Magistrate ready for judgment in Brisbane Young Guns Final
Talented chaser Magistrate will be out to make it three on the trot and nine victories from his past 14 starts on Thursday night in the Brisbane Young Guns Final at Albion Park.
The Greg Stella dog recorded the fastest time in heats, clocking 29.95 and beating home Locked On Scotch by 0.25 length.
The Park Ridge-based trainer said Magistrate had come through the heat well and was ready for the start, but admitted that it would be a tough task.
“He (Magistrate) has pulled up well from last week's race,” he said.
“Box 8 is OK but it is hard to imagine he will get across as it is a very good field.”
Brisbane Young Guns Heat 2 – Magistrate (1st)
That good field includes Locked On Scotch – a.k.a. ‘Lockie' – from the John Catton kennel, with the trainer confident in his dog's chances from box two.
“Really good draw for Lockie,” he said.
“He should get a sit on pace or hold the rail and the pace outside should help us with the 7 (Isurava) who likes to use the rail and Bear's Bullet who also likes to get to the rail.
“It could be a fair bit of argy bargy early so the rail should help us.
“He has had a good gallop yesterday and has come through the heat in great condition and I cannot fault him.
“Hopefully we can get some luck for a change and be in the finish!”
Two brothers by Zambora Brockie and out of Shilo are also lining up to battle it out and will really be eager to spoil the party for Magistrate.
Out of the Brent Kline kennel is Isurava, who won his heat running 30.03 with an impressive performance.
On that occasion he jumped from the 4 box, but in the final he has drawn the 7 – a result that Kline is not worried about.
“He's pulled up terrific after the run,” the trainer said.
“We went over him Saturday morning and he's perfect.
“I don't mind box 7 for him. He will still need to jump well and lead if he's a chance to win.
“There are some very fast dogs in this race so he will need to do everything right to be a chance.
“But one thing with this dog is he will give 100% and time will tell if he's good enough.”
His brother Cobblepot is trained by Stephen Rolph and also won his heat, running the trip in 30.15 while beating home the Selena Zammit-trained Another Chance.
He also qualified for the Capalaba edition of the Young Guns Final which was run on Sunday, and although he got out to put him in a decent spot he finished sixth.
“He has pulled up well, better than I thought,” Rolph said.
“He cost himself a placing by running to the right, halfway down the running.
“He has drawn 3 for Thursday's Final and there is pace everywhere.
“We just hope he jumps nicely and holds them all at the first turn.”
Cobblepot won his heat from the white box, which will add confidence in the lead-up.
The rest of the field includes Dolly Dutton, Bear's Bullet, and the speedy Blue Hornet out of the Ray Burman kennel who won the final heat for the feature.
2023 Brisbane Young Guns Final field
- Dolly Dutton – Andrew Monaghan
- Locked on Scotch – John Catton
- Cobblepot – Stephen Rolph
- Bear's Bullet – Travis Elson
- Blue Hornet – Ray Burman
- Another Chance – Selena Zammit
- Isurava – Brent Kline
- Magistrate – Greg Stella
- Ninetymile Wow – Warren Nicholls
- Pink Summer – Casey Dargusch