A pair of Million Dollar Chase semi-finalists, the reigning Taree Cup champion and the 2024 Richmond Derby winner headline the fields for the 2024 Ladbrokes Mid North Coast Cup.
Ali Tango, Albert’s Memory, Go Bears and Reel Em’ Bluey will bring group-quality to the heats on Wednesday night, with emerging type Bandit Chloe and new track record holder Little Cliffy adding further quality to the race formerly known as the Taree Cup.
Joe McFadyen will be hoping ‘The Macca’ winner, Ali Tango, can continue his recent run of hot form, with a sparkling trial effort at the new track confirming his status as the dog to beat in the series.
“He’s had two looks at the place now. The first was a post-to-post and the then had a run out of the boxes. The track record is 30.34 and he went 30.04 so hopefully he gets little bit of clear air for two hops and then he can rocket,” McFadyen said.
“The new facility up there is exciting, and I thought it would suit Ali Tango. After he went so well in the Black Top and MDC carnivals, it was always in the back of our minds to head this way. It’s only an hour and three quarters from my place as well and other than Maitland and The Gardens, it’s my closest track.”
McFadyen will also rug up Screeching in Heat 2, with his last four starts producing three wins including a 29.86 effort at Wentworth Park and a 29.50 run at The Gardens.
Ron and Karen Ulrick will make the five-hour journey down to Taree from their new base at Shannon Brook, with the father-daughter duo hopeful it’s a case of third time lucky at the new circuit for 22-time winner, Go Bears.
“We stuck him in at Taree cold a few weeks ago and even though he only ran fifth and third, we were happy with both his efforts. He was run off the track in both races so if a lucky little bird sits on our shoulder on Wednesday night, we might be able to get through,” Karen Ulrick said.
“He had three months off after the Richmond Derby and in that same time we brought him home from Jay’s [Opetaia]. Jay was taking care of him while we built our new kennel block up here, but we’re finally finished and looking forward to training fulltime.”
Ulrick literally giving up her day job as a registered nurse to pursue a career in training alongside her dad and kids, Holly (18) and Chad (16).
“I’m still registered in case this fails but there’s no gowns and gloves in the greyhound game and I like that,” Karen laughed.
“This is dad’s passion, it’s my passion and my kids love it as well. Holly has her owners and trainers’ licenses and it’s only a matter of time before Chad does the same as he’s heavily involved already. They still fight over who is handling our dogs but Chad has to work on Wednesday, so Holly gets the job.”
Go Bears has drawn Box 5 in the opening heat as he searches for his first win since the Derby triumph in February.
Karen Ulrick (left) with Jay Opetaia after Go Bears claimed the Group 2 Richmond Derby
“It’s a hot field. Jo McFadyen’s dog is clearly talented, and Shaun Guthrie’s [Bandit Chloe] is going to be something. ‘Cecil’ is at the tail end of his career, but he’s given us so much. I’d still be a nurse if he didn’t come along, he really changed our life,” Ulrick added.
“We were living in Urunga on the Mid North Coast and we decided to sell my home and my parent’s home to build on 50 acres at Shannon Brook. We bought a run-down cattle farm with no fences, it was all a mess of barbed wire and we’re transforming it. We’re just putting a straight track in as we speak and we’re lucky to be 10 minutes from the Casino track.”
In what looks like a star-studded heat on paper, Ali Tango and Go Bears will also run into the talented, Bandit Chloe.
The half-sister to Nangar Larry is trained by Shaun Guthrie and is already a winner in six of 10 race starts.
“I think she’ll be hard to beat. She’s not great in those first couple of steps out the boxes but her pickup speed is good and if she can get across Ali Tango, I think she’s got a big chance,” Guthrie said.
“She’s run 30.31 in a trial there and with clean air, I think she could go 30.20. The litter sister, Uno Tango, won the Futurity at Ipswich over the weekend so they have some ability.”
“The owners were looking around for an honest dog and I ended up speaking to Andy Lord who sold us this girl for $12,000. Hopefully she keeps improving and we they can have some fun with her.”
Four heats of the Mid North Coast Cup will be run for the first time under lights on Wednesday evening, with the top two from each heat progressing to the November 6 decider worth $25,000-to-the-winner.
Finals night will also feature a host of entertainment, including live music from Jake Davey and a Fashions On The Field event, with the best dressed male and female earning $500 each. All the action kicks off at 6:30pm.
