Local trainer Jason MACKAY collected another Group race victory when the speedy Aston Duke put up a tenacious performance to take out the Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top Final at LADBROKES GARDENS on Friday night.
On a rain drenched night in Newcastle, Aston Duke, the favourite for the $40,000 to the winner feature, held the front around the first turn from his box one draw, but after leaving the rail up the back, outsider Eye Rock railed through and took over.
But MACKAY’s sprinter - already a Group 2 winner having won the Maitland Gold Cup last year - showed great tenacity to battle back and retake the lead coming out of the back, then hold off the late finish of Good Odds Buddy to collect the win.
Aston Duke clocked a handy 29.65s in the wet conditions and had ¾ length to spare over Good Odds Buddy, with Eye Rock a gallant third, just a half head away.
The charge for the early lead saw the chances of a number of hopefuls plummet, with Black Forge in trouble early, and Mystic Riot unable to clear Aston Duke at the first turn.
The win was Aston Duke’s 26th from 74 starts, and his prizemoney now creeps towards $190,000.
Only last week MACKAY was in Perth for the National Awards where his kennel star Zipping Bailey collected the Run of the Year award for her brilliant performance in winning the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg back in April.
Last night’s win may not have been as stunning, but certainly was satisfying for the trainer.
“This is my local track, and they are always special, but so are winning fifth grades and maiden, but when there is a bit of money involved you want to try and win them,” MACKAY said.
“I think they had just on 50 mils of rain yesterday they had to have 100 mils today, and that is absolute crazy the rain.
“When I pulled up today, I spoke to my daughter and Milo my handler, and said they won’t be racing. It was torrential.
“Mick Horne, the curator here who does the track … what a fantastic job he has done. He’s the best curator in Australia if not the world on what I have seen here tonight. Just sensational.”
MACKAY explained that Aston Duke has been a regular visitor to the vet since finishing in the placings at Wentworth Park three runs back.
“Three starts ago at Wentworth Park he had a mishap in the catching pen and broke his tail,” MACKAY explained. “He’s been in and out of the vet since that, getting the tail done, having it reconstructed and it’s a bit shorter than it used to be.
“Look he had the gun draw (box 1) tonight but he likes to use a fair bit of the track and I think he got out in the better going tonight.
“He’s been a wonderful little dog, and a big thanks goes to the owner Ray Borda who allowed me to train him.”
MACKAY said he will give Aston Duke a shot at the TAB Million Dollar Chase in coming weeks with the September 21 heats back at LADBROKES GARDENS the likely venue for his attempt.
“He’s probably up against winning the million but I’ll give him a shot at it for sure, and we’ll probably go to the Gardens on 21st and he also does go good at Wenty.
“We’ll just see how it goes, but for now we’ll celebrate this one.”
