WELLINGTON trainer Ron Steel admits he doesn't train his dogs maybe as much as he should but it mattered little as he collected an early winning double at Dawson Park yesterday.
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Betsie Cargo got the ball rolling for steel with a win in the $785 bettowintips.com Stakes (318m) but things got even better when he claimed the $1045 Harnett Transportable Homes 0-2 Wins Final (318m) with Suzi Cargo.
The Fabregas X Lady Cargo bitch produced an impressive comeback to win by half a length from Lone Star Lad.
"I haven't won many finals this year here but these dogs are getting better each time and it's going well so it's good for these ones to win a final, these Fabregas dogs," he said, before speaking about the possibility they should have won more races.
"It's probably a bit of trainer's fault in some of them and I haven't trained them as much as I probably should have been but I know they'll go on to be better dogs."
The Scott Watson-trained Known As Typo ($1.80 fav.) jumped well in the final from box one with Lone Star Lad ($5.90) and Suzi Cargo ($5.80) closely behind and it didn't take Lone Star Lad long to move to the lead.
But as they hit the bend for home Suzi Cargo moved up the outside and had enough speed down the home straight to get past the Daniel Hoskins-trained dog and claim the prize in the time of 18.31 seconds.
"They've been running well but they just haven't had enough luck to win some finals but maybe the tide has turned," Steel said.
"I just hope for better things at longer distances next year but I'm just not in a hurry to push them up, she runs a good 400 or 450 and I'm hoping they'll run the 500.
"There's plenty of potential but it's been really hot and I don't want to bust them, I love my dogs too much to see something go wrong."
Steel's win was followed by a blistering win from the Raymond Smith-trained Irinka Wap after an explosive start from box eight in the Unibet Stakes (518m).
The focus pre-race was on the out of form but talented duo of Olli Charlyn and Kayla's Tiger but Irinka Wap ($4.00) blew them away at the start.
Olli Charlyn ($3.40) and Kayla's Tiger ($3.20) both started well and got out to follow Irinka Wap to the front but it was all about the eight dog as he led by three lengths down the back straight.
Olli Charlyn provided plenty of pressure as she came storming home but Irinka Wap held on to win by half a length while Kayla's Tiger was four-and-a-half lengths back in third.
"He came out running, it was a bit of a surprise, usually bad starts but got it right today," said Irinka Wap trainer Raymond Smith.