Last Minute Decision Reaps Young Guns Glory

OWNER Sarah Monaghan is the first to admit, she and husband, trainer Andrew, had no intention of running Dolly Dutton in Thursday night's Group 3 Young Guns series (520m) at Albion Park.

That was until Dolly Dutton (Barcia Bale-Precious Sal) won in a very fast 30.16 at Ipswich on April 29.

“We thought little fish are sweet and that she should keep going through the grades,” said Sarah.

“She'd already been in a few feature race finals (the 431m and 520m Ipswich Auction series) and had no luck.

“But, when she went so quick, running that 30.16, we tossed in a nomination  for the Young Guns.”

Lucky they did.

Dolly Dutton scored by two and a half lengths over Bear's Bullet with Locked On Scotch in third in Thursday night's Young Guns final to further enhance her already impressive career stats.

2023 Group 3 Newhaven Stud Farm Brisbane Young Guns 520m

1st: Dolly Dutton (1) – 30.04
2nd: Bear's Bullet (4)
3rd: Locked On Scotch (2)#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomau @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @SEN_track @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/AVUceyOqWD

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) May 11, 2023

She has now started 14 times for eight wins and three placings earning $58,000.

It was the first feature race win for the Monaghans since the mid 2000s.

“Can't remember what the previous big race win at Albion Park was,” said Sarah.

Dolly Dutton now heads on to the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic with a winner's purse lure of $150,000.

“She's got to go there because it is an age race and there is really nothing else coming up for her apart from graded races,” said Sarah.

“We will work out some races for her before the heats of that series.”

She also believes the bitch is already looking for 600m.

“The track was a bit off last night,” she said. “Which is probably why she ran only 30.04.

“We have no doubt one out she would run 29.60 or 29.70 around Albion Park … on a decent track.

“But, it already looks like she is wanting to go further.”

That's different from her bloodlines.

Her dam Precious Sal, even though a 520m winner, was more suited to the 450m range during her career and most of her progeny are similar.

Dolly Dutton was aided by the rails draw and did everything right in the run to down a high quality field.