Early setbacks are no obstacle to Hosking’s Rising Star

By Pat McLeod

Jamie Hosking’s ‘comeback queen’, Jen’s Joy, continues to emerge as a genuine summer carnival threat, powering through to next Thursday night’s Final of the $45,000 Group 3 Rising Stars at Albion Park.

Despite a less than perfect start to her heat at ‘The Creek’ on Thursday night, the Aussie Infrared and Eight Green Cans chaser stormed home to relegate Tom Tzouvelis’s pair, Pursuer (second) and Scarlatti (third).

Jen’s Joy, who has made a sensational comeback after an injury at her fourth start in April this year, showed that her third in the Group 1 Ipswich Gold Cup last week was far from inflated form.

However, she will face a talented field in the $30,000 to-the-winner Rising Stars Final.

Leading that challenge is slick Sydney youngster Overflow Beau (trained by Craig Chappelow), who collected his seventh win in 12 starts in 30.15 seconds, which equalled Jen’s Joy’s time.

Brent Kline’s experienced, and successful, Carton Of Bear, continued his ultra-consistent form, remaining tough to win his heat and Renald Attard’s Mrs Musgrave caused a minor upset by claiming the fourth heat win.

Hosking said he was a bit worried for Jen’s Joy’s hopes when she was slow out of the boxes.

“I did not like my chances down the back because there were some pretty good dogs in that race,” Hosking said.

“But, she got through.

“Definitely there is room for confidence going into the Final because she has shown that she can match it with some pretty good dogs over the past few weeks.

“As long as she can come out of the boxes a bit better, she should go alright. Everything else she ticks, it is just the start I would like to see improve.”

Sydney’s Chappelow said while he rates Overflow Beau, Thursday night’s win through to the Final was a bonus.

“He is a very smart dog and has always shown a lot of ability,” Chappelow said.

“That is why we have tried to take him to some of these age races. This race was a bit of a lead up to the (Queensland) Derby (Final at Albion Park on January 4).

“The fact that he has made it through to this Final is a bonus.

“He had a little bit of a setback after his last race in Sydney, an injury to a back leg. So, he was a little bit underdone to be honest. He will improve with a look at the track.”

Kline said there was plenty to like about Carton Of Bear’s gritty heat win in 30.30 seconds over Darren Russell’s Pringle Tiger and Tzouvelis’s Tagovailoa.

“The positive thing about that win was the way he went about it,” Kline said. 

“He did not have the race his way, but the way that he fought on until the end is what we want to see him do.

“I was very happy with that run. It takes a pretty talented dog to get across and win from there (box seven). So, we will take that one for sure.

“I am not too worried about the time because I know he can go quicker.”

Experienced South East Queensland trainer Renald Attard wasn’t surprised with his Mrs. Musgrave’s heat win.

“She is a pretty smart bitch,” Attard said.

“She is quick and has broken 30 seconds here at Albion. That was her 11^th start and she now has five wins and two placings. She is mad for the fence, but hasn’t drawn the red yet.

“I have a very high opinion of her. She didn't start well tonight, which has been a problem for her.

“So hopefully she can get an inside draw and a better start in the Final. She is very strong, so if she is near them she is a real chance.”

The first two placed dogs from each of the four heats will go through to the Final and there were some interesting second placings.

After showing plenty of potential in his first 13 starts, all up the Capalaba straight, Douglas Gladman’s Hudson Bay looked impressive in his second to Mrs. Musgrave.

The Bernardo and Ally Oop Keats youngster came across well from box eight, took the lead early in the back straight and just faded late.

Also through is strong 600 metre dog Bogie Hurricane (Ryan Ayre).

The Keybow and Bogie Lilly chaser trekked through the field from last before a lightning last 50 metres took him to just a length behind the victorious Overflow Beau.