Puppy Love: Road Spike Returns In Style

LIDSDALE trainer Paul Roach credits one key ingredient to Road Spike's brilliant return to racing at Bathurst on Monday.

Time.

"And plenty of patience as well," Roach said. "I checked the calendar and it'd been nearly six months since his last start.

"Whether he won or lost yesterday didn't really matter, I just wanted him to race genuinely. And he did – that was the main thing.”

Road Spike – stepping out for his first start since feeling the wrath of the stewards at Wentworth Park in January – obliterated his opposition to score by 10 ¼ lengths in a sizzling 29.66.

The time was quicker than the 29.82 Bathurst Cup hero Zulu Warlord posted later in the program.

"The night he got the ticket at Wentworth Park for failing to pursue was in a heat of the National Derby," Roach said.

"He ran up to Serious Object but didn't go past. Then that dog finished second in the final so it leaves you thinking what might have been.

"After he got the ticket I tried a few different things including blinkers but he still wasn't going past dogs in trials so I decided to spell him and start all over again."

After spending a few months running a muck with young pups, Roach put the son of Aussie Infrared back into work with the hope that time and maturity would bring about a new found zest for racing.

"I just brought him along slowly – just started from scratch again," Roach said.

"In four or five trials he did the right thing and was running right into the catching pen which he wasn't doing last time either.

"He trialled 29.60 odd at Bathurst so I knew he had yesterday's run in him. It was just encouraging to see him do it in a full field like he did.

"He's a very fast dog but just not a good dog. But who knows if he goes on with it now that might change. He's got the talent.”

In the money at five of his six appearances, Roach will return to Bathurst next week before deciding on the hugely talented sprinter's next assignment.

"There's a 1-2 race on next Monday so we'll go there and then have a look at what's around," Roach said.

"And his brother Rebel Road is only a few weeks away from returning to the track as well. He hurt his chest and shoulder in a fall at Richmond a few months ago but is trialling well."    

With Road Spike and Rebel Road displaying huge potential albeit sometimes in erratic fashion, Roach says he and owner Bruce Gentle have fielded any number of calls for the siblings to move to New Zealand.

"The finish-on is handy for them here but they're 500 yard dogs so the 300 and 400s aren't much help," Roach said.

"I'm no psychiatrist but training these two fellas reminds you that you never stop learning in this caper."