Mark Partland aims for QGOLD glory

By Josh Spasaro

Table Topper’s dam, Nurse Meg, only had one start, but she was a ‘beautiful type’ who passed down good genes.

And, her three-year-old progeny has drawn ideally for owner John Jeffrey and trainer Mark Partland in the QGOLD Final at Townsville on Tuesday night.

Table Topper will start from box one.

Nurse Meg – who was trained by Tracey Parker and owned by Kevin Bryant – was by Fernando Bale and out of Fair Of Face.

Fair Of Face is the dam of the great Wow She’s Fast.

“She was a beautiful type. A Fernando Bale. A lot of Fernando Bale bitches are quite small,” Jeffrey said.

“She had a little wrist tendon injury, so she got one start. Then the decision was made to keep her for breeding.

“I didn’t breed her first litter, but I bred her second litter. There are quite a few out of the litter who have been reasonably competitive.

“A few there have won $40,000 or more so far. He’s (Table Topper) won $30,000. So, it’s been a consistent litter by Aston Rupee.

“She (Nurse Meg) was out of a fair litter. Being out of Fair Of Face, it was obvious she needed to go to the breeding barn.”

Before Table Topper’s heat last Tuesday night, South Townsville conditioner Mark Partland said he looked fit.

The chaser with 10 wins from 56 starts went on to finish fourth in 29.29 seconds behind winning dog Bogie Frank, who crossed the line in 28.65 seconds for Greta Thomson.

It was enough to qualify for the $15,680 decider over 498 metres, but Jeffrey knows he’ll have to step up on Tuesday night.

“He’s going to have to jump to be competitive. He’s drawn box one, which helps,” he said.

“He didn’t come out as good as we hoped last week. He’ll need to lead to win because he’s more suited over the shorter distance.

“But, if he gets out and can get a lead on them, he’s a chance.”

Jeffrey said there were no question marks over Table Topper’s ability.

It was just the 498 metre distance which has been a challenge for him.

Jeffrey is a trainer and breeder himself at Postman’s Ridge, outside Toowoomba.

“I think he’s a third or fourth grader over 380 metres up there. He’s been in that grade for some time now. And, he can run 21.6 seconds up there over the 380 metres,” Jeffrey said. 

“But, just the last 40 or 50 metres can find him out over 498 metres. But, we’re hopeful. He’s drawn perfectly, so I’m anticipating he’ll come out better than he did last week.

“If he does that he’ll lead. When you’re in front in any dog race, you’re a chance.”

Jeffrey echoed Partland’s observation that Table Topper was in a fit condition and he was pleased with his effort last start.

“He stuck at it from where he was. We’re just happy to get him into the race and give him a real chance,” he said.

“He’ll go into the race nice and fit. He’s certainly got nothing wrong with him and he’s a consistent type of dog.

“He’s won a fair few up there, so he’s definitely a hope, no doubt. He may even have a class edge on some of them.”

Meanwhile, Jeffrey said he was looking forward to seeing the progress of a new litter.

“I’ve got a litter of pups on the ground now out of Notification by Aussie Infrared. They’re about seven weeks old,” he said.

“There are six of those. That’s an exciting litter. Notification is a litter sister to Magistrate and she had a pretty solid race record as well.

“That’s her first litter, so we’re hopeful we’ll get something from that. I’ve got a few broodbitches here. I’m just waiting for a couple to come on season.”

And, Jeffrey has sent up two chasers to Partland.

“I sent up Fire Ricochet and Amber Annie. She’s been up there before, but she’s come off a season,” he said.

“She’s probably a length or two below. She can get over distance, but she struggled to win down here.

“So, we sent her back up. Fire Ricochet will do really well up there. He was competitive down here, so he’ll win some races up there.

“Mark and I have a pretty good relationship. We’ve been knocking around together for some years. Anything I’ve got down here that I want to send up there, he’ll take them.

“And, if he’s got ones getting out-graded or needing a change, he’ll send them down to me. So, it works well.”