Sushi Mango on track for Auction Series

By Alex Nolan

Trainer Tarquin Neal hopes a dash of better luck and some added fitness will give Sushi Mango the opportunity to make his presence felt at the pointy end of the Ipswich Auction Series over 520 metres, starting Saturday.  

Luck is something that has evaded Sushi Mango throughout much of 2022.

The four-time winner defied his fair share of the bad kind to fill minor placings in heats and semi-final's of the sprint series that was run over 431 metres earlier this year before copping a major dose in the Final when taken off the track after looming as a winning threat.

Found to be sore afterwards, Sushi Mango was given time off to recover before stepping out over 520 metres for the first time since mid-January last Saturday.

He is now set to contest the third and final heat of the 520 metres series when he exits box four in race six on the ten race card.

“It was unfortunate that he pulled up a bit sore out of the 431 metre Final and that I had to give him some time off so he’s probably still going into it a little underdone,” Neal said.

“However, he’ll get fitter throughout the series so I’m just hoping he can run top five and progress.”

Neal said he believed trainer Jedda Cutlack held all the aces heading into the series, featuring a $40,000 to the winner final on April 16.

Cutlack will box Tungsten Miss in the first heat (race four) as a likely favourite, fresh off winning last week’s Young Guns.

She’s Sweet lines up for Cutlack in the following heat (race five), looking to return to the form that saw her complete the Ipswich 520 metre circuit in 30.18 seconds at just her third race start in the Vince Curry Series.

Red Buzz, who capitalised on the bad luck experienced by the likes of Sushi Mango in the Sprint Series Final, will jump from box one for Cutlack in the third heat.

Red Buzz and Sushi Mango have met on multiple occasions this year.

Sushi Mango's last win came on New Year's Day when he beat Red Buzz fairly and squarely in a heat of the Corporate Dollars Challenge over the 520 metres. 

Red Buzz turned the tables at the trip last Saturday when he won in 30.60 seconds. 

“There’s no doubt Red Buzz is the one to beat but I just hope we can get through to the next round because he’ll get fitter and fitter," Neal said.

Neal’s other runner at Ipswich on Saturday is Hara’s Reign, who lines up in race seven from box seven after copping her fair share of bad luck last start.

He said Hara’s Reign was crying out for 600 metres and is looking forward to some normality returning to the program before stepping her out over that distance.

Neal spent 13 years in the defence force and recently marked two years since making the move from Townsville to Brisbane to expand his kennel.

He currently has eight dogs in work with more currently being broken in.

He said it had been tough trying to establish himself in a competitive racing jurisdiction like South East Queensland.

“In Townsville I was just putting a lead on a collar and winning races,” he joked.

“Dogs are just getting quicker and quicker, it's a lot more competitive down here."