Impact Sets Golden Ticket Time Standard

IMPACT goes into Thursday night's Group 3 Golden Ticket match race finals with all the best sectionals from last night's heats but trainer Kevin Ellis believes Extra Malt is a big danger of “winning the whole thing”.

Ellis' Impact ran 29.81 to win his four-dog heat on Thursday night and reeled off sections of 5.48, 17.19 and ran home in 12.62.

Victorian visitor, Aston Ulysses, was next best with a 29.89 winning time.

But it is Extra Malt, second to Little Byrnes in the four-dog heat as the $1.65 favourite, that has Ellis worried for the rich final.

Next week's two-dog match races will be:

Extra Malt v Magical Cyndie

Kooringa Lucy v Little Byrnes

Louis Rumble v Spotted Elk

Impact v Aston Ulysses

The winner of the Golden Ticket will be decided on the clock.

“They are all trying to tell me Extra Malt is not going as well as she can, but that doesn't work with me,” said Ellis of the Graham Hall-trained bitch.

Albion Park Thur Jan 13 2022
Golden Ticket Ht 4. 520m
1st – Box 3 Impact – Kevin Ellis – 29.81 (5.50 – 11.71 – 12.60)
2nd – Box Kooringa Lucy – Mitchell Northfield – 30.05
3 1/2 x 1
Sunshine Delight – 30.12 (3rd) pic.twitter.com/pwWe88MPBm

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) January 13, 2022

“I think she is probably the quickest dog in the whole series and in the two-dog format she is going to get the chance to show it.

“If she's on song, she can win the whole thing.”

Impact too was suited by the four-dog heats.

“He can be hit and miss at the start,” said Ellis. “I'd like to see what he could run one night if he ever came out under the lids.

“This is a great format. Next week's two-dog finals … there will be nowhere for anyone to hide.”

Ellis reported Impact, winner of 21 of his 35 race starts and $111,000 in stakes, had pulled up well after the win.

“He's really putting it all together now,” said Ellis of the son of Fabregas-Velocity Willow.

Paul Abela's Aston Ulysses is being cared for in Queensland by local trainer Greg Brennan.

He was a great third to Jungle Deuce in the Group 2 Golden Sands the previous week and there is no doubting the two-dog final will suit the powerful finisher.

Aston Ulysses upset hot $1.33 favourite Louis Rumble in the four-dog heat running him down to win by a length and a half in 29.89.

The royally bred son of Aston Dee Bee-Sweet It Is has now won 18 of his 52 starts for $113,000.

The winner of the Golden Ticket gains direct entry into the final of the Group 1 Gold Bullion (520m) at Albion Park on February 3.