Barnes Beaming About Jack's Meteoric Rise

IF Excuse Me Jack can cap off a meteoric rise and win Friday's Group 3 Townsville Cup (498m) there will be no one happier than his breeder Dennis Barnes.

Last Friday, Excuse Me Jack raced his way into the Townsville Cup decider with a blistering 28.63 heat win which extended the son of My Redeemer's record to 12 wins from 14 starts for owner-trainer Harold Hovi.

The slashing performance was the star youngster's first foray into group race company, handling the class rise with aplomb.

"I couldn't be happier with how he's turned out for Harold," said esteemed Cudal breeder Dennis Barnes.

"I've sold Harold a few dogs over the time and he just happened to call me around the time I was breaking this litter in earlier in the year.

"A lot of the litter broke-in around the same and as it goes with break-ins some go on with it and some don't. Excuse Me Jack broke in around the 19.10 mark which is going good.

"Did I think he'd turn out this good? Probably not, but I'm glad he has for Harold. He's going fantastic."

About a month after purchasing Excuse Me Jack, Hovi called Barnes in the hope of purchasing another pup from the litter.

The outcome of that call was the purchase of a pup which now races as Redemption Bay and has won six of his seven starts.

"I knew when Harold called back he must have been pretty happy with what the first one was doing," Barnes said.

"There's no one happier than me with how they've turned out and performing for him. There was a bitch in the litter that broke-in the best and can trial you anything but she hasn't gone on with it like you'd hope.

“It just shows that they still need to go on with it and keep improving.”

After spending around $20k in acquiring the star siblings, speculation was rife Hovi knocked back around three-times that for the duo not long after they began racing and displaying their exceptional ability.

Hovi's decision to knock back those overtures will be further vindicated on Friday if Excuse Me Jack can land the $40,000 first prize just two weeks shy of his second birthday.

But to do so the 380-metre track record holder will need to down a hot field of talented sprinters in Townsville chasing cup honours.

On his side is track experience, with each of his 14 career starts at the Townsville circuit.

Group 3 Townsville Cup final (in box draw order): 1 Mitchell Street, 2 Call Me Gibbs, 3 Dulceria, 4 Kooringa Lucy, 5 Flying Jet, 6 Louis Rumble, 7 Excuse Me Jack, 8 Zipping Coby. Res: 9 Stratford, 10 Sleek Rumble.