Gold Bullion Winner Chasing Rocky Knockout

GROUP 1 winner Hello Mike will go into his heat of the Group 3 Rockhampton Cup (510m) on Friday night without the benefit of a trial on the track, but trainer Travis Elson is not concerned about that.

Winner of the G1 Gold Bullion, beating now Albion Park track record holder Jay Is Jay, Hello Mike is one of four from the Elson kennel heading to the heats of the Cup.

He has drawn box five in the second heat of a star-studded series that has attracted some of the best in Queensland.

FIELDS AND FORM ROCKHAMPTON FRIDAY NIGHT

“No, he has not trialled at Rocky,” said Travis.

“I spent a lot of time and effort to trial him a couple of times at Wenty for the Golden Easter Egg series but it didn't work out.”

Travis gave Hello Mike 10 days off after he finished fourth off the rails at Wenty behind Wyandra All Class on March 25.

“I had every intention of trialling at Rocky, but my helper at the kennels at home got sick and needed a week off so I had to stay home,” said Travis.

HELLO MIKE – HELLO GOLD BULLION ?

With grit and determination the Travis Elson-trained chaser Hello Mike launches up the inside at the final turn to snare the $375,000 Group 1 Gold Bullion! What a win ?@BrisGreys pic.twitter.com/L7ovc4Ajx9

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) February 2, 2023

“I took him back in to Albion Park last week and he went 5.50 to the first mark and ran 29.60.

“I trialled Bear's Bullet the same day and she went 29.73.”

He has no qualms about Hello Mike adapting to the trip to Rocky.

“He has done a bit of travelling now and he went great during those trips to Sydney,” he said.

Travis has drawn the eight with Bear's Bullet, the three with Hope's Golden and the four with Cincinnati Bill.

He gives Bear's Bullet a great chance.

“The eight will suit her perfectly,” he said. “But, Springtime Jet in the six will be hard to beat and I'm told he trialled great there recently. And, he's going super.”

Selena Zammit is well represented in the series with kennel star Jay Is Jay back from a slight injury to run in the heats.

He has drawn the five against Hope's Golden but also the classy Coonamble Kid and local star Dixie Gambles.

The recent Ipswich Young Guns winner Another Chance has the three against Hello Mike, while Bundaberg Cup finalist Inevitable runs out of the six against classy Shipwreck.

“I'm told Shipwreck went to Rocky and trialled very fast,” said Travis.

“He will be nicely suited out of the rails in his heat.”

Popular Bundaberg Cup winner, Springview Magic, chases another Group win and has drawn the six in his heat against Locked On Scotch, Grim Madera, Cincinnati Bill and De Ferran.