Carr Knocks Back $40k For Derby Hopeful

WHEN Peter Carr decided last week it would take more than a cool $40,000 to prize Charlie Casey away from his St Fillans property, he did so knowing that the promising son of Kinloch Brae was well on track for a tilt at the Group 1 Ladbrokes National Derby Series (520m), which gets underway at Wentworth Park this Friday night.

Winner of a $5,000 to-the-winner maiden final at headquarters last Wednesday week in a dashing best of night 29.89, following on from his equally impressive heat victory in a slightly faster 29.87, Carr received a $40,000 offer for the son of Kinloch Brae and El Casey late last week, an offer he details, was quickly refused.

"Like everyone I could do with the money don't get me wrong, but I've been waiting my whole life for a dog like this so I couldn't let him go," declared Carr in the lead up to Friday night's National Derby heats.

"He's a cracking dog – he's shown that he's something pretty special right from the start. He was doing everything right straight from break-in at around 14 ½ months – at his first ever trial at Dubbo over the 318m he went 18.85 and I took him back a week later and he went 18.35, for such a young pup to run that a few of the locals thought they might have clocked the lure but that's what he ran.

"When I stepped him up to 400m he went 22.97 and then 22.69 – in all their trials Charlie has been about a tenth ahead of Jimmy (Casey) and then another tenth or two to Eddy (Casey). The bitch Star Casey is a bit behind them – handy and honest – but the dogs are the standout by far."

Not two until May, Charlie Casey (heat three) joins litter-brother Jimmy Casey (heat two) in Friday night's Group 1 National Derby heats, while the pair's litter-sister, Star Casey, will tackle the first heat of the Ladbrokes National Futurity for the girls.

Both series' finals – penciled in for Saturday, February 2 – carry a first prizemoney cheque of $75,000.

"Before Charlie won the maiden at Wenty I trialled him at Dubbo over the 500 and he went 29.58 – not many dogs get down to that so for a dog to do it after just a couple of starts shows the kind of times he can run," said Carr.

"I'm really happy with him going into Friday, I don't mind Charlie drawn in box five, providing he can get himself down to the fence early on and a clear run through the first turn, then I'm pretty confident he can finish one-two and qualify (for the final).

"I reckon Jimmy is going to make a really good stayer later on, everything about him points to him getting further later on but I'll give him plenty of time – I'd love to have a good stayer in the kennel.

"He was a bit disappointing finishing fourth (at Wenty) on Saturday night but he didn't really handle the trip down and late race, he didn't seem himself heading to the boxes, but in saying that he didn't have a lot of luck either, I expect him to race well Friday but he hasn't been jumping well, which is the worry.

"Star Casey is more going for the experience, to be honest I don't think she's up to some of the better bitches but she's going well and deserves a chance."

Unfortunately for Carr, the fourth of his hugely exciting litter to hit the track, Eddy Casey, had his National Derby claims dashed earlier in the week, failing to gain a start.

"He's only won the one race, over 400m, so he wasn't eligible sadly," added Carr.

"They all seem to have taken to Wenty really well. The first time I took them down to trial Charlie went 30.22, Jimmy 30.28 and Eddy 30.48, so basically in line with everything else they've done. That day the bitch (Star Casey) only went 31.10."

Having raced some more than handy chasers throughout his training career, 64-year-old Carr spoke fondly about the idea of making the final of an event steeped in tradition, first run back in 1963.

"To make a National Derby Final would be a huge privilege. I'm 64 now and have seen some great dogs win the race and the idea of maybe getting one dog through would be a dream, let alone the idea of two! There's a lot of work to be done this week so I'm not getting ahead of myself.

"It's meant to be pretty hot on Friday and I've just had a brand new air conditioner installed in the trailer so they'll be travelling in luxury that's for sure."

And whilst the National Derby is assuming Carr's full attention currently, he has earmarked one upcoming race with his exciting duo, the Group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Derby (535m), the $40,000 to-the-winner series set to be run and won in the first two weeks of March.

"Yes, that's a race I think will suit them down to the ground – there's plenty of good races coming up for them," added Carr.

"Jimmy has run 30.50 around Richmond and I've got no doubt Charlie could run 30.30-40, the Bulli Cup is on next month as well and that might be a bit too soon but after the Derby I'll take them down for a look – they should be suited to Bulli."

In the lead up to Friday night's National Derby heats Carr was quick to heap praise on his brood bitch El Casey, producing a star studded litter at her first trip to the breeding barn.

"She was going to be anything early on but injured a hamstring pretty badly on a few occasions so I had to keep her to short-courses because I couldn't get any work into her – in hindsight I should have retired her a lot earlier than I did," reflected Carr.

"I'll never forget Jack Smith offered me $20,000 for her after a win early on at Dubbo and I said to him at the time this bitch is my future. A good friend Ray Hardy is a breeding buff and he put the idea into my head of using Kinloch Brae – he has always been a rap for my line and was adamant Kinloch Brae would click – after he told me that I kept a close eye on his results and his strike-rate at the time was unbelievable.

"I'm not sure if I will breed with her next time round or the following, but when I do I'll head to Fernando Bale – my line has a double cross of Elusive Rebel so the outcross to Fernando Bale should work perfectly."