Brothers Ready For Bulli

By Jeff Collerson
Jackknifed surprised trainer Alan Proctor by breaking 30sec to win on debut at Wentworth Park on Friday night but his trainer expects that dog's litter brother Ruination to run a big race at Bulli tomorrow.

Ruination has box eight in heat three of the 472m Jimmy Jenkins Memorial, which has attracted strong fields striving for a place in the $15,000 to the winner June 25 final.

On Friday Jackknifed gave tearaway leader Ashby Doha a big start to the home turn but flashed home down the outside to win by a half head in a slick 29.92 on a rain-affected track.

"He surprised me because in a trial there Jackknifed was beaten a bit over three lengths in 30.01,'' Proctor said.

"But he is a wide runner and while he improved and went good on Friday he was suited by the small field of five.

"His brother Ruination definitely is faster.

"In his first trial at Wenty he clocked 29.78 and recorded splits of 5.44, 13.76 and 17.91 but he finished second and seventh in two races there.

"Ruination hasn't drawn wide yet at Wentworth Park but her has box eight at Bulli and that suits him.''

Ruination's only losses in eight starts have been his two Wentworth Park defeats, and he is unbeaten on big tracks at Bulli and Maitland.

He has not previously drawn box eight but his two races from box seven he resulted in best time of the night wins over 450m at Maitland and 472m at Bulli.

The Jimmy Jenkins Memorial was launched in 2021 when Zipping Conway was successful in what stands as the race record of 25.90, while He's Grand won the 2022 final in 26.38 with Tokyo Drift scoring in 26.25 last year.

Jimmy Jenkins, won fame as a former Socceroos goal keeper, but greyhound racing was always his passion and he worked at the Bulli track in a voluntary capacity for five decades.

He passed away in 2020 aged 96.

Cumbria Mal ran home in a blistering 11.66 in his 30.03 win at Wentworth Park on Friday night and trainer Steve Fitch is now setting him for the Masters Meteor final there on October 18.

"I wasn't really surprised at those run home figures as he has won over 600m at Dapto in a very fast 34.49,'' Fitch said.

"But he has been tended to be unsound although despite turning four in March he has never been better than he is right now.

"I hope to have littermates Cumbria Kid, Cumbria Days, Cumbria Mal, Cumbria Dave, and Cumbria Miss in the Masters Meteor and after that, I'll have to think about retiring them.

"There is an 11-month-old litter by Fernando Bale from Cumbria Ninno at home that will need to be sorted out around that time.

"Cumbria Ninno is by Barcia Bale from Hill Top Belle, the mother of the Fernando Bale litter I am currently racing.''

Fitch's Masters Meteor prospects have earned over $471,000 while the prizemoney won by their dam Hill Top Belle, who was a gift to Fitch from GRNSW board member Kevin Gordon, has almost reached the $1 million mark.

Cumbria Mal and Steve Fitch