Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

Patterson Bitch has Something About It

2 May 2019

Share this page

Share on a platform

Or copy the page link

By Isaac Murphy

It took Iluka trainer Michael Patterson just three starts to decide What About It had the ability to mix it with the best bitches in the Queensland and abroad in the heats of the Group Two Bogie Leigh Futurity and the trainer’s opinion was vindicated as the rising two-year-old ran a bold third last week and will line up in a Group Two Final at start five this Thursday night.

Patterson said the bitch suffered a setback when being broken in, but since she hit the track has jumped every hurdle.

“She would have been at the track earlier but she had a few problems being broken in, but in retrospect it’s been a blessing in disguise, because it’s given me the chance to take my time with her and so far everything we’ve put in front of her she’s handled,” Patterson said.

“She went up to Albion for her Maiden where she went 30.35 and I thought gee we might have something here and she followed it up with 30.13 and 30.02 when she got rolled by Dusty Delight who flew that night.”

It was those performances that convinced the trainer she was ready for a shot at the Futurity, believing that racing against the top class could only improve her racing.

“I never second guessed myself about putting her in, I believe she’s a bitch that can win races like this, if not now in the future, I’d rather put her against stronger company than let her get knocked around by lesser types,” Patterson said.

“She’s got a little but of x-factor about her this bitch we haven’t quite got to where we wanted with her yet, but that’ll come with race experience.”

Patterson said he’s under no illusion What About It is up against some serious bitches but is confident if the race maps the way he’d like she’ll be in the finish.

“There’s a lot of early speed in the race with Agame, Dam Slippery and Circle of Dreams, they’ll outpace us early, but I’m hoping we can find a nice spot behind them on the fence,” Patterson said.

“I would have loved to have come up with the one, but you can’t pick your boxes, she’ll need a bit of luck from the seven with the early speed favourites around her, but she’s pretty strong late I think she can be in the finish.”

“She showed I her heat she has a bit of fight in her when things didn’t go her way she showed some guts to work into a place.”

Patterson is rapt with the bitches progress and said he couldn’t be happier to have a bitch with the potential to run in Group races for the foreseeable future.

“It’s the first time in several years I’ve had a dog with this kind of ability in a Group race at Albion Park and whether tomorrow night’s her night or not there will be more to come,” he said.

“The plan was to get her to the Futurity and we’ve done that, there’s plenty of good racing coming up at Albion Park and I’ll keep bringing her up the way she’s trending.”