It’s ‘show time’ for Ryan Ayre’s talented youngster

By Pat McLeod

It’s ‘show time’ for Ryan Ayre’s promising sprinter That’s Nuts.

The Barcia Bale and Pump It chaser, who is unplaced just once in 14 starts to date, with nine wins, is one of several outstanding youngsters who will be showcased in Thursday night’s Molly Campbell Silver Dollars Final at Albion Park.

The Burpengary-based Ayre isn’t placing unwanted expectation on That’s Nuts, but explains the time is now for potential to start being realised.

“He is in a spot now where he has had enough starts, enough experience, to start putting it all together,” Ayre said.

“The next 20 starts will tell me and will tell everyone, what he has to offer. We have brought him along pretty slowly and looked after his confidence. We will give him a test over the next three to six months.

“Thursday night is a very good race. Then we have the Townsville Cup (heats on August 30 and Final on September 6) and then I will be focusing on the Ipswich carnival after that.

“I have been very happy with the dog so far and you would always like to hope there is a fair bit of improvement. I believe it is there. I believe he is a sub-30 second dog at Albion Park on the right night.

“How far he can go under that, I don't know. You would always like to hope, but until they do it, you won’t know.

“Thursday night is a good guide to how good this dog is. It is a good race with plenty of smart young dogs that would match it with the best outside of Queensland.”

That’s Nuts was placed third in last week’s Molly Campbell heats behind young star of the moment, Golden Bear (trained by Adam Mcintosh) and Autumn Storm (Tom Tzouvelis).

“He (That’s Nuts) seemed to baulk at the start. He lifted, got a bit of a check and then it was all over for him,” Ayre said.

“Golden Bear is one of the fastest dogs I have seen in Queensland. Take out Jay Is Jay and he is probably as good as anything that I have seen over the last five years.

“So, there is no disgrace to be beaten by him because his was a super run.”

Ayre said that despite the talent in this field there was no predictable clear early leader.

“It will be interesting to see who leads on Thursday night, because the box draw has opened it up for everybody,” Ayre said. 

“In my eyes there is no obvious leader.

“Golden Bear has been missing it lately. He can run the spots off the clock if he gets off the mat, however he missed the start last Thursday, but was good enough to have a bit of room and get around them.

“If he starts like that again then I think it is anyone's race. Whoever can produce a good smart first sectional on the night will be hard to beat. I think this Final is a raffle and anyone of six dogs could possibly be in the lead the way they are drawn.

“As far as box six for my bloke, I am not worried about him being drawn off the track, but in that type of field you don't really want to be trying to cross dogs like Golden Bear. But, I am not overly concerned by that alley."

Ayre said he is really looking forward to Thursday night.

"I think it will be a cracking race for an age-restricted event," Ayre said. 

“Originally, I thought it might be a bit of a soft Final, but I certainly didn't get that. The obvious dangers are Golden Bear and Hoshino (Selena Zammit).

“But, I don't think they are the only ones. More Than Money (Pam Field) looks the best boxed in this field, considering he has run 29.98 seconds. 

“If he did that on the night he would be hard to beat. They are the three heat winners and they will be the three hardest to beat.”