Golden Ticket Within Reach For Respectibility

A SCORCHING 29.55 trial has prepped Northern Rivers glamour dog Respectability for his long held mission, Thursday night's heats of the Group 3 Golden Ticket (520m).

And his owner-trainer, Iluka “Lord Mayor” Mick Paterson, is adamant his charge is “back an entirely different dog” in this campaign.

The son of Raw Ability-Fay's Magic has drawn the rails in the four-dog match race heats and comes up against class acts like Kelsey Bale, Shipwreck and Sunshine Delight.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY

He is one of four 5th grade dogs in the select series, but he and those others, Jay Is Jay, Hara's Herbie and Cash Master, have all justified their place in the series.

“He is back an entirely different dog,” said Mick of Respectability. “He is a much more powerful dog now.”

Patterson decided to spell Respectability back in September after a few out of character runs.

In four Casino starts since his return he has been second in the final of both the G3 Casino Cup and G2 Lismore Cup.

“Casino is not a track that suits him, but I was delighted with the way he went in all those four starts,” said Mick.

He admits the Golden Ticket has been the long-held plan for his dog.

“But, at one stage after the Casino runs I harboured the thought I would put him into the 600 metre Golden Sands,” he said.

Albion Park Thur June 16 2022
Race 5, 5th grade. 520m
Box 4 Respectability – Mick Patterson
29.50 (New 5th grade Class Record) 5.49 – 11.54 – 12.47. 3 x 3 3/4 pic.twitter.com/Ry4rvVcpRR

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) June 16, 2022

“As I mentioned, he has come back a much stronger dog.

“But, in the end I listened to the advice of a long-time mentor Ray Minty who said never to deviate from a plan.

“That's why he went to Albion Park for the trial and the 29.55 was exceptional, but the most pleasing aspect was the 12.40 run home time.

“It takes a handy dog to run home in that sort of time.”

Mick is overjoyed with the red box on Thursday night and the four-dog format.

“Fantastic – he offered.”

But he is still concerned his dog faces a tough task against high quality opposition.

“No dog gets into a series like this without the right credentials behind them,” he said.

While the Group 1 Gold Bullion is a long-term target with the Golden Ticket winner gaining direct entry into the final of that rich race, Mick still takes only one race at a time with his kennel.

“The dog is 110 percent at the moment,” said Mick.

Four heats of the Golden Ticket will be run.

Group winner Yahiro Bale clashes with Million Dollar Chase third placegetter He's On Fire, and G1 star and GOTY hotpot Orchestrate and Queensland Derby winner Jay Is Jay in the opening heat.

Recent Wenty Group winner Hold Me Up meets Ipswich Cup winner Hara's Herbie, the classy De Ferran and much improved Hello Mike in the third heat.

Feel The Beat takes on boom galloper Cash Master, WA star Throttle and local top grader Springtime Jet in the fourth heat.