Russell Bullish About Young Guns Prospects

TOP Queensland trainer Darren Russell goes into Saturday night's heats of the rich Young Guns series (520m) at Ipswich with two super chances.

They are Oski who has drawn box three in the second heat of the series and Marske who will come out of the four in heat three.

Oski (KC And All-She's Scandalous) has been beaten just once in six race starts and that was when third to Kiss And Spin in the Group 3 Flying Amy Classic Final at Albion Park.

Marske (Barcia Bale-Trip Along) has won five of eight starts and has won in 29.80 around Albion Park.

Russell is bullish about the chances of Marske despite box four.

“He was going to be my Vince Curry dog early in the year and was absolutely flying,” he said.

“But, unfortunately he didn't even make the heats after hurting both pin muscles.”

Russell said if Marske jumps and leads “then you will see some time on the board”.

“This is a really good race dog,” he said.

“But, he can also be a bit hit and miss at the jump, even though of late he's been getting a lot better. He's a really good dog.”

Of Oski he fears the bitch could suffer from having slick beginner Federal Morgan, a finalist in the recent Group 1 Brisbane Cup, drawn inside her.

“Federal Morgan comes out great and steps left,” said Russell. “That could wipe our girl right out.”

Oski is raced by Rod Duff who lives at the Russell property at Innisplain and works at the nearby Palen Creek Correctional Centre.

“Oski is lucky to even be racing.” said Russell.

“She was reared in NSW and hurt a stopper and a wrist pretty badly as a pup,” he said.

“Rod had her treated and when he was moving to Queensland with us, I told him to bring her anyway.

“The report was she was a 50-50 chance of racing.

“But, fortunately for us, she has never had a problem with either the wrist or the stopper again.”

Russell said the bitch was only 85 percent fit going into the race after hurting a metacarpal in the Flying Amy Classic Final.

The Young Guns series sees the Selena Zammit-trained superstar Oh Mickey drawn in the red for the opening heat.

He will be an unbackable favourite.

He has raced only once at Ipswich for a 30.50 victory and is the star of Saturday night's heats.