Mackay Buoyed By Mooted Wenty Return

THE street corner tip is that Wentworth Park will return to racing early next month.

And it's a sentiment that is music to the ears of leading New South Wales trainer Jason Mackay who lines up Aston Maeve in Friday's Super Series Final (515m) at Ladbrokes Gardens.

"I'm handcuffed at the moment so if the mail is right about Wenty next month it can't come quick enough," declared Mackay.

"Maitland's down and I've barred Gosford so it's The Gardens or nothing for me at the moment.

"Putting the dogs around the same track all the time is a bit like me and you going for breakfast, lunch and dinner together for a week. If I give you a cold pie each time you might eat it the first few times but eventually you'll start throwing it back at me. And no sauce either!

“That's what a few of my dogs are doing now and I don't blame them."

One of those to need a change of scenery is the hugely talented Aston Lee, the son of Brett Lee and Aston Miley recently transferred to top Queensland conditioner Mick Zammit.

"He's run 29.17 there but The Gardens suits him like a hole in the head," Mackay expressed.

"So I said to Ray (Borda) a trip to Queensland for six weeks would do him the world of good with the warmer weather and bigger track at Albion Park.

"Mick gave him a post-to-post at Albion Park and he went as quick as what Sennachie and Oh Mickey runs. It shocked him I think but not me, the dog can motor … he's in on Thursday night."

And while excited about the upward spiral of Aston Lee, it's the future of his sister Aston Maeve that has Mackay most animated.

Last Friday, the boom youngster, winner at 10 of her 12 starts, turned in a performance that had to be seen to be believed.

It might only be May, but it was a remarkable last to first victory that surely parceled up the Run of The Year gong in the process.

"I'm trying not to get too carried away with her but it's hard not to," Mackay explained.

"If she had won that way and run 29.80 or 30 flat you'd say okay well that's a really good effort. But to do it in 29.42, running down Fire On Ice who has made three group 2 finals. I was just gobsmacked.

"She's the third dog I've had capable of doing something like that. Texas Gold used to give them 20 lengths and you still thought he could win and Zipping Bailey could find a way too without finding a rear-end to run into."

Aston Maeve tackles Friday afternoon's $7,500 to-the-winner finale from box five, while Aston Zodiac, a 29.46 heat winner for Geoff and Leanne Grimwood, will exit box two.

"I reckon the middle at The Gardens is perfect for her," Mackay said.

"Aston Zodiac looks the leader, she's a top little bitch. If Aston Maeve can lob right on her then we'll see what she can run without being stopped in her tracks.

"She's a bitch with a big ticker. I threw her to the wolves in the National Futurity after just four starts and she finished third to Zipping Veyron tearing her gut muscle. But she never chucked it in. She's tough, has the right temperament, has speed and is strong. She ticks all the boxes."

Mackay also rugs up Aston Rapide in Friday's $3,000 to-the-winner Ladbrokes Maiden Final (400m), the brother to Aston Maeve qualifying with a 3 ¾ length second to Blake Moroney's fastest qualifier Ice Reina in 22.75.

"He's a late bloomer," Mackay added.

"He's desperate for the inside so the seven is no good, his only hope is if the dog in the six (Coniglio) crashes to the fence and he can get a suck run through."

Never one to mince his words, Mackay also doubled down on his position to not race at Gosford until significant works are carried out on the track.

"Until all that crushed sandstone is out of the joint I won't be racing there," Mackay said.

"I lost a few dogs there all at the same time and was blaming myself and questioning what I was doing. But I haven't lost once since. 

"The surface might hold up for the lower grade dogs but when the real good ones get onto those cambers going that extra 10 percent with no give in the track you will get problems. And not just soft tissue issues either."

While a few greyhounds have vacated Mackay's Richmond Vale property recently, the return this weekend of Million Dollar Chase finalist Flying Bazza is cause for excitement.

"(Owner) Gary Webb's son Justin has been doing all his rehab from the torn stopper and he's coming along great by all reports," Mackay said.

"He's coming back this weekend. Des Fegan did the surgery and said it was a success and so far so good. He's coming up with old Slingshot Hammer.

"He's getting on a bit so Rob (Camilleri) thought sending him here to chase some of the veterans races would be the way to go. I'm sure we'll find something for him when the zoned racing is over.

"For now we've just got to bite down and push on."