Allakazan Wins Mackay Cup
WHEN Allakazan won a high-quality heat in a searing time on Thursday night, Emerald based trainer Christine Pollard had high hopes that the three year old could produce another blistering run in the prestigious Mackay Cup yesterday.
“It can be difficult with such a short turn around but after the heat she was ready to go around again and was bouncing out of the trailer,” Pollard said.
But Allakazan had drawn awkwardly in box four and faced the prospect of being squeezed out the back in Mackay's biggest greyhound race of the year at the showgrounds.
“I thought the three dog would be a bit tardy away and was hoping to beat the two dog to the turn,” Pollard said.
When the gates crashed open for the 456m dash, Allakazan immediately kicked into gear, beating her rivals to the bend before holding on to record a three-quarter length victory over Murranji Mary in a slick time of 26.48 seconds.
“She stepped well from the boxes and if you jump well you're a big chance of winning because all the other dogs get caught up in the wash behind you,” Pollard said.
Allakazan, who was about a $4 chance, was “a second hand” dog bought out of Brisbane six months ago but impressed at recent meets, winning a few big races at Rockhampton where Pollard is a dominant trainer.
Pollard, who won a Mackay Cup in 2002 with Fraternise, will now prepare Allakazan for a probable tilt at the Rockhampton Cup (510m) on May 20.
Her other runner, Emerald Assassin, recovered well to finish third after getting tangled up early.
Courtesy : Mackay Daily Mercury