Pokie Payout shooting for Carnival Chase

By Jordan Gerrans

Ahead of the most prestigious race his stayer has contested, trainer Peter Sullivan is just glad to have a runner in the Group 3 Carnival Chase on Thursday evening from Albion Park.

Sullivan’s ever-consistent bitch Pokie Payout was a stylish heat winner last week, leading from box to post in 35.37 seconds, which was slightly slower than other heat winner I’m Explosive in 35.14 seconds.

The bitch is out of Lightning Frank and Adelaide Bale and while she has been around the mark in Finals of Listed raced before, she gets the chance to snare a Group 3 prize on Thursday from box six.

Based at Mount Forbes, Sullivan is proud of his black bitch for even making the Final of the $25,000-to-the-winner event and thinks with a bit of luck, she might be able to trouble the more favoured runners.

“I am just happy to be in a race like this with her,” Sullivan, who prepares a team of six dogs says, said.

“This is the best race she has ever been in.

“She cracked $100,000 in prize money when she won last week, she has been a good little dog, I would like to see her win a Group 3 race, it would be great for her.

“It is a great effort for a bitch and her breeding when she finishes racing.”

Earlier in her career, Pokie Payout has contested the finals of black-type races such as the Winged Runner Trophy and the Brisbane Young Guns, without breaking through at the level.

She also ran in the Group 3 Bundaberg Cup series earlier this year.

Despite that, the dog owned by Jason Pashley rarely runs a poor race, going to the races on 69 occasions for 47 top three finishes, which includes 17 victories.

“She normally pays for the whole lot,” Sullivan said of Pokie Payout’s reliable record.

In last week’s heats, Pokie Payout jumped brilliantly from box two and was able to lead comfortably in the early stages before showing plenty of toughness late to hold off Keen and Magic Miss.

Having drawn the green rug for Thursday’s Final, her trainer says he would have preferred the pink or red boxes but believes she may be able to stay out trouble out wide in the six.

While the bitch is often in the first few dogs in the run in her races, she rarely leads herself, which she was able to do easily in the heats.

“I would be happy if she was able to repeat that run from the heat, sitting out like that in front and going on as she is a strong dog,” Sullivan, who was previously based in Charleville, said.

“She does not normally lead like that; I would like to see her close to them early to give her every chance.

“If she is close to them early – as there is a lot of speed in the race – then she will go close.

“She was short of a run so she will be feeling better from the 600-metre run last week. This is going to be a very hard race.”

Fellow heat winner I’m Explosive has been installed as the public elect by the TAB, rated a $2.25 shot on Wednesday morning, with Pokie Payout at $4.

Sullivan believes Robert Ayers’ I’m Explosive is the one to beat in the 600-metre event.

I’m Explosive has run in the top two in her two attempts at the trip at Albion Park and her trainer – the Glass House Mountains-based Ayers – was glad to draw the inside alley.

“She’s been in so many big race finals and never drawn a decent box,” Ayers said.

“I’m pretty happy with the draw this week.

“It is very, very, very good for her.”

Following Thursday’s Group 3 Carnival Chase Final, Sullivan says he will target staying races with Pokie Payout through the TAB Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival.

The Final of the Group 3 Brisbane Young Guns over 520 metres will also be run on Thursday night.

Sullivan will also have kennel mate Iconic go around on in the eleventh event on Thursday night with the dog chasing his second win in his last three starts.

“I am not sure how he will handle the late race coming from novice races,” Sullivan said.