Jason MACKAY has put the collar on a lot of special young dogs in his time in the sport, but that didn’t stop him putting his Ladbrokes National Derby heat winner Hard Style Rico in the upper echelon.
While most eyes at Wentworth Park in heat two of the Group 1 event were focused on Victorian boom dog Simon Told Helen, even before the race MACKAY had hinted that his dog was capable of upsetting the odds-on favourite.
When Simon Told Helen roared out of the boxes running a super slick 5.35s to the first mark, and opening up a three to four length lead on his rivals, supporters would have been feeling comfortable with themselves.
But camped on his back was Hard Style Rico, and heading out of the back to the home turn, Rico move alongside Simon, and swept past on the bend, racing away to score by 1¾ lengths in 29.84s, the best time of the night.
“He’s a special young dog for sure,” MACKAY said. “To give the leader a start like that, and beat him a length and three quarters … you’ve got to look to make sure it really happened.
“The leader is probably the best young dog around, and he’s given him two or three lengths start and beaten him by almost two lengths. That’s a proper young dog.”
Both dogs trialled at Wentworth Park last week before the first race and there wasn’t much between their times, but Simon Told Helen was clearly the quickest in the first section. It was a matter of how close Hard Style Rico could be on Friday as to whether he had any hope of getting past to his rival.
“He just had to tag on and not let the leader get too big a break and he did that and he proved his quality,” MACKAY said.
“I’ve only had him eight days (having got the dog from Victoria) and another week with him won’t hurt that’s for sure.
“He’s come up especially for this series and he’ll go home for the Australian Cup and maybe get a go in the Temlee, then all things being equal, he’ll probably come back and have a crack at the Easter Egg.”
While he has only been in his kennel for eight days, that didn’t stop MACKAY having a strong opinion of the dog.
“He was the quickest qualifier in the Silver Chief run off, 29.64s, and he ran a neck outside the track record at Ballarat 24.77s, so the dog has a huge motor. He’d only had 11 starts for 6 wins and a few placings (before last night) so he’s a novice but he’s got a big motor and that’s what helps.”
Asked to compare him with some of the other good dogs he has had, MACKAY said: “He’d have to be up there.
“After watching that tonight, to give that dog three lengths start and beat him by a couple … he’d have to be up there with the best you can get, simple as that. He’s got it all in front of him this dog.”
MACKAY continued an amazing night having won two heats of the National Futurity, he doubled up in the Derby when Aston Sapporo led throughout to win his heat in 29.87s.
Also advancing through to the final as a heat winner was the Troy Donaldson-trained My Mate Clarrie, who led throughout to win in 29.96s.
Danielle Swain grabbed a Group 1 finalist too when Rampant Jimmy stormed home to win his heat in 30.00s, while Joe Estephan celebrated his first Wentworth Park winner by qualifying Here Comes Joe for the Group 1 feature, leading throughout to win the final heat in 30.01s.
The box draw for the $75,000 to the winner final which will be held next Friday along with the National Futurity Final and the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder final, is: 1 Here Comes Joe 2 Rampant Jimmy 3 Ebby Infrared 4 Simon Told Helen 5 Hard Style Rico 6 My Mate Clarrie 7 Aston Sapporo 8 Poacher 9 Oh Mickey 10 Zipping Vernon.
