By Isaac Murphy
It’s been an eventful 24 hours for Jeff Britton, with the leading Victorian trainer having to make the crucial calls on who’ll be travelling to Brisbane for the Group 1 Brisbane and Queensland Cups.
The trainer has a strict mantra - don’t travel them if you don’t think they can win.
That’s why Do It gets his chance in the sprint and Hank The Hustler over the 700-metre trip as two live chances.
“Do It and Hank The Hustler fly up to Brisbane on Wednesday night, I’ve decided to leave the young stayer Mepunga Ruby at home given she’s a little bit timid and I wouldn’t be travelling with her, but I’m relieved to have two on their way,” Britton said.
“Tuesday afternoon I wasn’t sure what was happening and if the meet was going to be postponed or go ahead but Racing Queensland and the Club have done a great job ensuring we race on time because dogs are timed to the minute for these races.
“Do It goes up there with plenty of confidence knowing he’s seen the place twice and run second in a Group 2 (Flying Amy) his last start.
"Hank The Hustler couldn’t have impressed me more with his recent form, they both deserve their shots at the Brisbane and Queensland Cups respectively.”
All the plaudits went to a flawless Jungle Deuce in the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic, but Britton took plenty away from Do It’s runner-up performance.
“I thought Do It was excellent without winning in his Flying Amy heat and the Final, he was a bit all over the place in his heat, hit the running rail and still went 29.87 first look.
"Then ran 29.8 behind Jungle Deuce in a Group 2 Final which is no disgrace,” Britton said.
“I’m a firm believer that the more a dog sees a track, the more comfortable they are and that’s going to be key for him this week to find further improvement and give himself a shot in the Final.
“Chris Georgiou has come to the rescue again giving the dogs a place to kennel and it’s up to the dog to go out and execute now.”
There were no favours for the young prospect, with the box draw coming up with the pink, but Britton backs in his talent and track sense to take him a long way.
“His best racing has come from inside draws over his career, so we’re going to need a bit of luck from box eight but he’s smart enough to work it out,” he said.
“Hopefully the speed inside him with Modern Talking and Orchestrate can clear a bit of room for him on the way to the fence and he can be on their backs around the first corner.
“Qwara Bale has been a big rival of his down in Victoria beating him in the Warrnambool Cup Final and the Gr8 Eight Series at Sandown, she looked good behind Equalizer last week, we don’t want to be giving her a start.”