Tarawi Buster can handle strong Golden Ticket heat field

By Josh Spasaro 

Whether it’s a straight track, various distances on a circle or match racing, Tarawi Buster is adaptable.

So adaptable that Jimboomba trainer Jayson Valentine thinks he is the most multi-talented chaser he has had in his kennels.

The three-year-old dog will need every bit of this nous when he steps out from box three in the first Golden Ticket heat over 520 metres at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

“He’s the most versatile dog I’ve ever had in the kennel. I can start him next week over the 300 metres and he’ll probably win,” Valentine said.

“He’s just that type of dog. He handles every distance because he gives you 110 percent every time he steps out. He’s so versatile it’s not funny.”

Tarawi Buster has won his past three starts – on different tracks – in a variety of ways.

Last start over 550 metres at Q1 on January 3, he began well from the one box and extended a big gap approaching the home turn, before comfortably saluting by two lengths and in a time of 30.45 seconds.

He blitzed his second sectional in a time of 4.85 seconds, in a race which featured 2024 Ipswich Cup champion, and a victor of a Golden Sands heat last week, Autumn Storm.

Validate holds the track record at 30.18 seconds for Jeff Crawford over that distance, which was set on December 6.

“Considering he (Tarawi Buster) hasn’t even trialled over that distance or looked at those boxes over the 550 metres, he broke the second sectional record,” Valentine said.

“I knew he’d get a little bit tired, but he was just over 0.2 seconds off the track record first look and he’s only improved since then.

“His trials leading up into Thursday night have been really good. He’s cherry ripe.”

In the Christmas Stocking Final over 520 metres at Q2 on Boxing Day, Tarawi Buster missed the start, but quickly moved up to be fourth at the first turn.

Rounding the turn for home, he took the lead and went on to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

“He missed the kick,” Valentine said.

“To pick them up on the corner and leave them standing it was enormous.”

And, three starts back over 366 metres on the straight track at Capalaba, Tarawi Buster flashed home to overtake Zipping Choi – who led by two lengths – inside the final 50 metres and prevail by a length.

Valentine said straight track racing has only made his dog a smarter chaser.

“His first ever start was at Albion Park and he should’ve won by panels. And, he got (held up in congestion) on the home turn,” he said.

“So, I thought after that ‘we’ll go to the straight racing’. 

“We thought early he’d probably run 400 metres, that’d be it. But, with the straight racing it’s done him the world of good at an early age. We’ve just been taking our time with him and now he’s really showing what he’s capable of.”

In a four-dog match race on Thursday night, Valentine said it did not matter that Tarawi Buster drew the three box.

“He’s got space and he’s up against dogs who know what they’re doing. They’re Group dogs, so they should give themselves the room they all need,” he said.

“And, the best dog on the night will win. He absolutely won’t embarrass us. They’ll be calling his name on the home turn at one stage, I can guarantee you.”

With 22 wins from 60 starts, Valentine added he could not have his Oaks Road and Anna Cotton chaser in a better condition for the first Golden Ticket heat, which is worth $11,140.

“And, if he’s good enough, they’ll definitely know he’s here,” he said.

“He’s up against no slouches, but he is going really good at this stage.

“The match racing format is going to suit him right down to the ground. With this dog when he gets through, he can run you some sectionals. He’s a serious animal when he’s got room.”

Valentine said Sooty Keeping, who is under the care of Tony Brett, would be tough to beat from box seven on Thursday night.

“I looked at the field when it came out, and I thought to myself ‘oh, wow’,” Valentine said.

“But, I went through the form and I thought ‘he’s on par with these dogs if you go through their times, and I know he can run those times’.

“Sooty Keeping absolutely would be my main worry in this. The best dog will win it.

“But, they’ll all get their room and show what they can actually do.”