Mcintosh breaks the 30 second barrier for first time

By Pat McLeod

Adam Mcintosh was rapt in winning the historic Eric Thomson Memorial at Albion Park on Thursday night, but the victory and $16,000 in prize money weren’t peaking his excitement.

The time, 29.85 seconds, certainly was.

“That is my first sub-30 second win at Albion Park,” he said after young speedster Golden Bear had taken out the feature.

“The grandmother (Cincinnati Juice) went 30.02 seconds, but for this dog to run that time in a race like this is very special.

“I'm really rapt with that run. Sensational. It is a special race, a feature, and to win it is just great.”

As caller, John ‘Bunny’ Brasch proclaimed as Golden Bear crossed five and a quarter lengths ahead of Hoshino (trained by Selena Zammit) and Cheers For Bella (Tony Apap), ‘this is a smart young dog’.

With just five starts to date, the Zambora Brockie and Golden Joy chaser is on a four-win streak.

However, Mcintosh was already ignoring the urge to think too far ahead.

“The danger is not to get too wrapped up in what might happen in the future,” Mcintosh said.

“If you do you will just come down in a thud. It is always in the back of your mind to have a good dog to compete in the good races, but I have thought that before and come unstuck.

“All the age restricted races are coming up now and we may as well have a go at them if the dog is fit and well. But, he is progressing, and there could be something coming up that suits him.

“He is going well and running a time like this, he will be competitive. I just think this dog will get better and better with experience.”

Mcintosh said Golden Bear would back up in a heat of the Capalaba Young Guns on Sunday.

“He will need a gallop so I will make use of the opportunity,” he said.

“He has trialed a couple of times at Capalaba before, but has never raced there.”

While Golden Bear jumped well and then powered to an early lead and commanding win, it was the polar opposite in Thursday night’s other feature, the Legacy Classic Final at ‘The Creek’.

Michael Lalicz’s Seaton Key just grabbed Magistrate (Greg Stella) with his final stride to claim the $12,025-to-the-winner prize.

Third was Sharyn Jackson’s Mr. Springtime.

“I was happy with where he was before the race because he has been racing well for the last month, but just racing without luck,” Lalicz said.

“Everything went well except for a bump at the first corner when I thought Magistrate was going to kick away.

“But, once he (Seaton Key) levelled up and he got a clear shot at the leader I was pretty confident that he would get him.

“Magistrate is a really good dog and hung on for all but a nose.

“Overall, I was pretty happy with the outcome and it is what I thought would happen. I presumed we would be coming from behind to get him.”

Lalicz said he was just beginning to work the Keybow and Bogie Princess chaser out.

He has been racing with the Northern NSW trainer since February after stints in kennels in North Queensland and Western Sydney.

He has had seven starts for Lalicz for two wins and five placings.

“He is fitting in really well,” Lalicz said.

Another Northern NSW kennel (Reg Gardoll and son Craig) celebrated a double on Thursday night, with the consistent Albert’s Memory and Watch the Franky both winning fifth grade 520 metre races.

Cyndie’s Cyndie’s spectacular run of eight wins came to a halt when she finished fourth to Mystical Beck (Karen Kleinhans) in a fifth grade 600 metre Final.