Kennel Switch For Dual Derby Winner

DUAL Derby winner Oh Mickey has been moved to the kennels of husband and wife team Mick and Selena Zammit.

Owner-trainer Clint Kratzmann said today a family health concern with his nine-year-old son Rhys is behind the kennel switch.

Oh Mickey was second to Shakey Diesel at Albion Park on Thursday night in a Best eight 520 metre event after missing the start.

He joins the Zammit kennel after winning both the Group 1 National Derby and Group 2 Richmond Derby.

“It has been a tough couple of days for my family in regards to Rhys' health, but he will be right,” said Clint. “Rhys is our first priority.”

But Kratzmann said he had no hesitation in asking the Zammits to take over the training of the dog.

“He is a special dog to our family, and Rhys loves him,” said Clint.

“It was very important for us to give the dog to special people like Mick and Selena.”

Unfortunately for Oh Mickey's immediate racing future, Racing Queensland has just announced the abandonment of the upcoming winter carnivals in all three racing codes.

The news comes hot on heels of the Golden Easter Egg in Sydney being rescheduled, a series Oh Mickey was being set towards.

The Queensland carnivals will be replaced with standard metropolitan race programming with selected feature races.  

"Given the circumstances, it is the right decision to abandon our carnivals," said RQ CEO Brendan Parnell.

"Our carnivals are used as the shop-front to showcase our codes and to attract patrons, and in this current environment, it is not responsible.”

Meanwhile, Glen Dearlove, part-owner of Thursday night's brilliant Novice winner Blanco Caliente, was today high in praise of the work done with the Barcia Bale-Chica Destacada bitch by Simone Kellermeyer.

“Simone has a share in the bitch and she has been at her Northern Rivers property since we bought her last year,” said Glen.

“It was Simone who put all the great behind the scenes work into her in preparation for this successful return to racing.

“We decided to transfer the bitch to John Judd to overcome the border closure.”