Above: Gold Coast trainer Corey Mutton unleashed his ‘secret weapon’ – daughter Elizabeth – who boxed Cash On Demand, who went on to win at Albion Park on Thursday night.
Below: John Corrigan’s Uno Nangar (5) impressed again with a sizzling finish to shoot past Danger Zone (Travis Elson) in a 5th Grade final (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night. (Photos: Box 1 Photography).
By Pat McLeod
Classy young bitch Uno Nangar continued to showcase her impressive skill set, unleashing a turbo-like finish to nail a 5th Grade final (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night.
Travis Elson’s always-fast-out Danger Zone appeared to have stolen the race with a lightning jump from ‘the pink’, and led until the shadows of the post, when Uno Nangar struck.
“I thought that was a really good run tonight. She had to do it the hard way,” owner-trainer John Corrigan said.
“She just kept coming. That is what she does. She chases.
“She is a really good chaser.
“You have to remember that tonight is just her second run back from being out injured from January 2.
“So yes, every reason to be happy tonight.”
Danger Zone had pinged from the eight and Uno Nangar jumped well to contest second place with Jeff Crawford’s Validate.
That was the sequence through until deep into the home straight when, as race-caller John ‘Bunny’ Brasch describes, ‘she went woosh’, and Uno Nangar ($3.70) hit the line half a length ahead of Danger Zone with Validate third, in 30.01.
Corrigan said his Primo Uno x Nangar Diva chaser would back up over 450m at Grafton on Sunday, with the next major assignment, the Brisbane Young Guns at Albion Park (heats May 1, final May 8).
The Grafton club president said he would keep Uno Nangar racing locally.
“We won’t be travelling anywhere,” he said.
“Why would you? She loves it here (Albion Park) and she is successful, so why not keep racing her where she loves it.”
Gold Coast trainer Corey Mutton unleashed his secret weapon on Thursday night – daughter Elizabeth – with the desired result.
Elizabeth, 14, boxed one of her kennel favourites, Cash On Demand ($4), who duly responded with a three-quarters of a length win in a 4th/5th Grade (520m).
“Tonight was a real thrill for my daughter Elizabeth, who was a little concerned about boxing him (Cash On Demand), but did a great job,” he said.
“She has a lot to do with this dog, and I have no doubt he performed a little bit better for her.
“In fact, every time she boxes the dogs they seem to perform better, so that that is why I am carrying the catcher’s lead.”
Cash On Demand covered the distance in a 30.12 PB with Apollo’s Sun (Martina Kirillidis) second and Big Easy Al (Rusty Dillon) third.
Kirillidis certainly had more luck across the night.
In the distance event, Race 3 over 710m, she trained the first four – Maid In Space (1st, $1.85), followed by in order, Akela Martial, Shine A Light and Akela Ola.
Although the result was not a major surprise, with all five runners from the Britton’s Churchable, kennel and Tim Britton’s Instant Cash (5th) the only dog not in Kirillidis’s name.
Kirillidis also took out Race 9 with Serene Equity ($8.50) in a 5th Grade (520m).
She said the kennel was still assessing the fortunes of its strong list of stayers.
“At the moment with this dog (Maid In Space) and all our distance dogs, it is just week to week.
“We will see what other dogs start coming through on Thursday night to judge whether we have something for the winter carnival.”
One of the best contests on Thursday night at ‘The Creek’ was Smooth Panther’s all-the-way win in a 5th Grade (520m).
The Rusty Dillon-trained chaser won the start, but had to hold off Canya Believe It (Jemma Daley), who looked a major threat the entire trip and just failed by a head.
Claude Dacey’s Daysea’s Kurt was third, with the winning time 30.38.
“It’s a bit early to tell what potential we have here because he has only had a couple of starts over the 500 metres,” Dillon said of Smooth Panther, who started at $6.50.
“He pinged out last week and then faded out.
“His last 50 metres is his weak spot at the moment.
“He will toughen up as he gets older and over the next three or four starts.
“I think he will be a nice pup.”
