Leading trainers Jodie and Andy Lord will have more than half the field in the next Sunday’s Temora Cup final after qualifying five from Sunday night’s heats.
Chasing their third Temora Cup, the first in almost two decades, the Lords took eight runners to the Riverina, with only three of them not making it through to the $15,000 to the winner final.
The couple have only ever had dogs contest two Temora Cups, and they have won both, in 2000 and again in 2002, and with five of the eight runners next week, that 100 per cent record will be favoured to stay intact.
“Yeah I guess we have got some hope,” a delighted Andy said on Sunday night.
“It’s good to get a lot of these dogs away from Wentworth Park for a little while. We don’t race a lot at Wenty at this time of the year, for the first three months of the year, we just poke around the tracks for a little while, keep them away from Wenty, then go back there to race.
“This race suited a few of the dogs in our kennel, the money is good obviously, so we sent a few there for the heats and had some good results.”
The Lords have qualified heat winners Mr Ticket, Winlock On Top and Ritza Donald, and second placegetters Opal Rocks and Sarita.
Mr Ticket (pictured) was incredibly impressive clocking the fastest time of the night.
A Wentworth Park winner in 29.76s three runs back ensured that Mr Ticket would have plenty of admirers in the opening heat, and those who took the short odds would have been anxious when he was slow to step and near the rear of the field soon after jumping.
But showing great acceleration he was able to drive through along the rails, and Mr Ticket found himself in front before the turn out of the back and once in front he raced away for an impressive win in a slick 25.62s, not too far adrift of the 25.45s track record of Cawborne Marty.
Victorian Lightning Blue battled on strongly after being overtaken by Mr Ticket, and held on for second albeit 8½ lengths behind the winner, to grab a place in next week’s final.
“Yeah he’s starting to race well that dog,” Lord said of Mr Ticket whose record now sits at 16 starts for 5 wins and 10 placings. “And Winlock On Top, he is just always there isn’t he.”
Winlock On Top is a dog who truly deserves a feature race win.
A semi-finalist in the TAB Million Dollar Chase in October, a finalist in December’s Group 1 Dapto Megastar, and then in his past month of racing, finishing second to Wow in the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder, then second again to Zulu Warlord in the Bathurst Gold Cup Final, Winlock On Top has been super consistent in top company for connections.
Wearing the red rug, he speared out of the boxes to lead from kennelmate Opals Rocks on settling, and while challenged most of the trip, Winlock On Top always looked to have the race in control, and won by a length in 25.85s, with Opals Rocks second and into the final.
Lord admitted he was confident about their third heat winner Ritza Donald.
Ritza Donald wasn’t fast away but used the track well from his box 7 draw to race up and be stalking the leaders Dip It In and Nangar Gold on the turn out of the back.
He was checked swinging for home, but steadied and was able to stave off the late finish of his kennelmate Sarita who made up many lengths after being last early, to finish within ¾ lengths of the winner who clocked 26.04s.
Lord admitted that he thought the run of Sarita was better than that of the winner.
Before the heats Jodie Lord had said that her best chance was the talented youngster SERIOUS Object, and in the second heat it was that dog and Lismore Cup winner Fire Legend who dominated betting.
But both dogs were only moderately away, and SERIOUS Object soon found trouble, was checked early and his chances disappeared immediately.
By this time however, Speaking Spanish had used his speed and taken full advantage of his box 1 draw and led his rivals clearly, going on to win well in 26.06s at the big odds of $34. Fire Legend managed to get going and charge home for second 1¾ lengths away, giving him a berth in the final.
“He (SERIOUS Object) was the one that I thought would get through, but he didn’t have a lot of luck. Everyone thinks he wants the pink, but I don’t know about that,” Lord said.
