Capalaba is placing Satoshi on road to glory

By Pat McLeod

The Capalaba straight track may not deliver Satoshi a ‘welcome back’ feature win on Sunday, but trainer Ben McCarthy hopes it may put the one-time star juvenile on the path to Queensland Golden Greys Summer Racing Carnival success at The Q.

The Jungle Deuce and Dynamite Lucy chaser continues his careful return from injury in Sunday’s Capalaba Derby Final.

McCarthy is cautiously optimistic about the post-injury prospects of the 2025 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden champion but says expecting success against Sunday’s class opposition is a step too far.

“His return from injury is going well and it has been a case of putting him up the straight to get his strength and fitness back,” the trainer said.

“He is getting better each run back. I am definitely happy with his return to racing and certainly happy that the injury is holding up. So, that is the main thing for me, just seeing him come back as best he can.

“I didn’t target the Derby, it just happened to be there when he was making his return to racing and I thought ‘why not’.

“He is certainly up against some pretty stiff competition on Sunday. Most of the others have run the times and have been on this track a fair bit. I am not going there with any great expectations.

“On the day, if he gets out of the boxes well enough, then he will certainly put up a fight. But, with this field you can't be expecting to win it, but we are in it.”

Premier Queensland trainer Tom Tzouvelis, whose career-best form isn’t fading, stands out as the major obstacle on Sunday.

He has two entries in the Derby event and two in the Futurity. He originally had three in the Derby. However, outstanding youngster Armarta has been scratched.

Tzouvelis’ standout in the Derby is Capalaba Cup champion Secret Story (box eight).

“There are a lot of very good dogs in the Derby, but Secret Story is the main threat,” said McCarthy.

“Secret Story has won a bunch of features at Capalaba this year and is a quality dog.”

McCarthy said Satoshi’s sometimes questionable box form would be the big decider for him on Sunday.

“He has the four box on Sunday and that is OK,” he said.

“As usual it will depend on how he starts and what everybody else does.

“If he is able to start reasonable, then that will give him a straight run onto the bunny.

“If he doesn't get chopped out, he will have a fair crack at them, but I am not holding my breath against this field.”

McCarthy said Sunday’s fourth Capalaba start since the dog’s racing comeback would be his last there before a return to The Q.

“Right now, he is getting back to about as good as he can be and the straight track has been a major reason for that and it has probably improved his box manners,” he said.

“I feel that after his last run at Capalaba he pulled up a lot better, so he is getting right back into his fitness.

“As far as the summer carnival goes at The Q, it is still a wait and see process. I am just going week-to-week with him.   

“After this Derby Final, I will be heading back over to The Q and he (Satoshi) will just tell us if he is going good enough, if he’s ready to go.

“If he is going well, then of course I will have a go at carnival races, for sure.

“His great start to his career and the times he was running showed that he really liked the Ipswich track.

“That form didn't really transfer to The Q straight away. But, hopefully, he is maturing and we will get him back there and time will tell.”