Oh Mickey Remains On Track For Brisbane Cup

OH Mickey has pulled up sound and will press on to the heats of the Group 1 Brisbane Cup (520m) at Albion Park next Thursday night.

Michael Zammit, kennel foreman for his wife, trainer Selena, admitted he was surprised the multiple Group winner could find so much trouble in a five-dog field as he did when fifth to 100-1 boilover winner Shakey Diesel in the Super Sprinters on Thursday night.

Oh Mickey (Fernando Bale x Iona Champion) was hot favourite for the clash with Victorian superstar Hooked On Scotch.

But, the pair of them caused their own undoing.

Oh Mickey dwelt at the start, then rushed up to be on the outside of Hooked On Scotch at the first turn.

At that point, Hooked On Scotch wanted to get off the track slightly, this caused Oh Mickey to be caught in a sandwich and he was forced back to last.

He was then checked onto another runner turning into the back straight.

“And, to add insult to all of that,” said Mick Zammit, “he even hit the running rail coming to the 600 metre boxes.”

Zammit checked the dog over first thing this morning and found him fine.

“He will go into the heats of the Cup of course,” he said.

“It was his own fault because he dwelt at the start. I thought he would begin great and lead.”

On Sunday, owner Clint Kratzmann heads to Capalaba with a pup, a half-brother to Oh Mickey by Fabregas, called Land Down Under.

He makes his debut in a maiden off the eight box and is reported to be a special youngster.

The first of the litter to race, Jett The Best, won a maiden at Ladbrokes Gardens last week in 22.90 for trainer Troy Donaldson.