Opposites chase Ipswich Cup glory

By Josh Spasaro

Blue Blend and Validate are from the same dam line and both are building outstanding careers with polar opposite personalities.

Lakeside Cup and QGOLD Winter Sprint champion Blue Blend lives to race, while Validate, who won the QGOLD Winter Chase, likes to stay calm and in control.

Despite their different approaches, both are on fire for Jeff Crawford heading into the Ipswich Cup heats over 457 metres at Q1 Lakeside on Thursday night.

Sealin’ The Deal is their great-granddam.

“Kiss And Cut is the mother of Blue Blend and Validate’s mother is Strike Her Pose. They’re actually the same dam line, in that they trace back to the same maternal side,” in-form trainer Crawford said.

Crawford won last month’s Rockhampton Cup with Star Turn.

“With different sire lines they’ve got different fathers. For both, the dam line is known for throwing chase and ferocity," Crawford said.

“That’s particularly the case with Blue Blend – he’s just a full-on chasing animal. And, Validate is probably a more reserved and laidback type of dog.

“Blue Blend is all business. He’s on the go. By the time you get him out of his kennel, he’s up on his back legs and he just wants to get there straight away. He’s a handful, but it’s a good way to be.”

After a six-month break following his Lakeside Cup victory on November 6 last year, Blue Blend has certainly lost none of his speed or chasing desire.

The blue dog by Hooked On Scotch and out of Kiss And Cut, who turns three next Tuesday, was magnificent in his QGOLD Winter Sprint Final victory last start on May 9.

He jumped cleanly from box five and established a big early lead before the turn for home, lengthening in convincing fashion over kennelmate and runner-up Star Turn.

Crossing the line in 24.87 seconds, the size of the win did not surprise Crawford.

“No. For him, it’s all about the box rise. If he can jump and put himself in a position, he can really open up his shoulders and put on a show with his ability,” he said.

“He was able to do that early on. As soon as he got outside the leader, his kennelmate Star Turn, it really was going to be about times and margins.

“I was very impressed with the way he found the line and the time he did overall in doing it.

“He’s that type of dog on his day. He really put that race to bed quite early.”

Crawford said he was happy Blue Blend drew box one for the third Ipswich Cup heat on Thursday night.

“Box one is going to help him come out. He’s just got to be able to hold a position,” he said.

“The dogs can all carve down to the rail from where the boxes are on the track. And, if you don’t hold your position, you get shuffled back.

“So, we want to be able to punch up and be vying for the lead or sitting in behind the leader and get our opportunity further into the race.”

Validate finished last in his most recent start over 600 metres at Q2 Parklands last Thursday night.

But, that was because he found himself in early traffic and couldn’t recover.

The Aston Rupee and Strike Her Pose chaser has won two of his past four starts, including the QGOLD Winter Chase Final over 550 metres at Q1 Lakeside on May 9.

Crawford said he was hopeful his three-year-old black dog would be passed fit for Thursday night’s assignment, where he will jump from box eight in a hot fourth Ipswich Cup heat field.

“I put him in hopeful that he’ll be able to make the race. All indications are that he will,” he said.

“He’s actually boxed OK, but there’s a lot of depth to that race. Grevillea has come back from an injury in fine form and was the track record holder for quite a while, until Validate broke it.

“Gold Force has been trialling the house down, Eriza Sparkles is an absolute quality dog and you really can’t put a pen through Miss Bear, who’s in career form.

“There’s a lot of depth in all the races. It’s really hard to discount any of the chances in any of the heats. They’re all quality dogs.”

Meanwhile, Crawford will head to Gunnedah for the Chief Havoc Cup heats on Sunday, with the Final worth $40,000 on June 7.

Star Turn and his brother, Strut, have been nominated.

Validate is from the same Aston Rupee and Strike Her Pose litter.

“They’re quality dogs, but they’re probably not at their best on the one-turn circuit. So, I thought I might spread my wings and not put all my eggs in one basket,” Crawford said.