Kavanagh Wary Of Golden Ticket Rivals

BOX one, coming off a slashing 29.64 win, and against two stayers … it sounds to most like a recipe for Golden Ticket to success.

But, breeder, owner and trainer Steve Kavanagh is just a little concerned about Louis Rumble (Fernando Bale-Joyce Rumble) going into Thursday night's four-dog Golden Ticket (520m) heat at Albion Park.

“Yes, it all looks perfect,” admitted Steve. “But, he's got two very good stayers in See Them Try and Aston Ulysses up against him and with only four dogs in the race, it gives them a great chance of running him down.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY

“He better be a good way in front of them down the back straight.

“And yes the 29.64 he ran on two weeks ago is his career best. But he needs to be able to come back and do that again. And, so often after such a fast run, a dog finds it difficult to repeat such an effort.

“Box draws in four-dog races do not matter,” said Steve.

But while he is cautious about the race, he could not be happier with Louis Rumble which has now started 43 times for 23 wins and 11 placings earning $186,000.

“He did what he had to do when he beat Irinka Riley at Albion Park on December 30 in 29.64,” said Steve.

Louis Rumble takes the 2021 Group 2 @tabcomau Ipswich Gold Cup Final ? The Stephen Kavanagh trained dog headed straight to front and had a clear run all the way through, finishing 5 lengths in front ?? #QLDisRacing pic.twitter.com/gL8uG0TuoS

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) November 11, 2021

Kavanagh is just happy the Golden Ticket series did not attract NSW stars Jungle Deuce and Zipping Kyrgios, the pair obviously happy to stay at home for the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder series which starts at Wentworth Park this week.

“I'm glad Jack Smith didn't want to come back with Jungle Deuce,” said Steve.

“He's some sort of animal that one.”

Kavanagh was almost certain Jungle Deuce would be at Albion Park because the four-dog format of the Golden Ticket, into a two-dog final, would be ideal for him.

Jungle Deuce was sensational in winning the Golden Sands over 600m last Thursday night.

The four heats of the Golden Ticket have drawn all the local Albion Park stars with interesting clashes between Extra Malt and Just A Sort in heat two, Unsee This and Spotted Elk in heat three, and What A Debacle, Impact and Kooringa Lucy in heat four.