Late Night Text Provides Good News For Mackay

JASON MACKAY received a text message around midnight last night that made the long, long trip home from Dubbo a bit more bearable.

The text came from owner, Victorian David Jolley, and it included the box draw for the inaugural final next Saturday night of the rich Stockman & Paddock Country Classic (605m) at Dubbo.

The Jolley-owned and Mackay-trained Fantastic Raven had drawn the four box for next weekend's final.

While the four is not ideal, what pleased Mackay the most is that she has drawn inside Chase Me Honey for the final.

“It gives our bitch a great chance of holding the early lead,” said David. “And, if that happens, anything can happen in the final.”

The box draw for the world's richest middle distance race, the Stockman & Paddock Country Classic, is here!

Who's your tip next Saturday night at Dubbo Greyhounds?#thedogs #countryclassic #dubbogreyhounds #dubbo pic.twitter.com/Mlxip9ga20

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) March 12, 2022

Fantastic Raven (Fernando Bale-Fantastic Dotty) ran 34.87 to win her semi-final of the Country Classic beating Impatient Devil by a head.

Other semis went to: Aston Ulysses in 34.83 beating Jarick Bale, Immunity in 34.83 beating Zipping Alabama, and Chase Me Honey in 34.57 beating Zipping Kyrgios.

The win took Fantastic Raven's career to 56 starts for 20 wins and 22 placings earning $69,000.

She has been in the Mackay kennel only since Christmas.

“I got her from a great mate Gavin Crook who had to give up his greyhound interests and head back to England,” said David.

“Jason had trained a dog called Zipping Bram for me some time ago and he is such a great trainer, very inclusive with his owners, so it was an easy decision to ask him to give Raven a try.

“She has improved out of sight for Jason.”

Hear from April Mackay and Troy Provost after Fantastic Raven and Impatient Devil made their way into the Stockman & Paddock #CountryClassic Final at Dubbo tonight…

Replay and results: https://t.co/CJNl3lgw47#thedogs #dubbo pic.twitter.com/PqGIzD6ikU

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) March 12, 2022

While the Country Classic, and its rich winner's purse, are a huge lure, Mackay is also targeting bitches classics like the Richmond Oaks and Ladies Bracelet with Fantastic Raven in the immediate future.

“But the real beauty of Raven is her potential as a broodbitch,” said David.

“Her litter has won near on half a million dollars and her mother was a wonderful track record-breaking bitch on the track.

“Raven has tremendous early speed so we are hoping that puts her right into next week's final.”

So, did Mackay have any thoughts on next week's biggest danger in the final.

“All he was worried about was being drawn inside Chase Me Honey,” said David.

Country Classic Final (in box draw order): 1 Zipping Kyrgios, 2 Impatient Devil, 3 Jarick Bale, 4 Fantastic Raven, 5 Immunity, 6 Aston Ulysses, 7 Chase Me Honey, 8 Zipping Alabama. Res: 9 Super Estrella, 10 Coast Model.