Sketchy Story draws inspiration from scenery change

By Josh Spasaro

Carlin Wendt believes the key to Sketchy Story’s form has been simple – give him a regular change of scenery.

It has done the trick, with the three-year-old dog finishing in the top three in all five starts so far this preparation.

“He’s an extremely happy animal and I think the key to him is just switching it up every now and then,” the 26-year-old conditioner said.

“He’s been to the Q Straight and back to Capalaba. He tends to go a bit stale if you go to the same place over and over again with him. So, switching it up has been good for him.”

Starting from box two, Sketchy Story will take his consistent form into the second Michael Miller Memorial heat at Capalaba on Sunday.

“I think he’s drawn the wrong side of the track. But, he’s the type of dog who tries his guts out every time he goes to the track,” Wendt said.

“And, I think he’s racing at his best at the moment. So, he’ll try and if he’s good enough, he’ll be there at the finish.”

Indeed, Sketchy Story finished strongly in his last start, holding out Entertaining for Chris Brydon to triumph by half-a-length in 19.94 seconds.

“It was quite a good dog who he beat, so I was quite impressed with that,” Wendt said.

Wendt, based at Postmans Ridge near Toowoomba, said he had plans to race his Shima Shine and Ice Cream Story chaser back on a circle track soon.

“He goes good on the circle too, but he’s had some injuries,” he said.

“So, we’ve been trying to bring him back. He’ll eventually go on a circle track. But, while he’s finishing so well on a straight line, I figured, why change what isn’t broken?”

Sketchy Story has 11 wins from 58 starts for almost $38,000 in career prizemoney.

He is the full litter brother of Capalaba Cup champion Secret Story, who finished runner-up to Big Al’s in the Queensland Straight Track Championship Final last Sunday.

“It’s been a miraculous litter, to be honest,” Wendt said.

“Ice Cream Story has been a really good producer and they’ve all been really good.”

Wendt will also have Drink Mickeys jump from box one in the fifth Michael Miller Memorial heat at Capalaba on Sunday.

The fellow three-year-old, by Flying Ricciardo and out of Drink Moet, will make his first start for the young trainer this weekend, after being transferred from Dean Clarson’s kennels.

He fought hard to get fourth in his last start at Capalaba last Sunday, crossing the line in a respectable time of 19.79 seconds.

“He’s another dog who just tries his guts out every time he goes to the races,” Wendt said.

“I was going to put him in a Masters, but he ran 19.79 seconds just last week. He probably deserves a chance in a race like this. He’s older, but he still tries.”

Wendt said he was happy to take Drink Mickeys from Clarson. The black dog has 12 wins from 94 career starts.

He is the litter brother of Rockhampton Cup runner-up Drink Tins and turns four on November 22.

“Dean gave me a buzz because he’s got a lot of pups coming through,” Wendt said.

“Because Drink Mickeys is getting up there in age, he couldn’t really sit around waiting to race in the later Masters races with a dog each week.

“So, he called me up and asked if I was interested in training the dog. I’ve got older and younger dogs, so it was going to work in with the way I train the dogs to have an extra Masters dog in the kennel. And, to help out Deano.”