His Llandilo home has become “an island” and his sand runs have been washed away due to the flooding in Western Sydney this week, so there was some trepidation from trainer Peter Lagogiane heading into the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Magic Maiden with series’ favourite Lock Master.
The trainer obviously didn’t pass his concerns on to the dog, as Lock Master did exactly what he was supposed to do. Jumping in front and running time – 29.77s to be exact.
“That’s what he’s trialed,” Lagogiane said of the time. “There was a little bit of a concern. We couldn’t work him all week - and I bet he’s flat after that - with the weather we have had at home.
“We have turned into an island at home. We’ve lost our sand runs, but there are many other who have lost a lot more than us.
“The lack of work was a concern and there are plenty of other trainers who have shown concern too, but this dog has got a motor and he’s got one thing on his mind and that’s to chase and you can see he did that tonight.”
There was never a worry for Lagogiane and connections. The dog is owned by Adam Brandt. When his 8-year-old son Reece was battling illness last year, his father said he would get him anything he wanted when he overcame the kidney problems. Reece said he wanted a dog, and Lock Master was the one he chose.
Second in the semi-final, 8¼ lengths behind the winner was Bandit Butch who booked a berth in the $25,000 final next Wednesday.
While Lock Master looked very good, he wasn’t the fastest semi-final winner.
Only a week earlier Bandit Ned looked every bit the first start maiden, full of inexperience and waywardness, clocking a pedestrian 30.83s.
Fast forward seven nights, and the Andy Lord-trained youngster ran more than 15 lengths faster, charging home to nab tearaway leader Springview Magic, posting a slick 29.76s.
“Last week’s run was good considering he’d never been with other dogs, so we were pleased,” kennel rep Ray Dixon said.
Asked whether there may be further improvement in another seven days, Dixon said: “You’d like to think so, but 29.7s is a pretty handy run.”
While he was a little quiet following the retirement of the people’s hero Feral Franky, FORBES trainer Jack Smith has recently produced some promising pups, none better than Jungle Deuce, already a four-time Wentworth Park winner.
And while the straight talking trainer conceded his young bitch Irinka Molly is not in the class of ‘Deuce’ she was good enough to lead throughout in 29.99s, and win a semi-final of the Magic Maiden and book a berth in next week’s final.
“She just bats away at the one speed, but she’s got good box speed, and just keep battling away,” Smith said.
“She seems to use a bit of the track early, but as long as she uses the box speed, it won’t matter.”
Asked where she sits among his young dogs, Smith replied: “She sits in the middle. She hasn’t got the motor Deuce has got, but she’s no slouch.”
The Kayla-Jane Coleman-trained Frustrated Fears ran home nicely to grab second and secure a spot in the final.
Trainer David Smith knew his bitch had ability and knew she could go a bit quicker than the 30.60s she ran on a wet track in a race full of incidents a week earlier, and she certainly didn’t let him down.
Cowgirl Ethics speared from box one and gave nothing else a chance, leading throughout to win the final semi in 29.94s which saw all four semi-final winners break the 30s barrier on a track which had been inundated with torrential rain for the previous five days.
“Yeah I knew she would go faster and the track is a lot different to those early heats last week. We saw Lordy’s (Andy Lord’s) dog go over a second quicker,” Smith said.
“I think she can go quicker again. She has only come home in 12.01s and she’s just a puppy, still learning. She’s had three or four 500s now, so she’ll be getting stronger with racing.”
Zipping Decoy finished second just as she did in her heat, and qualified for the final as a result
