Darren Sultana remembers this week last year vividly. He also recalls having to make that phone call to owner Colin Hall to inform him that his dog would have to be scratched from a $40,000 final.
It was the week of the 2018 Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top Final at LADBROKES GARDENS, and Sultana had one of the favourites, Black Forge, who had won his heat in a slick 29.36s a week earlier.
But during the week Black Forge dug a hole underneath the fence at Sultana’s property, and as he was trying to get under the fence, the wire caught him, cut his skin and he would end up requiring 10 stitches. The Black Top Final was gone.
Sultana still remembers making the call to Hall, fearing the consequences, but cannot believe how well the news was received. A few months later the pair would win their $40,000 Group 2 race, the Maitland Gold Cup with Black Forge (pictured).
But on Friday, they are looking to get the one they missed out on last year, when Black Forge lines up, in box eight, the same box he drew 12 months earlier, and the box which supplied the 2018 Black Top winner with reserve Caitlyn Keeping leading throughout to win.
“Colin is a deadest champion bloke, he’s always happy whether the dog wins or gets beaten, he’s never had a whinge, win, lose or draw, Colin is always happy man,” Sultana said.
“It’s Thursday and we’re all fine … so fingers crossed this year.”
Black Forge has won both of his races since returning from a two-month break, leading all the way at Wentworth Park on August 17, then doing likewise in beating Mystic Riot in the Black Top heat last Friday.
“He’s come back well,” Sultana said. “I pretty much rushed to bring him back for the Black Top, so he got a bit tired at Wenty which I thought he would have, then last week he just got a fraction tired again, but I think this week or next he’ll be at 100 per cent fitness and hopefully he can keep doing what he’s doing and see what happens from there.”
Black Forge has now had 45 starts for 24 wins and 15 placings. He is consistency with a capital C, and in his past 16 starts he has won nine times finished second five times and third twice.
“To be honest I don’t think he’s lost anything on the clock,” Sultana said when asked to compare the dog with the one of 12 months ago. “Ability-wise it’s still the same, this time up for mine, and he seems to be racing a lot better.
“And he’s been racing the good dogs in group races.
“This year alone he’s made three Group 2 finals (third in the Bulli Gold Cup, second in the Richmond Derby, and won the Maitland Cup) and was third in the Golden Easter Egg, and now he’s in another Group 2 final. That’s five Group finals in six months.
‘He’s a great dog and when he’s on song he’s exciting to watch. Hopefully we all get to see that in the Black Top Final.”
After the Black Top, Sultana will target the TAB Million Dollar Chase, with his eyes on the Richmond regional series with heats to be held on September 13.
