Lound says Gigantor can emulate Jackknifed at Townsville

By Josh Spasaro

Robert Lound believes Gigantor is capable of hitting a patch of form just like his litter brother Jackknifed going into race eight at Townsville on Tuesday night.

The eighth event on the card will be run over 498 metres and be worth $4,880.

The three-year-old Gigantor has looked promising in recent starts, winning at the North Queensland venue on July 22, before fighting hard for third place a week later.

“He ran over the top (to win on July 22). He was coming back from injury (after finishing third in his last start)," Lound said.

“It is a good field.”

Litter brother Jackknifed has won three of his past four starts.

Gigantor – with nine wins from 38 races – is by prolific sire Beast Unleashed and out of Ruby Girl.

“He’s picked up a lot of traits from Beast Unleashed,” Lound said.

“He’s a very handy dog and his full brother’s up here in Townsville. His name is Jackknifed. He’s owned by Greta Thomson.”

Despite Tuesday night’s field not being short on quality chasers, Lound believes his dog can be competitive from box two.

“He (Gigantor) is in with a chance,” Lound said.

“Box two, I don’t mind that. But, he goes well from out wide in the eight.”

The experienced conditioner believes Cool Bananas for Mark Partland from box one and Federal Remark for Brad Belford from box eight are the chasers to beat.

Cool Bananas has saluted on 19 occasions from 79 starts for $78,770 in prizemoney to date and Federal Remark has won his past three consecutive starts.

The three-year-old has recorded an impressive 32 wins from 72 starts for $117,695 in stakes earnings to date.

“I think his main dangers are the one dog and the eight dog,” Lound said. 

The 67-year-old Lound, based at Jensen, currently trains 19 dogs.

He said he was also happy with Sugar Hit Lenny, who turns five this month and has saluted on 15 occasions from 79 starts.

Sugar Hit Lenny won his last race by one-and-a-half lengths over 380 metres at Townsville on July 25.

He also likes the way four-year-old dog Lush Ice has been chasing, with 12 victories from 84 races.

Lound – who has been a conditioner for over 30 years – said racing in Townsville was presently of a high standard.

“We’re competitive," he said.