Hosking amazed at talent pool in Young Guns class

By Pat McLeod

Churchable trainer Jamie Hosking is rapt to have the coveted red box in Thursday night’s Brisbane Young Guns Final, but admits his talented speedster Non Stop Recall will need every advantage in one of the best ever versions of this annual feature.

After a recent run of wide boxes, his Fernando Bale and Micks Recall chaser will jump from box one.

However, Hosking remains amazed at the talent pool that he is immersed in.

“The amount of high-quality young dogs racing here at the moment is just unbelievable,” Hosking said.

“If you have a look at the Young Guns heats last Thursday night, every dog across those heats you would not be surprised to see in one of the upcoming feature Finals.

“These young dogs are really jumping out of the ground and I expect will be very competitive during this winter carnival.

“I can’t remember so many good quality young dogs being around at the same time.

“So many of them running under 30 seconds, you just look at the clock and go ‘wow’.

“And, they're only winning by a couple of lengths to another promising young dog.”

From Hosking’s home-bred litter and owned by two mates from Darwin, Non Stop Recall has showed plenty of promise in his 13 starts for four wins and five placings.

He ran an eye-catching second to heat winner Star Turn (trained by Jeff Crawford) last week, taking ground off the victor over the final 50 metres.

“My dog has won over 600 metres and he definitely does have a good run home in him, if he can get close enough,” Hosking explains.

“Early in his career, before he started racing, he was quite quick early, but in his starts so far he hasn't really been coming out very well.

“I hope he has been saving it for Thursday night. It is great to see him in the one box because he has had a shocking run of boxes recently.

“It is just really good to have a dog that can match it with the calibre of these dogs, that is why box one on Thursday night is such a big help.”

While Hosking says that every box on Thursday houses a potential winner, he pin-points Denise Robinson’s Say When Glen (box eight) as ‘the danger’.

“If Say When Glen gets around that first corner safely and is in striking distance, there are not too many dogs that could hold him out," Hosking said. 

“He is a major threat and his run home in the wet last week was just unbelievable.

“Chris Brydon's dog (Drink Tins) is probably the most reliable beginner. He will be out making his own luck and sometimes in these races that is all you have to do.

“It might be overly optimistic, but I am hoping Non Stop Recall can be close to the front early and if he gets through the corner safely, then you never know.

“He is an exciting dog to have. He has a best at Albion of 29.85 seconds; it is great to have a couple of mates involved; I trained the mother (Mick’s Recall) and bred the litter and reared them and they have been through all of their early systems at home.

“So, it is always rewarding to have a nice one come through.”

Thursday night’s Albion Park program also includes the popular annual Winged Runner Trophy Final over 520 metres.