DUBBO trainer Greg Ford was a relieved man after he helped pull off a plunge on one of his dogs at Dawson Park yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ford trained the quinella in the www.bettowintips.com Maiden (318m) but he was happy to see Gotta Be Sassy show too much early speed and hold off her littermate Gotta Be Blazin in the run to the line in a time of 18.70s.
Miss Watson ($10.30), which missed the kick considerably, ran on well to finish third, beaten three lengths on the line.
The victor was first reserve and only got a start after the two inside runners were scratched, leaving her with an inside draw which is exactly what Ford wanted.
"She's got good speed and the inside draw was a big help for her so I was pretty sure she'd run well," he said.
"They put up $13.60 on the fixed odds and I think late she's come into about $3.00 or so on the tote so we got a good price and it's been a good result."
Both Gotta Be Sassy ($3.50 fav) and Gotta Be Blazin ($3.90) were bred by the Ford family, and they come from the same Knocka Norris x Blackrain Bonnie litter whelped in December 2011.
Ford said despite the bitch trialling over 400m at the Dubbo track back in November he was content to keep her over short distances for the time being.
"She goes alright out of the boxes but I wanted to keep her away from a corner start so the 318m suits her because it's a straight run early," he said.
"I think she'll run 400m or 450m, maybe even 500m eventually but right now I think it's best if I keep her to the short courses and let her go through the grades.
"Eventually we might even sell her. If she wins a couple here she'll probably get some interest and she'll be a handy bitch for someone to have some fun with."
Orange trainer Casie O'Neil denied punters a big start to the program when her bitch Walk This Way proved too good for the favourite Lilly Laceby in the Dubbo Vet Hospital Maiden (400m).
Lilly Laceby ($2.30 fav) worked to the lead early and travelled strongly through the mid-section of the event but started to weaken approaching the home turn, allowing Walk This Way ($6.90) to sneak up her inside and run away to win by one-and-a-half lengths.
Joane ($9.20) was a further two lengths away in third place.
There will be a quick turnaround for trainers and club officials at Dawson Park with the club scheduled to race again on Thursday.
