Morse On Song For Red Dog Decider

SUE Smith and John Miles are no strangers to racing top quality sprinters and the Branxton couple rate their current star of the kennel Morse right up there with the best of them.

At Ladbrokes Gardens on Friday night, the son of Spring Gun takes his place as the fastest qualifier in the Red Dog Final (400m) where a cool $8,900 awaits winning connections courtesy of major sponsor Ladbrokes.

"We're really proud of him – he just aims up every start," offered Miles in the lead up to Friday's final.

Last Saturday night at Ladbrokes Gardens, Morse ensured his 50th race start would be a memorable one for connections, sizzling away for a 22.52 heat success to claim a 23rd race win, a new personal best time at the circuit for the rising three year old.

"There's dogs that think ‘will or I or won't I?' … he just does it," Miles added.

"He's just a professional race dog. He'll take a run when there's just a bit of room and he's real smart in a field. If he gets into bother it's never his doing he just needs to be left alone for those first few strides, if he is, he's hard to beat.

"To win almost half your starts like he has, especially racing in the grade he has right the way through, says a lot about the dog."

Sue Smith remembers picking out Morse as a pup.

“He had the white chip on his tail,” reflected Smith. “I remember Noelene Holloway's Derby winner Magic Spring had the same marking … he was a beautiful dog and Morse was a lot the same. I'm trying not to get too ahead of myself with Friday night. That way if he doesn't win I won't be as disappointed. Hopefully.”

Friday night's Ladbrokes sponsored Red Dog Final promises to be a terrific sidelight to the Group 2 Sires On Ice Black Top where Morse will head betting from box two ahead of 22.69 heat winner Lady Cynthia from box one.

"If times mean anything from the heats there shouldn't be anything between Morse and Lady Cynthia early but in the heats Morse got to the line stronger so hopefully that's the same Friday," added Miles.

"It's a strong race and being a final all the runners have raced well to be there and have a chance."

While gun sprinter Morse is the kennels major player at Ladbrokes Gardens on Friday, Miles and Smith are also expecting a forward display in the opening event of the night by first starter Shetland.

"We bought him when he was five months old," said Miles of the superbly bred son of Barcia Bale and Asha Tanga.

"There's a bit of him and the four box isn't ideal but he's going well and doing everything right … he's winning all his field trials. He'll turn into a handy dog I'd say down the track."

And with the Coonamble October Long weekend carnival now just five weeks away, Miles told the Recorder that he's targeting the time-honoured Garrards Gold Maiden (305m) with three wonderfully bred pups by Fernando Bale and top producer Blue Thunda.

"They're only young but are coming along really well – the plan is to head to Coonamble with them," said Miles.

Track record breaker Blue Thunda (El Grand Senor x Whinging Wrench) is from a litter that won over 100 races, including 18 of 23 herself. Her first litter currently racing to Magic Sprite are very talented yet at the same hard to handle. To date they've collectively won 22 of their 57 starts, including eight of 15 by Tunza Thunda who has been retired to the breeding barn with injury.

"They can all run (the litter to Magic Sprite) but they are over the top," added Miles.

"The bitches are only small and a few of them are out at the moment with injury … it's a bit like a hospital ward here at the moment."