Run Like Jess Brisbane Bound For Golden Sands

IN form Victorian Run Like Jess is one of the headline acts for the Group 2 Box 1 Photography Golden Sands (600m) which gets underway at Albion Park on Thursday night.

The middle distance staying feature carries a cool $40,000 to winning connections with the final field to be determined following the running of four heats at ‘The Creek' on Thursday evening.

Spearheading the opening qualifier is Run Like Jess for training combination Deb Coleman and Rob Camilleri, the pair guiding the son of Fernando Bale to three wins from five appearances since being purchased by kennel clients in October.

"Tim Aloisi has a great eye for a dog and he's turning out to be a good buy – almost paid for himself already," Camilleri said.

"He's a tricky little dog to train. You need to keep him guessing and changing things up. If you don't he'll let you know about it that's for sure, he has his quirks.

"He'd received two tickets before Tim bought him and I think it's just been the case of a change of scenery and different training switching the dog back on.

"His previous trainer Rob Palmer did a great job with him. As his record shows."

Winner at 13 of his 41 starts, Run Like Jess has recorded some blinding times, including 29.25 (515m) and 34.06 (595m) victories at Sandown Park.

Last start the immense talent took out the Sale Cup Race Night Match Race over the 650 metres in a dazzling 36.81, faster time than Houdini Boy recorded when annexing the Group 1 Sale Cup.

"If he stays fit and healthy he could be a mini Rajasthan I think," Camilleri said.

"His run home times are telling me he can run the 715 and if he does we can have a lot of fun providing his mind stays on the job."

Run Like Jess is $2.30 favourite to win the first Golden Sands heat on Thursday night with Camilleri not overly concerned about the box six draw.

"He loves corner starts for some reason," he offered.

"I'm not worried about him first up at the track, if anything it's good for him because you need to keep changing things up with the dog.

"If he makes the final Deb will stay up there with him for the week. He can be a bit spooky so now he's settled with us we don't want to be changing things up too much."

Heat two of the Golden Sands sees Jeff Ahern's flying in form chaser Burnt Ends a solid $1.70 favourite from box six while in heat three Albion Park star Frieda Las Vegas is $2 for Tony Zammit.

The final qualifier has another Victorian atop of the market with Mepunga Isla $2.40 for Adam Richardson.

The daughter of Cosmic Rumble has won her past four over the middle distances at Sandown and The Meadows in flying times, including a sizzling 33.96 win at Sandown two starts back.