Johnny And Jack Make Back-To-Back Thunderbolt Semis

They’re already referring to Neil Staines as the almighty ‘Zeus’ after his god-like performance in the Goulburn leg of the Ladbrokes Thunderbolt on Friday.

Staines trained the quinella in the opening heat of the program after Wiradjuri Jack (20.38) and Harmony Fire (20.39) scooted clear of the chasing pack.

22 minutes later, Pure Silver took out the second heat in a time of 20.19 to cap off a memorable day for the Goulburn mainstay.

“I love hearing from you because when I do, I know I've had a good day,” Staines laughed upon hearing from this scribe.

“I was quietly confident heading to the track but there's been so much rain around over the last few days, I wasn't sure we'd be racing. Everyone did a great job to get things in order though and our team did really well. The times weren't that flash, but they don't write the times on the cheques."

The Yass local now preparing for a second successive trip to Grafton for the Thunderbolt semifinals with Wiradjuri Jack after the onetime Temora Cup placegetter made the same stage of the series in 2023.

“He's had a few problems over the last six months and we've turned him out and brought him back a few times but things just weren't right." Staines said.

"But I've been slipping him up the straight track at home and he's been going well. Then I gave him a look at Goulburn behind the lure and he clocked a 13.21 run home, that's when I knew he was ready."

“There was a Masters race on at Goulburn today that he was eligible for but I had confidence in him and I wouldn't have sent him around if I didn't think he could be competitive. He's been around Grafton and had a few carnivals up there as well so if he draws a box, he'll run a big race.”

The 66-year-old also bullish about the prospects of talented youngsters Harmony Fire and Pure Silver who have won 15 of a combined 32 race starts to start their careers.

“Harmony Fire was a big, big run because I haven't been able to do anything with her since her last start," Staines said.

"She got a bit of a virus and I was a bit worried about her because I thought we'd need another day or two to top her up. But she's a special girl and I've got a bit of a soft spot for her. She's run 19.60 at Goulburn and got good early speed and runs home well so the Thunderbolt is a race that will suit her."

"And Pure Silver has run 19.7 at Goulburn. I just purchased him actually off Jack Savaglia who is a very patient and caring owner of mine. The dog is a bit hit and miss but I thought if he came out with them, he'd be hard to beat. I'm not sure how far he can go but there's a big $75,000 carrot dangling there now and I bought him for my grandkids so Jack, Cameron and Daniel would be pretty happy if he won the whole thing."

Earlier in the week, Zip Out Zipper and Marlee Star set the benchmark in the Richmond preliminaries with a pair of sub-18 second runs securing the duo safe passage to the semifinals.

The Jason Magri-trained Zip Out Zipper stormed to the front in the opening heat of Wednesday night’s program, with her first section of 2.14 leaving talented type Sicario Beast scrambling to stay in touch. 

The 10-time winner forging away for a 3.5 length victory to give the kennel its first Thunderbolt semi-finalist in the race’s short history. 

Marlee Star was one of three heavily supported Pete Lagogiane runners going around on the slate, with the daughter of Beast Unleashed x Oscar’s Alibi saluting for the third time in her last five starts. 

The time of 17.95 a new track and trip PB for the Elziabeth Harris-owned runner.

And Canya Supersonic (18.01) and 2023 Thunderbolt finalist, Johnny Red (18.08), also punched their tickets to Grafton with deserving wins for trainers Brad Barnes and John Miles.

The former ripping off a blistering time of 2.04 to the first mark on route to her third win in NSW since arriving from Victoria in April.

While Johnny Red will be looking to improve on his luckless seventh-place finish in last year’s decider, where kennelmate Vamoose was victorious for Sue Smith. 

The semifinals of the 2024 Ladbrokes Thunderbolt will be run on Sunday, June 16 with the final, worth $75,000 to the winner, set for Saturday, June 22.