Ipswich Record In Sight For Young Guns Favourite

CAPALABA on Sunday was the scene of an after-race catch-up between owner Clint Kratzmann and trainer Mick Zammit discussing Oh Mickey's near track record victory the night before in as heat of the Ipswich Young Guns (520m).

The son of Fernando Bale and Iona Champion ran 30.00, just a couple of ticks outside the 29.97 time-standard shared by Champagne Sally and Fernando Blaster.

“Mick said Mickey had pulled up Sunday morning as though he had not even had a race the night before,” said Clint.

“Mick is the first to tell you a near track record run can take a lot out of a dog, but he was amazed at how Mickey had recovered from the run.”

It has made the owner-training combination confident ahead of Saturday night's $11,200 to-the-winner Young Guns final and they even dare to think the track record could tumble.

Oh Mickey had to switch to the Young Guns series at Ipswich after he had hurt a pad while galloping up Capalaba a couple of weeks ago.

It forced him to miss a trip to Victoria for the Group 1 Maturity, the final of which will be run on Saturday night as well.

“I'm a realist and while it would have been nice to be in Melbourne for the Maturity, that's racing,” said Clint. “I'm over the disappointment of that already.”

While Oh Mickey does look to have lengths on his rivals in the Young Guns, Kratzmann is a little concerned about the way the box draw has panned out.

“He's got the three and both the one (Federal Morgan) and two (Flying Jet) ran the same first section as Mickey,” said Clint.

“The draw has made the final a touch tricky. Federal Morgan likes to drift right and our bloke will want to head to the rails … the rails is the Oh Mickey running lane.”

Oh Mickey won the Group 1 National Derby at his seventh race start.

He won the Group 2 Richmond Derby at his tenth race start.

He has since run 29.45 winning at Albion Park and made a Brisbane Cup Final.

He will not be two and a half until September.

Kratzmann reported Saturday night's 30.00 victory in the Young Guns heat was only the second time Oh Mickey had been out of the 520m boxes at Ipswich.

“I would even hint that there could be a bit of improvement in him as well,” he said.