Ford must start like a Mustang at Ipswich

By Alex Nolan

Where’s The Ford must start like a Mustang if he is to win Saturday’s rescheduled Ipswich Auction Sprint Series Final, according to trainer David Fitzgerald.

The Eagleby trainer, like so many others, is concerned the young dog by Out Of Range is going to be lacking in fitness following an interrupted preparation due to the recent deluge.

Where’s The Ford qualified for the 431 metre Final after drawing boxes seven and eight respectively in his heat and semi-final, where he looked to try and find the fence on both occasions.

After sustaining a wide run in his heat from box seven to finish third, Where’s The Ford managed to find the fence mid-race in his semi-final and finished strongly into second behind the Greg Stella-trained Building Success.   

He has now drawn the inside for the first time around the bend, in the Final which is worth $14,000 to the winner.

“I’ve found box one over 431 metres at Ipswich is never brilliant because you’re basically looking at the rail,” Fitzgerald admitted.

“When you come out you have to move slightly to the right so I just hope he can jump cleanly.

“However, he does like the rail and it’s hard to get across from the outside at Ipswich, so I’m happy with box one, put it that way.”

Fitzgerald said being unable to race or trial, plus his limitations by preparing greyhounds from a house block, has put him on the back foot in recent weeks.

Where’s The Ford did trial over 288 metres last Saturday but was held back from trialling over longer.

“I didn’t want to put him over 400 metres because I didn’t want to flatten him,” he said.

“I’m hoping the trick will be to jump, find the front and hope he holds on because if he’s got to come from behind the fitness will stop him.”

Raced by Gary Pearce, Where’s The Ford is from the same litter as Dave Brett Memorial finalist Where’s The Bar - trained by Jemma Daley - and has recorded four career wins from 10 starts, all at Capalaba.

The white fawn dog turns two later this month and is with his third trainer, following previous stints with Kerry Hoggan and Pearce.

Despite this, Fitzgerald said Where’s The Ford was a good natured dog that is on a path to the rescheduled Ipswich Young Guns Heats, starting March 19, with a view to contesting the 520 metre Auction Series, which kicks off on April 2.

“It’s put me behind,” Fitzgerald said of the recent stoppage.

“He’s going to have to work his little bum off to be ready.”

Building Success will exit box two in the final, while other semi-final winner Galway Governor will jump from box five.

The Jedda Cutlack-trained Red Buzz is drawn in the blue, with kennel mate Tungsten Miss the first emergency after finishing fifth in her semi-final.

Should Tungsten Miss fail to gain a start, she is likely to jump a short-priced favourite from box four in race seven on the program – a Fifth Grade event over 520 metres.