Kooringa Lucy searching for Group breakthrough in Golden Ticket

By Jordan Gerrans 

When Mitchell Northfield looks back on the career of Kooringa Lucy, he cant help but wonder what might have been if she found a bit more luck when it mattered most.

Nearing four years of age and having accrued almost $200,000 in prize money from 33 victories, the black and white bitch has certainly been an excellent dog over the years for the Dobies Bight-based kennel.

But what has eluded Kooringa Lucy is a big Group victory on her resume, going so close on several occasions, without drawing the right box or having a perfect run to finally breakthrough.

Northfield is optimistic she finally gets her chance in the Group 3 $60,000 Golden Ticket next Thursday evening at Albion Park.

The NSW-based trainer, who is a plasterer by trade, was a little disappointed with Kooringa Lucy’s run in Thursday evening’s heat – running second to Impact – but feels she will be better placed in next Thursday’s match race against Little Byrnes.

Northfield believes the format of a match race, where Kooringa Lucy jumps from box one and Little Byrnes from three, will suit his bitch, giving her a clean path into the event.

“With Little Byrnes, I do not think the box draw really matters as I imagine Little Byrnes will lead clearly,” Northfield said.

“He is a consistent little dog; he is pretty good early.

“I think Lucy should be able to run her down, it will just depend on how long it takes.

“I think these match races are good once a year.

“Match races give dogs from the back a much better chance of winning, they are usually jostling around amongst them, this sort of racing gives them a chance.”

The daughter of Fernando Bale is set to come on season in March of this year and while she has been sound for much of her career, Northfield expects her racing days could come to an end around then.

Northfield, who has six dogs in his kennel – four racing and two pups - laments the lack of luck Kooringa Lucy has received on the big stage across her career.

She ran second in the Group 2 Futurity at Albion Park in late 2019, before also going close in the Group 1 National Futurity Final at Wentworth Park, contesting the Group 2 Oaks at Richmond, running fifth in the Casino Cup before a fourth placed effort in the 2021 Brisbane Cup.

“We have only got one decent box when she was a little baby in a Final, she drew box one in the Futurity in Brisbane” Northfield recalled.

“She got beat a neck on that night.

“Every other Final she makes, it is box five, six or eight, always in the guts there.

“It does not suit her as well in big races.

“If we had a bit of luck at the right time it would be a different story, she has won almost $200,000 and her biggest cheque is $10,000, which is unbelievable.”

On her four-dog heat effort on Thursday night, the trainer says she will need to improve in next week’s match race.

“I was a little bit disappointed, I thought she would have gone better than that,” Northfield said.

“The early speed, she showed none at all.

“Her early speed is usually better than that, box seven did not help.”

Victorian visitor Aston Ulysses, John Catton’s Little Byrnes, TAB Phoenix runner-up Spotted Elk and reigning Capalaba Cup winner Impact each claimed a heat victory on Thursday night.

Kevin Ellis' Impact ran the quickest heat of the four, home in 29.81 seconds. 

Four exciting match races will be held over 520 metres at Albion Park next Thursday evening with the fastest time recorded in the series declared the winner of the Golden Ticket, which carries automatic entry into the Group 1 $300,000 Gold Bullion Final early next month.

Meanwhile, the Tony Brett-trained Orchestrate made his return to the track in stunning fashion on Thursday night, equalling his personal best time of 29.66 seconds over 520 metres at Albion Park.

The son of Barcia Bale had not been seen at the races since early November of last year and his comeback triumph gave the star dog a 50 per cent winning record from his 30 career efforts.

Match Races for the Golden Ticket next Thursday night:

Extra Malt (Box 1) vs Magical Cyndie (Box 3)

Kooringa Lucy (Box 1) vs Little Byrnes (Box 3)

Spotted Elk (Box 1) vs Louis Rumble (Box 3)

Impact (Box 1) vs Aston Ulysses (Box 3)