Cutlack to be patient with siblings out of her former chaser

By Josh Spasaro

Park Ridge trainer Jedda Cutlack says she’ll need to show some patience when it comes to the maturity of her litter siblings Racketeering and Smoky Chipotle.

The 19-month-old dogs will start from box one and two, respectively, in an event worth $3,700 and over 366 metres at Capalaba on Sunday.

Smoky Chipotle was an impressive winner in his third start last weekend, saluting by two-and-a-quarter lengths and crossing the line in 20.30 seconds.

But, the 30-year-old Cutlack said she needed to give him time to develop mentally.

“He and the whole litter are very immature at this stage,” she said.

“They’re going to be a labour of love, I think. I’ll have to stick it out with them. They’re only going to get better.

“It would’ve been lovely for them to start off superstars, but that’s not the case.

“But, they are young. So, with time and a bit of maturity, hopefully we’ll see the best of them later on.”

Despite his immaturity, Cutlack was impressed with Smoky Chipotle’s last-start victory, with 18-month-old bitch Hara’s Squash winning the other heat of the maiden series in a slightly quicker time of 20.27 seconds for Jemma Daley. 

Smoky Chipotle began well from box three, cut across the field to the outside and finished strongly.

“He’s beginning well there. (His chances are) fairly strong. The winner of the other heat did go a touch faster than him on Sunday,” Cutlack said.

“But, hopefully he just maintains his good habits and improves a bit.

“If he’s in front then he can get to the position he wants to be in, hopefully without anyone being in his way.”

Cutlack was also happy with Smoky Chipotle’s first two starts, finishing third on both occasions.

He displayed courage on debut at Capalaba on July 13.

“He does chase very hard, that one,” she said.

Racketeering and Chipotle are both by Group 1-winner Hooked On Scotch and out of Cutlack’s former consistent chaser Sunburst, who picked up 27 wins from 89 starts for almost $200,000 in prizemoney.

“You can’t be too harsh on them. Sunburst came to us after not having the best start in her career,” she said.

“And, the older she got, the better she got. So, I’m hoping they’re similar to their mother in that respect.”

Cutlack said it will be interesting to see how Racketeering performs from the one box after his only three career starts have been from either the seven or eight lane.

He finished third in the second heat, crossing the line in 20.52 seconds and three-and-a-half lengths behind Hara’s Squash, at Capalaba last Sunday.

“He’s had three starts there and he’s always drawn the outside,” Cutlack said. 

“He does like to run straight, so it’ll be interesting to see what he’ll do off the one.”