Hurdles haven’t halted Bear’s Bullet’s Nationals heroics

By Pat McLeod

Travis Elson’s veteran Group chaser Bear’s Bullet has overcome a painful last-minute hiccup to win through to next Thursday night’s Queensland Sprint Championship Final at Albion Park.

“That is the most nervous I have been for one of her races,” Elson admitted.

The tenacious bitch led throughout in the first of two championship heats at ‘The Creek’ on Thursday night.

“She had a papilloma (wart) removed from her foot just 48 hours ago," Elson said.

“My wife Hope noticed her limping after she had a gallop up the straight on Monday.

“It (the papilloma) was removed and her foot wrapped up, but she was still limping for a while and I was very close to scratching her.

“As a precaution I checked her with the vet here and he said she was fine to race. She just knuckled down and got the job done. She is a great chaser and that is what got her home. That win was incredible.”

There were two heats of the sprint championship – five runners in Bear’s Bullet’s heat and just four in the second heat, won by Selena Zammit’s Cluster.

The winner of next week’s Final will go through to the National Sprint Championship, as part of the Nationals carnival at Adelaide’s Angle Park on August 24.

Bear’s Bullet was Queensland’s sprint representative last year, finishing unplaced in the Final at The Meadows behind Kody Charles’ Saige Tenniele.

Despite this week’s hiccup and a recent dip in form Elson still has plenty of belief in his tough champion, who to date has amassed $441,520 in prize money from 57 starts.

“We have time on our side this week to make sure she is right for the Final,” Elson said.

“I have no doubt she can bounce back and win next week, no doubt at all.”

In the second sprint heat, master trainer Mick Zammit - Selena's husband - perfectly over-viewed Cluster’s fight-back win against just three opponents.

“It is the old story. You can only beat who is there on the night,” Mick Zammit said.

"His run was unreal. I am very happy.”

In the absence of his higher profile litter mates Jay Is Jay (retired) and All Natural (injured), Cluster is now a real chance of winning through to the Nationals.

Meanwhile, a lack of nominations changed Thursday night’s state distance championship heats into a one-race prelude, with Tom Tzouvelis’ veteran Amendola ‘photo-bombing’ what was to be showdown between Tony Zammit’s Valpolicella and Selena and Mick Zammit’s Icy Eyes.

The result of the 710 metre race was actually a dead-heat between Amendola and Valpolicella, with Icy Eyes third, in a time of 42.73 seconds.

“He (Amendola) is actually in masters now and won his first masters race last week at Ipswich,” Tzouvelis said.

“We were always going to nominate him for this series, but originally it was this week’s race and then back to masters, but I will be very happy to see him go further.

“Valpolicella had no luck, was hampered in her run and will strip a lot fitter after that run.

“My bloke is what he has always been, just a good honest home-bred (from a Maurice Minor and Soft Sand litter) chaser.

“So, it is really nice when he gets a result and we take some of the win.”

Tony Zammit said Valpolicella would be improved next week from that run.

“She needed that run and although she was blocked a bit, she finished well,” Tony Zammit said.

“She was doing her best work close to the line, which is the characteristic of how she runs. She should be improved for next week’s Final.”

Also at Albion Park on Thursday night, long-time successful NSW trainer Dennis Barnes has been a regular face at Albion Park recently and he made his presence felt on Thursday night, finishing the program with a winning treble.

Proven big-race performer Nangar Rocket (66 starts for $237,320 in prize money) won race nine over 600 metres.

Barnes then won race 10 over 520 metres with Nangar Gypsy.

He then rounded out a great night by nailing three wins in a row with Heidi McGraw’s victory in race 11 over 520 metres.