Catton Confident He Can Topple Top Duo

LOCKED On Scotch, coming off a 34.70 600m win at Albion Park on Monday night, can topple hotpots Respectability and Nangar Rocket when they clash in a 660m Middle Distance Series at Grafton on Saturday night.

That's the opinion of trainer, John Catton, of the son of Hooked On Scotch-Neytiri Queen.,

“I honestly think he can beat that field and the wide draw suits him,” said Catton.

“Yes, Respectability and Nangar Rocket are quality dogs but this dog keeps stepping up every time I test him.

FIELDS AND FORM GRAFTON SATURDAY

“I was very confident he would run time at Albion Park.”

Locked On Scotch won by 13 and a half lengths leading throughout in 34.70 beating Jay Mac when coming off the seven.

“He ran home in 12.82 and that shows me he can get 700 metres as well,” said John.

“They need to break 12.90 run home over 600 metres to get under 42 seconds over 700 metres.

“And, that's what he has done.”

Locked On Scotch has made four feature finals, third in a G3 Young Guns at Albion Park and been a finalist in the G3 Rocky Cup, Ipswich Young Guns and the Eric Thomson Maiden.

There is no way Catton will switch the dog back to 520m for the G1 Brisbane Cup heats.

But, he did not rule out stepping him up even further to contest the G1 Qld Cup over 710m.

“He keeps making another step forward,” he said.

“Saturday night will tell me if he is ready for the rise to 700 metres.”

While Locked On Scotch has not raced at Grafton, Catton took him there as a pup for education trials.

“He went 25.12 at his first run on the track,” he said.

Locked On Scotch has raced 36 times for 10 wins and 13 placings earning $52,000 along the way for the Stella Racing Syndicate.

He is also a litter brother to SA star Queen Of Scotch the winner of the St Leger at Angle Park and a finalist in the G1 National Futurity for the Gaspari/Rasmussen combination.