All Hands Off delivers a warning to Golden Easter Egg hopefuls

By Isaac Murphy

Peter Ruetschi was described by his training peers as a larger-than-life character and when he tragically passed in 2017, he left a gaping hole in the sport.

However, the industry has never forgotten his contribution and the Albion Park Club, and carry on his legacy with the annual running of the Best 8 Peter Ruetschi Memorial, where last night Fred Swain’s All Hands Off was a worthy winner of the 2021 edition.

All Hands Off made a winning return from a four-month layoff a fortnight ago, running the time of the night and went even better this week turning the tables on a game Speranza for Brian Baker and giving Swain plenty of confidence she can go to new heights.

“My biggest concern when she came back was, she would lose a bit on the run home but seeing that 12.47 come up tonight is just what I want to see,” Swain said.

“With that run tonight she’s probably telling me she’s back even better than she was before her injury layoff.

“She’s run good time here but never down in the 29.66 range on a night where nothing else has broken 30 seconds.”

Swain was all set for a tilt at last year’s Million Dollar Chase - winning the Lismore regional final in fine style - but unfortunately never got a crack at the big race, and the trainer is keen to atone with a Group 1 tilt in the works.

“Her main goal is the Golden Easter Egg in five or so weeks, so we’ll probably come back for another run or two and then get down to Wentworth Park a week before the heats to see the track,” he said.

“She’s trialled there before when she was set for the Million Dollar Chase and went really well but unfortunately was injured soon after.

“She’s a very smart race bitch that can think on her feet I don’t think she’ll have any trouble at the track and she’ll finally get the chance to test herself against the best.”

Siblings light up the staying races

It was a stunning night over the staying trips for brother and sister Burnt Ends and Kooringa Lucy, with the progeny of Fernando Bale and Mitcharlie Mia taking out the 700 and 600-metre events respectively.

Both dogs hail from the Northern Rivers and it was Burnt Ends who was finally rewarded with a 700-metre win, something kennel representative Donna Pezet never thought she’d see.

“Early on we probably had him pegged as a sprinter, he was winning races over the short course with good box speed and we gradually got him up to the 500,” Pezet said.

“He was running home really well over the 500 down at home and the 630-metre race at Casino came up and we thought we’d give him a go and he came away with a track record.

“We brought him to Albion Park, and he was pinging from the 600 lids like he’d been at it his whole life, unfortunately we lucked out in the Golden Sands Final, but he was still in great order so we pushed on.”

The dog qualified for the Listed Gold Cup Final, not taking a backward step against some of the country’s best stayers.

“We were so proud of him when he went with Sir Truculent and Sunset Bourbski in the Gold Cup, we thought he could lead but the way he fought back late was terrific,” Pezet said.

“He’s a dog who loves doing his own thing out in front and he hasn’t been able to do that the last couple of times out but has shown enough to press on.

“The four-dog field obviously helped tonight, but he couldn’t be more deserving of a win and he’s done well to break 42 seconds (41.96) on a track that’s probably not as hot as a few weeks ago.”

It was over to his sister Kooringa Lucy - who’s under the care of Selena and Mick Zammit - and she showed plenty of traits her brother would have been proud of, blousing them over the 600-metre distance.

“We knew she was going to run 600 before we got her, some of her runs at Lismore and Casino were massive, we haven’t had to do a whole lot with her - it’s been a very natural step,” Mick Zammit said.

“She’s still a fifth grader so we’ll be back for another crack next week, and when we knock that off we might even start to think about the 700 metres.

“We saw what her brother can do over the 700 tonight, we might step her up in the next few weeks then freshen her up for the Winter Carnival.”

Louis ready to rumble

It was a night for gun litters, with Steve Kavanagh rugging up Group 3 Vince Curry winner Rumble Ranger for the first time at Albion.

However, he was upstaged by his Fernando Bale/Joyce Rumble-bred brother Louis Rumble who made it five wins from seven starts at track and trip.

“They’re pretty even ability wise, they both made the final of the Lismore Maiden, but Louis Rumble won his heat, so he was ineligible for the Vince Curry,” Kavanagh said.

“Louis was going great, so we gave him a few trials and got him up over the 500 and he races like an old veteran well away, quick middle-section and getting better home.

“He ran 29.72 here the night of the Golden Ticket, he went faster than Tommy Shelby that night and he’s the Australian Cup favourite - I’ve got aspirations for him.”

It wasn’t Rumble Ranger’s night as for the first time in his career he wasn’t a tearaway leader, but he’ll live to fight another day.

“I’ve taken it very easy with Rumble Ranger since the Vince Curry, that’s a hard three weeks of racing and he needed a freshen up,” he said.

“I’m confident he’ll go well here in time, he needed to lead tonight and didn’t quite get there from box seven - he still ran on well.

“He’ll have another crack at the Novice next week and inside box would help but he has the speed to win from anywhere when he gets It right.”