Top Queenslander dogs continue southern campaigns

By Alex Nolan

Queensland trainer Jamie Hosking says Micks Recall has taken plenty of benefit from two looks at The Meadows as she chases an elusive Group 1 in the Fanta Bale Super Stayers on Saturday.

Micks Recall showed tremendous courage when she staved off multiple challengers to win her heat last Saturday and will now exit box six in the $100,000 to the winner Final, which will be run over 725 metres. 

Micks Recall took great benefit from her sixth placing in the Group 1 Zoom Top on February 12 and Hosking hopes there is more to come.

“So far everything has been smooth sailing, she pulled up well,” he told Sky Racing’s The Catching Pen.

“She benefited massively from the week staying down there after the Zoom Top and fingers crossed she might be able to improve a little bit more with the run on the track.”

Micks Recall worked to find the front from the outside last week and Hosking believes a repeat performance, with a dose of luck, can see her go close again. 

“Hopefully she can get up on the speed early and hope the back markers find a bit of trouble,” he said.

“She’s pretty much as good as we can get her now.”

The Fanta Bale Super Stayers final jumps at 7:18pm (Queensland time) on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Orchestrate’s Victorian campaign appears to be back on track after he was scratched from a heat of the Group 1 Australian Cup last Saturday.

Orchestrate was found to be slightly lame in the wrist prior to his heat, for which he was favourite, and trainer Tony Brett wasn’t willing to risk his gun sprinter.  

He said it was a “weird” discovery but not completely out of the ordinary.

“I have had it happen before, it’s just one of those things,” Brett said.

He confirmed Orchestrate had bounced back this week and would trial on Sunday.

“But, he may not race on the Thursday,” he said.

“I’m still unsure what’s next until I map out a plan moving forward.”

Orchestrate’s scratching was a double blow for Queensland’s Australian Cup prospects, following the withdrawal of Graham and Leanne Hall’s TAB Phoenix runner-up Spotted Elk earlier in the week.

She is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks while she recovers from a stress fracture.  

Litter sister Extra Malt went on to finish fifth in her heat, which was won by Daph’s Ascend.