By Andrew Adermann
Albion Park track record holder Sennachie has been installed by TAB as a $1.33 favourite for tonight’s opening heat of the Group 3 Golden Ticket.
Returning to the track for the first time since posting a new mark during the Final of the $375,000 Sky Racing Brisbane Cup - recording a blistering 29.38s in the process - the Victorian trained star will chase further black-type glory over the coming weeks.
As part of the TAB Golden Greys Summer Carnival, the Group 3 Golden Ticket is expected to prove an ideal lead-in to the Group 1 Gold Bullion with the concept similar to the inter-state Shootout and Speed Star promotions.
The heats of the Golden Ticket will be conducted as four-dog shootouts, with the Final conducted as two-dog match races on Boxing Day.
The winner of the Golden Ticket receives automatic entry into the $235,000 Gold Bullion Final.
“There wasn’t much happening down in Victoria over the next two months, so Brisbane was the obvious choice," Sennachie’s trainer Steve White said.
“He’s well accustomed to the city and track after his winter trip so it felt like the perfect time to come back up for another crack.
“He’s been in Brisbane for two weeks getting acclimatised, and had a trial last week so he’s ready and raring to go around again tonight.”
After a spring campaign back in his home state, Sennachie returns north for the summer after downing Whiskey Riot and Feral Franky in the Group 1 Maturity Classic Final at The Meadows to help take his stakes past $500,000.
The Golden Ticket won’t be a laydown misère for Sennachie, however, with Fernando Blaster listed as $1.45 prospect in the second heat, while Regal Recall is an even-money prospect in the third heat and Nangar Diva ($2.30) well fancied in the fourth.
“There’s a few fantastic dogs spread across the heats, and we’re a bit unlucky to have drawn the same heat as Sequana but it will be a fantastic challenge,” White said.
“Following this prep, we’ll give him a bit of a let up.
“Hopefully all goes to plan in Brisbane and then we’ll head back down to Victoria and target the Temlee on 15 February and on to the Australian Cup from there.”
Heats for the Golden Ticket commence at 7.25pm tonight.