Sense of timing for Sunburst in Ipswich Cup

By Alex Nolan

Trainer Jedda Cutlack hopes a sense of timing, ideal draw and love of the Ipswich circuit can give Sunburst a career-defining win in Thursday’s $150,000 Group 2 TAB Ipswich Cup Final.

The shining star of the Sh Avatar and Sawadee litter, which also includes the likes of Showdown and Shaye, burst onto the scene in Queensland at the same time a year ago with a run of five-straight victories.

It was highlighted by a 6.5 length thrashing of Micks Recall in the Past Members Trophy over 630 metres on Ipswich Cup night.

Showdown contested the Cup Final as a $9 chance on the same night but Cutlack admits the kennel held no immediate ambitions to return with either greyhound 12 months later.

However, the Peter and Sonia Davis-owned Sunburst returns to the Showgrounds on Cup night 2022 in fine form, boasting a record of seven wins from 11 attempts at the track over the 520 metre trip.  

“I wouldn’t have said this time next year Sunburst should be in the Cup, but she loves Ipswich and even though the 600 is her ideal distance, she can begin well,” Cutlack said.

“With a lot of the dogs we do set goals for them but we’re a kennel that, if they’re sound dogs, we race week-to-week and if things pop up in the next month or so, you can plan towards them.

“With a race worth as much as the Ipswich Cup is, you put anything from the kennel in that you think would have a fair chance in the heats.  

“And, with her, at this time, it has just happened to work out.”

Sunburst recorded a personal-best 30.33 second effort over the 520 metres when she downed Fernando Grand in a mixed fourth and fifth grade event on September 17.

In the time since she has won twice more over 600 metres at Albion Park.

She returned to Ipswich last week and displayed her ability to do it at both ends, establishing a breakaway lead with Luminosity, before overpowering that chaser late to win her Cup heat in 30.58 seconds.

Sunburst enters the Final drawn ideally in box two, from which she is undefeated at Ipswich, and is a $4 fixed odds second-favourite with TAB.

Hara’s Herbie – drawn in box one for Jemma Daley – is the market leader at $2.30.

TAB traders on Tuesday reported a bet of $500 on Yuko Girl for trainer Sam Sultana, which has trimmed her quote up from $7 into $5.50.  

If Sunburst begins as she has in the past from box two at Ipswich, many suspect she has the toe to hold out her rivals and find the front again.

But, Cutlack was reluctant to rule out any scenario in the time-honoured feature, which is this year worth $100,000 to the winner.

“I try not to play the race out in my head because you can think of all the possibly ways it could, then something completely different happens,” she said.

“In a perfect world, I would like her to lead throughout, but whatever happens, is what will happen.”

Sunburst is one of 18 chasers contesting races over the next 48 hours for the Cutlack kennel, including four at Capalaba and five at Albion Park on Wednesday, plus nine entered for Ipswich on Thursday.

She’s Sweet and Chestnut Monelli appear likely to dominate betting in the Past Members Trophy over 630 metres, as they look to follow in Sunburst’s footsteps for Cutlack.

“We’ve had more dogs before but a lot of them were pups, so it doesn’t feel as busy at home as it has before but in terms of racing volume, yes, this is as busy as I’ve been,” she said.

But, to add a little more to the plate, Cutlack recently welcomed a herd of kids onto the property, of the goat variety, that is.

“They are adorable and we’ll make it work," Cutlack said.