers can breathe a sigh of relief as the last of the Burman’s Out of Range/Champagne Sally pups hit the track on Thursday.
Stanton Warrior recorded a brilliant 29.85 second debut win.
“With Stanton Warrior winning his Eric Thomson heat we’ve got all eight of our Champagne Sally pups racing now, we’re looking forward to a busy but rewarding few months," Mary Burman said.