Massey hoping for a magical result in Ipswich Auction final
QUEENSLAND trainer Donald Massey is on track for the most lucrative win of his training career on Saturday night when he places his ultra-consistent sprinter Magical Yessam into the starting boxes for the Group 2 Ipswich Auction series final.
The son of Magic Sprite and Kiewa Show ($3 with Bet365.com.au) will jump from box six in the $40,000 to the winner feature which was open to greyhounds purchased at the 2014 Ipswich Puppy Auction.
Magical Yessam is unbeaten so far throughout the series, having won both his heat and semi-final in 31.08 and 30.58 respectively.
Massey said he pleased with how his charge has been racing, but conceded he faces a tough task in box seven.
“He is a good dog,” Massey told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“He has trialled [at Ipswich] in 30.33 so he can definitely run, but the problem is we probably couldn't have been drawn any worse.
“We have got speed on the inside and the outside of us and Vegas Bound has box three with two slow beginners on her inside.
“I can see Vegas Bound getting a good run into the race whereas I can see my dog getting squeezed up early.
“If he had have drawn the one or the two I would call him a certainty because he would have led easily.”
Vegas Bound, the $2.50 favourite, has been the eye catching runner throughout the series. The daughter of Head Bound and Tina's Show is the only other greyhound to come into the final having won both her heat and semi, with both victories stunning last to first performances, the most recent being a sizzling 30.35 effort.
Massey says the white and black bitch will be tough to stop, but says if his greyhound is afforded some luck early she will be struggling to run him down.
“If he did happen to ping the lids and lead nothing would beat him,” he said.
“Although Vegas Bound is a very good bitch Magical Yessam is a lot stronger than the dogs she has been running down.
“If he led then he would probably be six lengths in front of Vegas Bound at the 600m boxes and from there I don't think she could catch him.
“Our best chance is if we can beat the five (Magic Beau) for speed and drop in behind the seven (Royal Prize).
“If that happens I think Magical Yessam would run [Royal Prize] down because it isn't very strong.
“In saying that there are a lot of variables in greyhound racing, but I have no doubt the winner will be the three, the six or the seven – I just don't know which one.”
Massey, who has been involved in greyhound racing along with his wife Lyn for over 50 years, says it is a massive thrill just to be in the final.
“It would be very special to win the race as we bred the pup and put him through the Auction so he was eligible for the series.
“We borrowed the bitch to breed a litter and unfortunately she only had the two pups – she ended up having nine pups in her next litter after the owner took her back.
“A lot can go wrong in between the Auction and the race series – and it has with his brother (Our Magic Boy) who was about five lengths quicker but he broke a stopper bone about three months ago.
“He was operated on and the vets are fairly optimistic that he has a chance of getting back.
“Although it is normally career ending he is probably still a dog which could afford to lose four or five lengths and still be a good dog.
“While it is disappointing not to have Our Magic Boy in the final too, it is nice to be in it with Magical Yessam who is a very nice dog in his own right.
“It would be a great thrill to win the final.”
Watch Magical Yessam (7) winning his semi-final last week.