Just two months ago they were celebrating a magnificent victory in the inaugural Country Classic at the very same venue, and on Saturday night at Dubbo, Marty, Fiona and Cammo Hallinan did it again, this time taking out the club’s signature event, the Ladbrokes Brother Fox.
Back in March it was Zipping Kyrgios, trained by John and Minnie Finn, winning the world’s richest middle-distance event and te $125,000 prize. This time around it was Jason Mackay’s Zipping Maserati storming to victory to take the $50,000 first prize.
And even those on track who might have backed a different runner in the final, still had something to celebrate as Jason and Cammo shouted the bar following the win.
Ever since his debut back in June last year when he won his heat then the final of the prestigious Grafton Maiden series, the boom has been on Zipping Maserati and while there were some hiccups as he got up in grade, since returning to the track after a two-month let-up earlier this year, the dog has been flying.
“This campaign back he has had eight starts for six wins and couple of seconds and the couple of seconds he shouldn’t have been beaten either,” Jason said. “It could have been eight form eight.”
One of those seconds was in the semi-final of the TAB Million Dollar Chase when he was just nabbed on the post by Irinka Riley. A week later he would win the MDC Consolation, followed by the heat and now the final of the Brother Fox.
“He’s delivered on the big stage now and he’s shown he can come from behind,” Jason said.
“Early on he was a bit suss at the distance and a bit suss early, but that was something else that run, that was a ripper.”
Kennelmate Fantastic Raven crossed the favourite Good Odds Cash and led the field into the back, with Zipping Maserati camped behind the pair.
Heading up the back Good Odds Cash moved alongside and then headed the leader, but appeared to get caught up and was checked, and at that moment Zipping Maserati swooped and raced to the lead, going on to win in 29.45s.
The reserve Spring Patriot ran on for second with Special Blend running home strongly to just nose Good Odds Cash out of third placing.
The win takes the record of the son of boom young sire Zipping Garth and Zipping Lilly to 29 starts for 16 wins and eight placings, and his career prizemoney now moves to $139,250.
“He’s a special talent this dog,” Jason said. “As a youngster Marty and Cammo broke him in - and this goes for all breakers - nobody has ever broken in, in 17.50s at Dubbo as 14-month-old pup. He did. The Free-For-All dogs were doing that at the time and he did it as a pup.
“So Marty and Cammo knew they had something special it was just a matter of him getting it all right, and all the little dots and crosses (ticked off) on the night.
“He’s good and that just showed a glimpse again tonight that this bloke has arrived. What we will do now is take him home, make sure he’s sounds and healthy and just play it by ear.”
The other features on the card, the Feral Franky At Stud Future Stars was taken out by odd-on favourite Kip Keeping for Charmaine Roberts, the Zipping Garth At Stud Mega Maiden was won by Dylan Goodger’s Such A Shame, and the Bill And Peg Miller Final was won by Josh Board’s Spring Elegance.
“Dad and pop have known the Millers for a long time and dad really wanted to win this race and she’s done it for us,” Josh said.
