Aston Missile to fire in Ipswich Derby

By Josh Spasaro

After just one start in Queensland, Aston Missile has already lived up to his name.

He was way too quick in his Ipswich Derby heat at Q1 Lakeside, winning by seven lengths and registering the fastest time of 24.94 seconds.

It didn’t surprise top trainer Michelle Sultana.

“We half-expected it from his trial the week before when he broke the track record,” she said.

“He trialled before the first race the week before and broke the 390 metre track record. He’s a fast animal.”

From box one, Aston Missile is the $1.55 favourite for the Group 3 Ipswich Derby Final at Q1 Lakeside on Thursday night.

“I don’t mind him from the one,” Sultana said.

But, the assignment for the Tommy Shelby and Aston Flame chaser in this week’s $45,005 feature over 457 metres will not be easy if mother nature has her say.

“We just have to hope for good weather - the weather is the main concern this week,” Sultana said.

“We don’t want a sloppy track.

“We’ve had a fair bit of rain. At the moment it’s not raining, but some is expected.

“The rain will make the inside of the track a bit sloppy, so we’re hoping it’s a nice night.”

Racing for top owner Ray Borda, Aston Missile was sent up to South Maclean-based Sultana by Victorian trainer Paul Abela.

Some of Abela’s best chasers for Borda have been Aston Ulysses and Aston Dinnigan.

With four wins from 12 starts already, Aston Missile could go on to have a fine career.

“Paul Abela knew how quick this dog was and that was why he sent him up,” Sultana said.

“We’ve always had a relationship with Paul. We’ve won a few big races. Paul had Mackenna. He sent him up to us in Sydney and we won the Golden Easter Egg.

“I won a Bulli Cup with another one of his dogs. I won a Pink Diamond in Victoria with another one of his dogs.

“We’ve had a good relationship with Paul sending dogs to us.

“He’ll be here for the Lakeside Cup in the next couple of weeks and then he’ll be going back down to Melbourne for the Silver Chief.”

The two-year-old black dog, Aston Missile, is big and strong, weighing just under 35kg.

“He’s a beautiful-looking dog,” Sultana said.

Meanwhile, Sultana said she was happy with Winsome Jet’s fourth place in the Million Dollar Chase Final at Wentworth Park.

Winsome Jet won this year’s Queensland Derby and Origin Greyhound Series Sprint for Sultana.

He is now back under the care of her good friend, Melinda Finn, in Sydney.

“He slipped out of the boxes and there wasn’t much you could do about it,” Sultana said.

“From box eight, he just needed to get out and go. It was a good run. He’s in the Goulburn Cup heats on Friday.”