Box manners are key to He Played One’s golden future

By Josh Spasaro

He Played One has three wins from 24 starts, but all it takes is a better jump at box rise and more victories will come his way.

That is the opinion of trainer Scott Atkinson, who will oversee his two-year-old dog starting in the third QGOLD heat over 380 metres at Townsville on Tuesday night.

He Played One saluted by two-and-a-half lengths over the same distance on April 17, crossing the line in 21.89 seconds.

After he took the lead before the turn for home, the Fernando Bale and Nicmac Paddywack chaser did not look like losing.

“He’s a beautiful natured dog. If he can jump a bit better, I think he’ll win a lot more,” Atkinson said.

“He’s a very good chaser and always tries. I just need him to jump a little bit better.

“I stepped him up to 500 metres. He had a couple of seconds. He just couldn’t quite run it out, but I put him back to the 380 metres.

“That paid dividends.”

Atkinson believes He Played One could have also finished higher than fifth if he had a bit of luck and didn’t find early congestion last Friday.

“He’s been racing pretty well lately. He was a bit unfortunate on Friday,” he said.

“But, I’m quietly confident he can make the (QGOLD) Final.”

The young dog will have the benefit of starting from box two on Tuesday night.

“I think the one, Shian Peaches, will be hard to beat. I’m hoping he just gets in behind her and follows her around from box two,” Atkinson said.

In a competitive Townsville racing scene, Atkinson said he had not dismissed starting He Played One again over 498 metres in the future.

“I’ll probably just keep him at 380 metres for a little bit and see how he goes there,” he said.

“Hopefully he goes up the grades at 380 metres and when he gets up there, I’ll probably put him back over 500 metres.

“It’s extremely competitive and it has been for quite a while, for a good 18 months to two years.”

The Townsville-based Atkinson – who celebrated Anzac Day on the weekend as an Army veteran electrician who served for 15 years – said He Played One was starting to mature after overcoming a toe injury early in his career.

“It seems to have healed up pretty well. He had that little setback in about his 10th start,” he said.

“I’m fairly hopeful. He’s starting to switch on and know what it’s all about.”