Fusion Mint In Line For Maitland Cup Gold
IF Fusion Mint wins Friday night’s G2 Maitland Gold Cup, trainer Wes Mcdonald is readying to heap all the praise the way of partner Kylie.
IF Fusion Mint wins Friday night's Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup (450m), trainer Wes Mcdonald is readying to heap all the praise the way of partner Kylie.
"It was Kylie that put the race on the radar," Mcdonald said. "She told me Fusion Mint is the best dog we've had and I should have a crack at it.
"To be honest I wasn't sure she was up to a race like this, at least yet, but I was thrilled with her heat run. She went fantastic."
FIELDS AND FORM MAITLAND FRIDAY NIGHT
Any fears Mcdonald had that Fusion Mint might not be up to the grade were quickly allayed in last Thursday's heats when the daughter of Hooked On Scotch was only beaten a head by leading series contender You Never Lose in a flying 24.89 seconds.
Adding further satisfaction to the performance was the sizzling 7.69s first split Fusion Mint posted, by far the quickest of the eight finalists.
"That was her first look at the track as well so we are expecting she will take improvement from the experience," Mcdonald said.
"The week before the heats we had contemplated driving to Maitland to trial her but it is a 10-hour roundtrip so instead I nominated her for a race at Goulburn.
"I had an idea in my head what she had to run at Goulburn to justify giving her a crack at the Maitland Cup."
In a dazzling display, Fusion Mint, winner at 10 of her 19 starts, exceeded her trainer's expectations and more, racing away for a slashing 24.42 victory.
"She had a fall at Dubbo in late August and since she's returned from that she's actually been a different dog," Mcdonald said.
"Early on her best section was her first section but now she's improving in the second split and getting stronger.
"She's very exciting."
Fusion Mint is a $6 chance in Friday night's $40,000-to-the-winner decider where she looks well suited in box two.
For McDonald, the pursuit of Maitland Cup glory has an additional layer of complexity.
"She's the worst traveller I've ever had – by far," he said.
"The way the van is set up she'll only really settle when she plants herself between the driver and passenger seat. So that's where she spends pretty much the whole trip.
"She's a handful alright."
The emergence of Fusion Mint comes back to a chance discussion McDonald had with Rose Pringle at Richmond a number of years ago.
"I was telling her we needed another potential brood bitch one night at Richmond," he recalled.
"Then some time later out of nowhere Rose rang saying she had a pup we could have that probably wouldn't race but would be a good brood with her breeding.
"Her name was Midnight Romba. She did have a few starts but as a brood she's been great. With Fusion Mint the best really is still ahead."
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