Record Runs Have Red Dog Final At Lord's Mercy

ANDY Lord expected Awesome Catch and Winlock On Top to win their heats of theLadbrokes Red Dog Bonus Series at Nowra on Sunday afternoon.

ANDY Lord expected Awesome Catch and Winlock On Top to win their heats of the $5,000 to-the-winner Ladbrokes Red Dog Bonus Series (520m) at Nowra on Sunday afternoon.

But the group 1 winning trainer admits to being caught off guard when the in-form pairing each recorded new track record figures of 29.46 to set up an enthralling clash between the two in this Saturday's finale.

"When El Rapido broke the 630m record the other week I wasn't surprised because she won by a big margin and I think she'll turn into a real nice stayer," Lord said.

"But I wouldn't have thought either of the two dogs Sunday would have broken the 520m record. But you've got to run it I suppose and it's in the record books now. Both dogs are going great."

Awesome Catch has proven something of a revelation since finding his way to Jodie and Andy Lord's Gunning kennels, winning six of his eight appearances.

Overall the son of Fabregas has won 25 races including last year's Group 3 Gawler Gold Cup when trained by Rob Camilleri.

"Punters HQ syndicated three dogs to a large group of owners and Awesome Catch was almost thrown in as an afterthought," Lord said.

"There's a real nice Ritza Lenny maiden pup and another tried dog they bought which is in that ownership group as well. Neither is far off racing either; they are going really good."

Before Sunday's record breaking Nowra exploits, Awesome Catch and Winlock On Top had slugged it out against each other on two separate occasions at Dapto, the ledger squared at one apiece.

"He's an underrated dog Winlock On Top," offered Lord.

"He's a great little chaser but he can mess it up at the start. The recent boxing changes had actually fixed the way he begins. For him, I wish they had left it the way it was!"

Enjoying a purple patch of form with his always formidable kennel, Lord's trio of winners at Nowra followed a winning quartet at Goulburn on Friday.

Included in that list of winners was Lucky Express, a stylish 19.82 victor of the $3,000 to-the-winner Ladbrokes Maiden Final (350m).

Lucky Express is a son of Lord's former top sprinter Lucky Chap, adding extra significance to the win.

"He was a freak," Lord said of Lucky Chap.

"Not many people know this but when he was 10 months old I was mowing the runs at home and a rock flicked up and smashed Lucky Chap's leg. It was a freak thing – he raced his whole career with a broken leg."

"But he broke-in fast and still ran some amazing times. He has a fantastic temperament … you wouldn't even know he's here most of the time."

Lucky Chap – a son of Brett Lee and Cawbourne Whip – won 20 of his 39 starts.

But it was very much a case of what might have been with ongoing injuries bringing a premature end to his career.

"He won a heat of the Golden Easter Egg at Wenty by 10 lengths running 29.56," reflected Lord.

"But the problem was he would always pull up lame in that leg for the semis or the finals of big races.

"He's a beautiful dog with an amazing temperament and he's throwing those traits into his pups. I've used him five or six times now and whenever I have a bitch that suits I'll use him.

"His dam-side goes back to Tony Lockett's Elusive Rebel and there's Molotov in there as well. And he's by Brett Lee. He has everything you want.

"I've got some absolute rockets here by him and they are so easy to train – good habits and laid back. Just like he is."

 

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