Micks Recall eyes Group 1 swan song

By Jordan Gerrans

Churchable trainer Jamie Hosking believes a Monday night return at Albion Park is the perfect kick-off point for well-travelled stayer Micks Recall for the 2022 TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.

The black bitch has not raced for about three weeks, last going around at Wentworth Park, where she ran sixth in the Gold Cup Final over 720 metres, which was run at Group 3 level.

She returns in a Masters event over 520 metres and, while that is a fair step back in grade for the 18-time career winner, Hosking has bigger plans for her in the coming weeks.

He believes the low-key kick-off to her campaign will help her regain some confidence and touch.

While the gun stayer has travelled far and wide around Australia in recent months racing against some of the elite long-distance runners in the country, she has not done much winning.

She has been around the mark in a handful of Group races but Micks Recall has only won twice from 11 attempts since December.

“Every time we have put her in a heat of the race we have generally made the Final,” Hosking said as the carnival was launched on Thursday evening at headquarters.

“Sometimes it can be a bit disappointing to get so far and not win, but she has finished on the podium a few times in a few class level invitational races with her.

“She is what she is, she is a little bit below the best but she has a crack.”

With four different Group level races over the carnival at the longer staying trip of 710 metres, Hosking plans to start his star stayer in those elite events, including the $225,000 Queensland Cup.

Hosking, who hails from Darwin, says the Group 1 Queensland Cup could be her swansong.

“She will need the runs going into the carnivals and if everything goes to plan, she will be sound and fit when the Queensland Cup comes around, which is the main aim,” Hosking said.

‘That could be the last hurrah for her, especially over 700 metres, we will go towards that and then see how we go.”

Having raced Micks Recall in WA, NSW and Victoria over the last year – as well as in the Sunshine State – the bitch has taken Hosking and owner Philip Rae on a thrilling ride.

While the youthful trainer would have loved to have won a big Group Final, he has appreciated the relationships he has forged in different states throughout the greyhound industry.

“You go there to win races but it is the connections you make with people,” he said.

“You always want to get good dogs and hopefully the next time we get a good one we are better prepared for it as it is all new to us, travelling around as we had a lot of good people take us in around Australia.

“Hopefully, we can go back there with another good dog and strike up a bit of a partnership.”

One of those connections was WA trainer Steve Withers, who prepared cult hero Tommy Shelby before he retired.

Hosking is soon set to welcome Withers to his kennel, bringing over three hopefuls for the big Flying Amy Classic, as well as Mambo Monelli potentially also making the trip over.

Also from the Hosking kennel, Pebble's Girl contested the Group 3 Carnival Chase Final last Thursday night, finishing seventh from box three.

Pebble's Girl is also a Monday entrant at Albion Park and the dog comes from a personal friendship Hosking has within the industry.

Hosking trained Pebble's Girl’s father in Darwin - Arnhen Villain – while friends of his trained her mother - Rimba Sambia – in Townsville.

“She is not the most dynamic bred dog, but it just goes to show that sometimes you get lucky with the breeding,” he said.

“She is holding her own as a home bred.

“We will keep her going along at 600 metres and test her over 700 metres soon.”