Col Graham's rain dance worked a little too well

By Pat McLeod

Col Graham wanted rain but not the heavy wet blanket that washed out the majority of Thursday night’s Golden Ticket meeting at Albion Park.

“Yes, I wanted a heavy track, but not for the races to be called off,” the Northern NSW trainer lamented after stewards halted proceedings at 'The Creek' after race five of the 11 event program.

“A heavy track would have suited my bloke (King Of Aces) because he is such a strong dog, so it is a shame that the races have been postponed.

“But, the postponement won’t worry him.”

The final six events of Thursday night’s program, including the four Golden Ticket match races, will now be run at Albion Park on Saturday morning.

Graham’s King Of Aces is drawn to go head-to-head with reigning Queensland sprint superstar, Selena and Mick Zammit’s Jay Is Jay.

In the lead-up to Thursday night’s program the 70-year-old Graham, who also has a long career as a country and western performer, jokingly said that he would be inviting a wet evening by singing the 1980 hit song I Love A Rainy Night and doing a rain dance.

He was hoping a heavy track may have given ‘Ace’ the edge required to upset the phenomenal Jay Is Jay in a one-on-one clash.

“The harder (the going) it is the better for him (King Of Aces). I don’t know how much Jay Is Jay likes the wet, but Ace will revel in the tough going,” Graham said in the lead-up.

Well, he got what he wanted, but just too much.

Mick Zammit wasn’t concerned at a wet track, but was philosophical about the postponement.

“You can't do much about the weather,” Mick said.

“It is a positive that there is a 'plan b', however, it is a shame that one of the high points of the carnival did not go ahead as scheduled.

“As far as Jay Is Jay is concerned, he will be fine to race on Saturday.”

The fastest dog across the four, one-on-one showdowns not only collects $60,000 and Group 2 status, but also gets a ‘ticket’ directly into the Final of the Group 1 Gold Bullion over 520 metres on February 1.

Also postponed through to Saturday is the $24,000 Listed Clem Jones Cup Final over 710 metres.

Of the races that did go ahead on Thursday night, Dennis Barnes’ Nangar Lucy won a 600 metre free for all event in 35.13 seconds, turning the tables on recent Group 1 Golden Sands victor Fahey’s Magic, who finished third.

The rescheduled times for the four Golden Ticket match-races on Saturday morning are (box draw remains the same):

Match one: 10.24am – Blue Hornet (Ray Burman) box one vs Professor Snitch (Steven White) box three.

Match two: 10.36am – Saige Tenniele (Kody Charles) box one vs Saanvi (Tom Tzouvelis) box three.

Match three: 10.47am – Hello Mike (Travis Elson) box one vs Oh Minnie (Jamie Hosking) box three.

Match four: 11.00am – Jay Is Jay (Selena Zammit) box one vs King Of Aces (Col Graham) box three.