Mind games the biggest battle for Thompson and Pelorus

Cover picture: Caught In The Act Photography CQ

By Josh Spasaro

Juanita Thompson believes that if Pelorus has her mind on the job in the Peter Hare Memorial QGold Heat at Rockhampton on Wednesday night, she will be hard to beat.

But sometimes that is a case of ‘easier said than done’.

The two-year-old bitch will start from box eight in the race worth $3,300 and over 407 metres.

“It depends what mood she’s in. She has a mind of her own,” Thompson said.

Pelorus drove through the pack and finished strongly to win by three-quarters of a length and in a time of 23.94 seconds over the same distance in her last start on September 7.

But Thompson, based at her 25-acre property at Tungamull, just east of Rockhampton, with husband Clinton, said a catching pen incident last year has played on the dog’s mind a little.

“When she first started as a maiden and novice, she was running 23.60s,” she said.

“She unfortunately she was involved in an incident in the catching pen.

“It took us months to get her back racing.

"She didn’t race very much between October-November last year through to nearly February.”

Even after a couple of victories, Pelorus was sidelined for a month each for not pursuing.

“She started again, and then she got a failure to pursue because she was pulling up before the finish post,” Thompson said.

“And she’s good now. She’s going all the way into the catching pen.

“She’s got the ability, but it’s just taken so long to get her confidence back.”

Pelorus has recorded eight wins from 42 starts, and Thompson believes her best is still in front of her if she can get her mind right.

“I think she’s still got a lot to show,” she said.

“And she’s still only young. She’s only just over two and a half now.”

The Central Queensland conditioner said Pelorus would not mind starting from the eight box at 10pm on Wednesday night.

“The eight box won’t worry her one bit. She’s the type of dog who will go from anywhere,” Thompson said.

“She’s not a dog who needs inside, or outside. She’ll jump from anywhere.

“I don’t think we’ll see the real her until she’s closer to three.

“She’s got the ability to jump from anywhere and to run from anywhere. I think if she’s out in the eight, if she does miss the jump she’ll go around them.”

By Group 2 winner Aussie Infrared and out of Sequana, who won on 26 occasions from 51 starts, Thompson said Pelorus was a tough chaser with a fantastic attitude.

“She’s a tough little girl. She’s never had an injury. She’s very easy to maintain,” she said.

“She just rocks up. We get her muscles checked and she’s fine.

“She’s very easy in that aspect.”

Pelorus also lives for the races.

“It’s crazy getting her out of the kennels. She’ll clean up anyone’s legs,” Thompson said.

“If we’re at the kennels at the races and I’m getting her out, I’ve got to make sure the kennel attendant lets me know the hallway is clear before I get her out.

“She’ll spin, jump, buck and carry on. That’s just getting her out of the kennel.

“When we first got her, best way to describe her – she was like a bull coming out of the chute.”

The Peter Hare Memorial QGold Heat is a strong field.

Riding Solo for Amber Boody and Miss Bella Blue for Christine Pollard carry three and two consecutive wins each going into the sprint feature.

“Getting out of the boxes and getting to that first corner is the biggest thing,” Thompson said.

“There are some very handy dogs in Rocky at the moment.

“Mick Boody has got some good young ones coming on, and Steve Scott has always got some handy dogs.

“It looks like Steve and Mick have got the most dogs (across the three QGold Heats).”