‘Proper Dog': Iconic Jet Set For Mandurah Derby Test

TRAINER Shayne Williams is hoping boom chaser Iconic Jet will use this Friday night's Mandurah Derby Final (488m) as a launching pad for bigger things.

Iconic Jet is the fastest qualifier after clocking a slick 27.09 during his heat and will be a warm favourite in the trophy decider despite jumping from box seven.   

The classy speedster burst onto the scene midway through 2024 with wins from his first seven starts and he confirmed his status as one of WA's most exciting dogs when he took out the Group 3 Young Stars in November. 

FIELDS AND FORM MANDURAH FRIDAY NIGHT

He looked set to contest the Perth Cup and The Sandgroper before a ‘niggling injury' sidelined him at the start of the year. 

Iconic Jet made an immediate impact on his return to the track with a dominant victory over 400m on Good Friday and then followed up with his ominous Derby heat win.

From box five, Iconic Jet fired straight to the front and was untroubled throughout the journey before hitting the finish line six lengths ahead of runner-up West On Cole.

As good as Iconic Jet has been racing since he's come back, Williams expects more from the dog in this weekend's final and beyond. 

"He got the start right (in his heat) which was good," Williams said "He just got a little bit tight at the end and I think he felt the run a bit. 

"It took him a day or two to get over that but he's totally fine now and I think, it's scary to say, but there might be a bit of improvement in him, just in the run home time. 

"So if he can get the start right and get over from box seven, which is not going to be easy, I think he can get down to 27sec or under.

"He's already trialled 26.91 (in a public trial in December) so he can get under it no problem. 

"But yeah, it's just a matter of what happens at the start. 

"I think this final will sort of top him off peak fitness wise and then that'll be good going to the WA Derby (heats on 17 May)."

"He's a proper dog, probably the best dog I've had, to be honest."

Williams has a strong hand in the Mandurah Derby with Iconic Jet's littermate Rippin' Moses also set to contest the race. 

Rippin' Moses, which had been competing in open class company at Cannington, won his heat in 27.29 and has drawn perfectly in box one for the final.

"We gave him a week off before the heats just for a bit of freshen up and that worked well for him," Williams said of Rippin' Moses. 

"He can probably go a little quicker too given he's had that week off.

"Moses is probably a little stronger at the back end than Iconic but I still don't think he could run his brother down. 

"It would be great to see the seven (Iconic Jet) leading with the one (Rippin' Moses) chasing him in the final. That would be ideal."

"Hopefully one of them can get up, it doesn't really worry me which one it is!"