Rufus The Dark Horse In McKenna Decider

LISA Cockerell enjoyed a holiday bonus when Rufus Scrimgeour qualified for the Group 2 McKenna Memorial at Sandown Park this Thursday night.

Holidaying in Darwin with family friends and fellow trainers the Bravos and Delbridges, the group were watching on from a pizza and pasta restaurant when Rufus Scrimgeour nabbed Xinmin Bale on the line to win his heat and progress through to Thursday night's $58,000 final.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

"We were screaming," Lisa said.

? BOX DRAW ?

? #McKennaMemorial Final
? #PremierRacing @sandowndogs
? July 7

1️⃣ RICCARTON RICK
2️⃣ ASTON ULYSSES
3️⃣ STOUT MONELLI
4️⃣ SPANISH MISS
5️⃣ RUFUS SCRIMGEOUR
6️⃣ XINMIN BALE
7️⃣ MEPUNGA WARRIOR
8️⃣ HILL TOP JACK

9️⃣ ZAMBORA RICHIE (1R)
? DO IT (2R)#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/TqzjNPIflR

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) June 30, 2022

"When he got to second we thought he just needs to hang on and he's into the final, and then he checked himself and cost himself a couple of lengths, then got going again. It was good, we were pretty excited."

Cockerell hadn't targeted the race but his form leading into the event was too strong not to have a go.

His form belied his $24.50 starting price having placed in both of his two previous starts, both over the 595m trip, the most recent of which a close third behind Group 1 Adelaide Cup winner Do It.

To make the final was particularly satisfying given Rufus Scrimgeour is out of Polijuice Potion, an all-distance winner at Sandown Park which retired after winning a match race in the inaugural Speed Star over 595m and is the third generation from her broodbitch, Martha Spinco.

He also continues the Harry Potter themed race names from the Cockerell kennel, however her twin children – Morgan and Taylor – christen the kennel names.

A big win for the Cockerell family!

Rufus Scrimgeour causes a boilover in the second Heat. He and Xinmin Bale will advance ? pic.twitter.com/q2WOYmL1sc

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) June 30, 2022

"He broke in quite well so we decided we'll keep the Harry Potter theme – Rufus Scrimgeour was the minister for magic after Cornelious Fudge (another of Cockerell's former racers),” she explained.

"But his kennel name is Blue – named after the velociraptor from Jurassic World.

He could have been any colour – Taylor was having a dog named blue and fortunately he chose that one and he happened to be blue.

"Aragog was a black dog and he's called Goldie, White Chocolate was a black dog – I think if Rufus Scrimgeour was a black dog he still would have been called Blue."

As for his chances on Thursday night, Cockerell was hopeful rather than confident with the box draw making his task difficult with the speed drawn beneath him.

"He's just got to get out, try his best and stay on his feet through the first couple of corners and who knows. Stranger things have happened, but box five isn't really ideal.

"It's just a thrill to get in those races."