Nationals Loom Large For Catton's Staying Star

ALL weekend, trainer John Catton kept looking at a ruler he found in his Greenbank home.

He wanted to see again just how far was an inch and a half … how far his exciting young stayer Locked On Scotch was beaten by Palawa King in the final of the Group 1 Queensland Cup (710m) at Albion Park last Friday night.

“I kept looking at the inch and a half and couldn't believe it,” said Catton.

“So close.”

Locked On Scotch (Hooked On Scotch-Neytiri Queen) was having just his second 710m race when leading to the line in the Cup final.

“I thought the track was off a bit on Friday night, and the fact he was second-up over the distance,” said Catton looking for a reason why his dog was beaten as well as the fact Palawa King is a high class and seasoned stayer.

Locked On Scotch has now had 39 starts for 11 wins and 15 placings for stakes of $107,000.

“We got $47,000 for running second,” said Catton.

Immediate plans are for the dog to have an easy week and then head back to Albion Park.

G1 @tabcomau Queensland Cup Heat 5 710m

1st: Locked On Scotch (4)
2nd: Dirt Farmer (3)
3rd: Bogie Hurricane (5)#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomau @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @SEN_track @MMcInallyPhotos @GRV_News pic.twitter.com/AtQylNFRpl

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) June 29, 2023

“But, the Nationals are in our plans,” said Catton.

“And, of course we now have to start planning for all the big staying races in the south.”

He pointed to the Nationals first, then the Sydney Cup during the Million Dollar Chase carnival.

“He will also be aimed at races like the Bold Trease and the likes in Melbourne later in the year.

“He is such a gifted dog and so clean winded. The 710m runs hardly take anything out of him.

“But I like to keep him a little fresh going into those races so he can ping and lead.”

Catton said the dog's owners had been contacted three months ago from Melbourne about selling him.

“The first offer was $50,000 and eventually it got to $120,000,” he said.

“But, then all of a sudden it was off.

“He is the first dog a couple of the boys have raced so it is very exciting for all of them.

“Being in a Group 1 is special let alone going that close to winning.”