Sloan keen to see if he has a Rising Star

By Pat McLeod

Self-proclaimed ‘amateur’ trainer David Sloan thought he had a very good chaser in Fill My Pockets, but then kennelmate Oliver Go went ‘bang’.

“I remember the race well, when Oliver announced himself,” recalls Sloan with a chuckle.

“It was just before Christmas on the Q2.

“I had Oliver and Fill My Pockets in the same race. Up until then I had thought that Fill My Pockets was the better dog.

“They jumped pretty much together and then bumped each other all the way down the back.

“Then, all of a sudden, Oliver went ‘bang’ and took off. I was rapt, but also really surprised because Fill My Pockets was in great form and that was the dog I expected to take off.

“But, that is the night Oliver said ‘see you later’ and really announced himself.”

The Aston Rupee and Nando Dreamer chaser has continued to take Sloan on an incredible ride, the highlight being a sizzling 29.43 second, nine-and-a-quarter-length victory on the Q2 on February 1.

He then also delivered Sloan his first ‘Thursday night’ win – another fifth-grade victory on the Q2 on February 19.

“That Thursday night win was special, but so is this dog,” the Churchable-based Sloan says.

“This is just my third-year training. I am still an amateur.

“The top trainers would have already forgotten more then I know.

“But, this dog has given me the chance to compete at that higher level.

“I don’t kid myself. I know I still have a lot to learn and this dog is making that learning curve pretty steep.”

Another Thursday night rolls around this week and so does another challenge for Sloan and Oliver Go on the Q2.

This time it is a heat of the $45,000, age-restricted Rising Stars over 520 metres.

Oliver Go has drawn the seven in the second of three heats, each dripping with precocious youngsters.

“For my dog, it is all about those first six seconds and how he gets through that first turn,” says Sloan.

“The draw doesn’t really worry me. He has won from the seven before.

“He is usually good out of the boxes, although that has been a bit hit-and-miss lately. He takes a few strides to muster, chases really hard and finds the line well.

“So, overall, he is a very good race dog, but he does seem to find trouble on that first turn.

“I guess what I love most about him is his chase.

“He is like that little brother that has been knocked over by his big brother, but will always get up and chase big brother all the way down the street.”

Oliver Go may have the equal fastest time (29.43 seconds with Tom Tzouvelis’ Zipping Urban) across the three heats over track and distance, but Sloan refuses to acknowledge any confidence going into this series.

“Of course I have a high opinion of my dog. He deserves that,” Sloan says.

“And, I believe, at some stage, he can go quicker than 29.43 seconds. 

“But, as far as this Thursday night goes, there are so many good young dogs in this race. If he gets a clear run, all things being even, I believe he can be up with them.

“But, as I said, the first six seconds will decide it for me.”