Pretty Witch chasers to continue magic run

By Josh Spasaro

Carol and Greg Pickard are on a roll at the moment and they have plenty to look forward to with a bunch of first starters to jump at Townsville on Tuesday night.

They are litter siblings Jakari Benny, Jakari Zara, Jakari Vera and Jakari Jax. They are all set to make their debuts over 380 metres.

The 17-month-old chasers are by Tommy Shelby and out of Pretty Witch, who was trained by multiple Darwin premiership winner, Steele Bolton.

Top former Northern Territory conditioner Jamie Hosking is the owner of Pretty Witch. 

Hosking is now based at Churchable and is a good friend of the Pickards from their time in the Top End.

Pretty Witch was a top chaser in Darwin, with 20 career victories.

Greg Pickard said it was too early to tell if Pretty Witch was set for a bright future as a broodbitch.

“We’ve got nine dogs in the litter and there are no superstars in there yet,” he said.

“It’s a bit hard to tell. We’ve got to wait and see for them to mature.”

The Pickards have six of the eight dogs starting in the maiden race one at Townsville on Tuesday night.

Greg Pickard said Almighty Zeus and Send It Son - litter brothers by Aston Rupee and Waddling Witch - were the pick of his chasers in the race.

Waddling Witch also ran for Hosking and she has produced runners such as Slippery Witch (24 wins), Non Stop Tommy and Bantam Magic (19 wins each).

“She has thrown a few. They’re a different mob and they’re all a bit quirky, but when they mature, they’re good dogs,” Greg Pickard said.

The Deeragun-based Pickards oversaw a hat-trick at Townsville last week, with Moonlit Skies and Fireball Ernie among their winners.

They will start over 498 metres on Tuesday night.

“The one box helps Moonlit Skies, obviously. And, Ernie just draws the middle and hopes. That’s all he can do - he needs a good run through the field,” Greg Pickard said.

“And, the last couple he’s found that, so it’s been good. Moonlit Skies looks a strong little bitch. They’ll both go through the grades and be all right.

“Fireball Ernie is a bit one-paced, but he’ll just run and run. So, we’ll see down the track whether he can progress any further.”

The other last-start winner, Cocoa Express, will jump from box one over 380 metres.

“She’s a litter sister to Moonlit Skies, but she’s gone on a different path. She’s been a bit slower in getting up to 500 metres, but she’s another good animal,” Greg Pickard said.

“She’ll go through the grades.”

Colonel’s Ranger has six wins from 14 starts this campaign. The three-year-old bitch will start from box six in race eight over 380 metres.

“She prefers the outside boxes and she’s had nothing but twos and threes and she’s still done well,” Greg Pickard said.

“She looks good.”

And, Pickin’ Pixies takes two wins from her past five starts into the event over 380 metres, which is race four on the card at Townsville.

“From box two, we’ll see what she does. She prefers wide,” Greg Pickard said.

Fawn bitch Pickin’ Pixies turns three on December 1 and is by Aussie Infrared and out of Micks Recall.

It is the same litter that features strong performers Red Hot Penny, Lucky Time and Mick’s Belle.

Mick’s Belle has nine wins from 40 starts and she had her first start for Hosking at Q2 Parklands on Saturday night.

But, after training her to seven victories in Townsville, Greg Pickard said she will again enjoy success with Hosking, who oversaw her first two wins at Q1 Lakeside last year.

“She ran on Saturday night and came last, so that wasn’t a good start for her. But, she’ll go well,” Greg Pickard said.

“Jamie and I have a good working relationship. I get what I can out of the dogs and there are opportunities for him down there.

“That’s what it’s all about. They get a bit of maturity up here and then we send some down so they can race for better prizemoney.

“It works well. Jamie is going well with all the Micks Recalls and the whole litter he’s bred.

“He’s got quite a few running down there now.”

Greg Pickard said he and wife Carol were enjoying their current run of wins.

“We’ve had a few hat-tricks in Darwin and we had four the week before. We had three last week and four the week before,” he said.

“They’re just going well - the whole kennel is feeling well.”