Ron Steel may have seen Jamie Cargo set the fastest time in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Multi Series (400m) heats but he is a little concerned about the calibre of dogs in the final.
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Steel was on hand to see Jamie Cargo, trained by his wife Janette at their Wellington home, took out the third heat at a warm Dawson Park on Friday.
The meeting was moved to an earlier timeslot in order to miss the hottest part of the day and despite the watered track being a little heavier than normal, Jamie Cargo sped to a second win in his past three starts.
Jamie Cargo jumped well from box five and shot to the lead before holding off a fast-finishing Midnight Creek.
“He’s won a lot of races from box four and today four was empty (after Okay Custard’s scratching),” Steel said of the draw for the heats.
“It doesn’t bother him and he’s going quite well. The track was a bit heavier and that was the only thing I was worried about, I didn’t know how he’d handle the heaviness.”
Jamie Cargo ($2.60 equal favourite) had few worries on the track as he moved clear at the front immediately after the boxes opened.
He built a strong lead down the back straight but at the top of the bend Jacobite Dougie ($10.50) started to inch closer and Midnight Creek ($2.60 equal favourite) started to loom.
Midnight Creek had the inside line and when the Ian Gilders-runner had that run into the straight it appeared he might overhaul Jamie Cargo.
But the Steel-trained hope held on and won in a time of 22.32 seconds.
Midnight Creek finished a head back in second while Tralee Shadow ($6.40) ran home well to finish a further length-and-a-quarter back in third.
Jamie Cargo’s time proved to be the fastest time set in the heats with Bekim For More (23.28), Hoppy Keeping (23.10) and Kingsbrae Skylah (23.07) taking out the other qualifier.
Hoppy Keeping ($7.30) edged out hot favourite Wet Weekend ($1.30) in his heat while Bekim For More ($9.90) also scored somewhat of a boilover.
In the final heat, few were surprised to see Kingsbrae Skylah ($1.70) claim victory.
“It’s good to be in the final and let’s hope he does a little bit better,” Steel said.
“There might be some other dogs who can do a bit better time but who knows. It might depend on the box draw but he’s a dog who can win from about every box. It might just come down to the day.”
No trainer scored a double on Friday, with each race at Dubbo won by a different trainer.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
