Calico Bluff given last-minute Capalaba Grand Prix call-up

By Josh Spasaro

Jayson Valentine only nominated Calico Bluff at the last minute for the Capalaba Grand Prix Heats this Sunday, but he has no shortage of confidence that his chaser can compete in a quality field.

The promising two-year-old has registered three wins from his past three starts up the straight at that venue, including a very impressive 19.76 seconds over 366 metres last Sunday.

Calico Bluff’s heat will also be over 366 metres, which is race six on the card, and he will start from box eight.

“Going there (Capalaba Grand Prix) was literally a last-minute decision. They called for noms twice, and we left it to the last minute,” Valentine said.

“He’s gone two best-of-the-days on a track that’s not really fast - 19.76 last time with a 13.67 run home.”

Jimboomba conditioner Valentine conceded Straight of Origin winner Daysea’s Rory – to start from box three for Tom Tzouvelis – would be tough to beat.

“He (Calico Bluff) is going to be competitive, absolutely. Up against Daysea’s Rory, it’s a big ask,” he said.

“But I think he’s a 19.50 dog up there, and if he’s going to do that soon enough, then we’ll see.

“If not, we’ll just go from there. He’s definitely up for it.”

Calico Bluff has exhibited good speed through the middle part of his trip – before a dashing turn of foot over the final 50 metres – in each of his past three starts for victories.

“I’m happy he’s drawn the eight. My boy can be a little bit tardy early, but his midsection and run home is really strong,” Valentine said.

“Top three we’re aiming for, and I think we’ll do it. He’s got a lot of scope this dog – he’s really just learning how to race.

“It takes him about 50 metres to get going, and once he gets going he hits the afterburners.

“He can maintain that speed, and the 13.67 run home last week with a headwind on that track shows he definitely has a motor.”

Calico Bluff won the Future Stars Maiden Final for Adam Jones at Maitland in his fifth start on December 6, before running for the first time for Valentine on June 1.

This followed a 72-day spell, when Valentine was quick to identify that his juvenile chaser needed some straight racing.

“The dog came up in good nick. Overweight because he had a lot of time off,” he said.

“We found a few little niggles with him, nothing major. But as I said to the owner (Ian Lambert) before he came up, I think this dog needs a lot of straight racing to harden him up.

“He agreed to that, so this is where we are. But we haven’t tested him on the circle yet.

“So that’ll be the interesting one.”

Calico Bluff is by Group 1-winner Feral Franky and out of Absolute Stella, who won five races from 10 starts.

With this pedigree, Valentine sees no shortage of raw talent in his young chaser, who has four wins from nine races.

“What I’ve found with the Ferals is they’re very smart dogs. I’ve got three others in the kennel, and they do take a little bit to come to hand,” he said.

“But once they work it all out, they’re very smart dogs. He’s the same. He’s still a pup in the mind, so to speak.

“But he’s got a load of ability. How much? Only time will tell.

“The speed is in the pedigree, absolutely. Beautiful kennel dog. Just a lot of upside on him.

“And being only (nine) starts, I think he’ll only get better.”