Uno Nangar shows off a growing skill set

By Pat McLeod

Classy young bitch Uno Nangar continued to showcase her impressive skill set, unleashing a turbo-like finish at Albion Park on Thursday night.

Travis Elson’s always-fast-out Danger Zone appeared to have stolen the race with a lightning jump from ‘the pink’ and led until the shadows of the post, when Uno Nangar struck.

“I thought that was a really good run. She had to do it the hard way,” Uno Nangar's owner and trainer John Corrigan said.

“She just kept coming. That is what she does. She chases. She is a really good chaser. You have to remember that this is just her second run back from being out injured from January 2. So yes, every reason to be happy.”

Danger Zone had pinged from the eight and Uno Nangar jumped well to contest second place with Jeff Crawford’s Validate.

That was the sequence through until deep into the home straight when, as race-caller John ‘Bunny’ Brasch describes, ‘she went woosh’, and Uno Nangar ($3.70) hit the line half-a-length ahead of Danger Zone with Validate third, in 30.01 seconds. 

Corrigan said his Primo Uno and Nangar Diva chaser would back up over 450 metres at Grafton on Sunday, with the next major assignment, the Brisbane Young Guns at Albion Park.

The Brisbane Young Guns heats are on May 1 before the Final on May 8.

The Grafton club president said he would keep Uno Nangar racing locally.

“We won't be travelling anywhere,” Corrigan said.

“Why would you? She loves it here (Albion Park) and she is successful, so why not keep racing her where she loves it.”

Meanwhile, Gold Coast trainer Corey Mutton unleashed his secret weapon on Thursday night – daughter Elizabeth – with the desired result.

The 14-year-old Elizabeth boxed one of her kennel favourites, Cash On Demand ($4), who duly responded with a three-quarters of a length win. 

“That was a real thrill for my daughter Elizabeth, who was a little concerned about boxing him (Cash On Demand), but did a great job,” Mutton said.

“She has a lot to do with this dog and I have no doubt he performed a little bit better for her. In fact, every time she boxes the dogs they seem to perform better, so that is why I am carrying the catcher’s lead.”

Cash On Demand covered the distance in a 30.12 personal best with Apollo's Sun (trained by Martina Kirillidis) second and Big Easy Al (Rusty Dillon) third.

Kirillidis certainly had more luck across the night.

In the distance event, race three over 710 metres, she trained the first four – Maid In Space, followed by in order, Akela Martial, Shine A Light and Akela Ola.

Kirillidis also took out race nine with Serene Equity. 

She said the kennel was still assessing the fortunes of its strong list of stayers.

“At the moment with this dog (Maid In Space) and all our distance dogs, it is just week to week," Kirillidis said. 

“We will see what other dogs start coming through on Thursday night to judge whether we have something for the winter carnival.”

One of the best contests on Thursday night at ‘The Creek’ was Smooth Panther’s all-the-way win. 

The Rusty Dillon-trained chaser won the start, but had to hold off Canya Believe It (Jemma Daley), who looked a major threat the entire trip and just failed by a head.

Claude Dacey’s Daysea’s Kurt was third, with the winning time 30.38 seconds. 

“It's a bit early to tell what potential we have here because he has only had a couple of starts over the 500 metres,” Dillon said of Smooth Panther. 

“He pinged out last week and then faded out. His last 50 metres is his weak spot at the moment. He will toughen up as he gets older and over the next three or four starts. I think he will be a nice pup."