Mason “Beside Himself” With Two Cup Finalists

LUKE Mason admits he could not get to sleep last night after qualifying two finalist in the Group 2 Ladbrokes Lismore Gold Cup (520m).

Luke and his mate Nev Creighton share in the ownership of Mercy Dash a 29.79 heat winner while Luke owns Burnt Ends which chased home Cash View in 29.73 in their heat.

“I had trouble getting to sleep last night after both dogs qualified for the final,” Luke said.

Mercy Dash (Ando's Mac-Kingsbrae Missy) was one of two pups from the litter Luke and Nev bought from Charlie Northfield when they were three months.

He and Nev have been best of mates since they were teenagers and both are now “in our 60s”.

“The other one of the pair we bought is not much good, but Mercy Dash has always shown plenty of ability,” Luke said.

“He started hot favourite to win a heat of the Pop Northfield last year even with Tony Brett's good dog Sentenced in the field.”

Sentenced won that heat and would go on to win a Queensland Derby and make a Group 1.

What a start to the Lismore Workers Cup! Mercy Dash for Neville Creighton wins a thriller! Here's what part owner Luke Mason had to say after the win…

Results: https://t.co/RwXdNVyNtI#thedogs pic.twitter.com/jU1XiWR0km

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) October 19, 2021

He has since won 14 races.

Burnt Ends (Fernando Bale-Mitcharlie Mia) has been a high class galloper in the Jeff Ahern kennel and holds the Casino distance track record and is a multiple feature race winner and Group finalist.

Luke says Mercy Dash is the best boxed of the pair in Next Tuesday night's Lismore Cup final.

“Burnt Ends likes to use a bit of the track and he's come up with the five box which won't help him,” said Luke.

“But, it is such a tough race with so many good dogs in the final.”

Luke dismissed the notion he would be so excited come next week in the lead-up to the Cup final.

“Next week!,” he declared. “We are besides ourselves this week just making the final.”

Defending champ Fire Legend has drawn perfectly for the final. He led throughout win the Cup in 2020 coming off the five box.

Group 2 Lismore Gold Cup final (520m) in box draw order: 1 Cash View, 2 Mercy Dash, 3 Louis Rumble, 4 Sleuth, 5 Burnt Ends, 6 Peltzer, 7 Pike, 8 Fire Legend. Res: 9 Miss Integrity, 10 Little Byrnes.