When Father Rick steps out in the heats of the Masters Meteor on Thursday night, it will be the first time in the dog’s 93-start career that Ray or Sharron Webster haven’t been on the other end of the collar and lead.
The Webster’s holidaying overseas and leaving youngster, Bailey Dickinson, in charge of what very well may be Father Rick’s final chasing campaign.
“They left just over a week ago for Hawaii and are catching a cruise back to Sydney. Ray and Sharron are pretty much our neighbours so they’ve asked us to do them a favour and look after them for the Masters race,” Dickinson said.
“I think Sharron booked the trip and then Ray worked out they’d miss the race so he asked if I could help out. He didn’t say much else to be honest, just told me to train them how I would any other dog and hopefully we get the chocolates.”
Father Rick and litter sister Lagoon Mandy staying at the Dickinson’s Cawdor property for a tilt at the $50,000 feature, with Bailey already reporting some quick trial times from the pair.
“I trialled Rick at Dapto on Friday and he’s been up Appin this week. When I checked with Ray what times he should be running, Ray said it’s the quickest he’s gone in a while,” Dickinson added.
“Lagoon Mandy trialled alongside him and only got beaten a length as well so maybe a change of kennel might has sparked her up a bit as well.”
“I think Father Rick should be hard to beat and he could still run 29.60 if he gets everything right in the heats on Thursday.”
“I still remember when he won the Dapto Middle Distance Championship and Ray said to me, “I’ll be interested to see how much longer he can race” and he’s lasted another year. He’s been such a great dog for them.”
Lagoon Mandy goes from Box 4 in the opening heat of the Masters Meteor, while Father Rick jumps from Box 6 in Heat 2.
Showman Jack will make his maiden appearance in master’s grade at start number 53 when he contests Heat 5 of the feature.
The 2023 Country Classic winner enduring an injury-plagued 2024 season.
“He’s had a few injuries, he dropped a back muscle, he did a pin muscle, he had a metacarpal issue. He’s only had eight starts this year,’ trained John Smart said.
“But he went 24.04 last Monday in a post-to-post at Wenty Park. Rinsed The Lot ran the best time of the session but Jack wasn’t too far behind. He ran 24.12 in a post-to-post at Dapto last Friday as well so he’s on song and trialling the house down.”
Showman Jack with John and Julie Smart after winning the 2023 Country Classic
Smart taking a different approach with the 15-time winner in search of improved injury luck.
“I’ve been swimming him in Botany Bay every Sunday and Wednesday morning to take the weight of his legs,” Smart added.
“It’s the same spot where all the race horses go for a swim. Peter Snowden and Gai Waterhouse have their horses down there. It’s funny because they’re all riding through the water and I’m basically swimming alongside them with Jack. That’s how I’ve got him back.”
“Box 8 makes it hard but we’ll see if he’s still go it, I reckon he has.”
Sister Esme Watson has drawn Box 4 in Heat 3 and will be having her fourth run back since becoming a mum.
“She had four pups to Shima Shine on June 17 and they’re 16 weeks old,” Smart added.
“She started going mad in the back yard so we thought we better throw her back in work. The time off did her good, she’s probably a couple of lengths behind Jack. She’s gone 24.60 post-to-post so she might run 30 dead at Wenty.”
Elsewhere, Jake White has all but written off Rebel Ethics after the multiple feature finalist drew Box 8 in his preliminary.
“I think the box draw takes his chances away. As he’s aged, he’s started working his way over to the fence a lot slower than he used to. Once he gets over there, he’ll make his move but I think off the 8, it’ll take him too long to get where he wants to be,” White said on Tuesday.
“He’s won three of his last seven at Wenty, he can run 29.7and his Box 8 record is alright but a lot of those runs are off corner starts. The straight start doesn’t help him and he might be 4-5 wide when they get to the bend at Wenty.”
The White kennel will also rug up former South Australian, Triumph, in the second heat (Box 2).
“I think this is the hardest of the five heats but he went 24.01 [post-to-post] the other day so he could go 29.6 if he gets clear air,” White added.
“He was in Victoria and then he went to Adelaide so we’ve only given him one start and he was pretty unlucky, he found plenty of trouble in the race…so if he gets clear air, he’ll go alright.”
The 2024 Masters Meteor heats will be held on Thursday, October 10. The $50,000 final will be run on Friday, October 18.
