Quick Jagger Zooming To Group 1 Success
14 February, 2018
Greyhound
Sale Cup winner Quick Jagger is primed for more Group 1 success when he lines up in the Zoom Top (725m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The star WA chaser tuned up for his assignment on Saturday night with a trial at The Meadows earlier this afternoon, and Chris Halse’s kennel representative Luke Townsend said he was pleased with the performance.
“He trialled well and has pulled up well,” he said.
“He ran 29.90 seconds for the 525m and he ran home strong.”
Quick Jagger’s chances of recording his second Group 1 win in Victoria were enhanced significantly after he drew Box one, while Fanta Bale, who has won six from her past nine starts, drew box four.
Townsend said with in-form chasers Fanta Bale and Rippin Sam in the field, Quick Jagger would need to be at his best from the inside box.
“It’s not exactly what we wanted,” he said.
“He will have to be on his best behaviour to hold out Fanta Bale.
“A placing is probably the expectation, but to win the Zoom Top would be amazing.”
Fanta Bale and Rippin Sam head the TABtouch market at $2.50 and $4 respectively, while Quick Jagger is a $4.80 chance.
The Chris Halse kennel also has a strong team engaged locally across the weekend, including Sandgroper winner West On Augie engaged in the first heat of the Sandi’s Me Mum Memorial (520m).
Townsend said West On Augie would need to be away quickly from box six, and indicated he could be in for a tricky assignment if the John Carmody-trained Fire Blaze also got away quickly from box seven.
Skipper’s Ticket is also set to line up in the opening heat from box eight, but Townsend said it would be a difficult task for him stepping up in class.
Pepper Fire is engaged in the second heat of the Sandi’s Me Mum Memorial, and Townsend said he felt she was well placed to break through for her first win in her past four starts.
“I think she is a genuine chance of leading,” he said.
“She should lead and be hard to beat.”
The Zoom Top jumps at 5.37pm on Saturday, while the first heat of the Sandi’s Me Mum at Cannington jumps at 8.17pm.
Tim Walker