The star of Slick Badger continues to rise after a thrilling win in the heats of the Group 2 Shepparton Cup overnight.
The promising son of Aston Rupee x Dancin’ Ethics notched up race win number nine from just 13 starts in Victoria on Monday evening, with owner Steve Kemp delighted with the performance.
“I’ve honestly watched it 30 times, I get the biggest thrill from it. When he’s called running over the top of Serial Sticker (8), I get that goosebump feeling every time...it was a massive run,” Kemp said.
‘The Badger’ forced to work hard for his biggest victory to date after losing momentum on the bend just as it seemed he was forging his way to the front.
“The dog jumped the best he ever has so he was right up there, but I reckon Motion Sensor (5) was riding his heels and then Serial Sticker came down on the top half of his body which caused him to break stride momentarily,” Kemp added.
“Coming into the home straight, he looked like he wanted the fence, but Motion Sensor nudged him out and he ended up three or four wide. I think that helped him win the race to be honest because if he got down on the fence, he probably runs up the leader’s backside.”
“If something like that happens in a fifth-grade race and you overcome it to win, it looks great. But to do that in a field of that quality and considering NSW dogs don’t go down to Victoria and win many races, it was super.”
The time of 25.13 the slowest of the five preliminaries, with multiple Group finalist Lakeview Emily qualifying fastest in 24.89.
Owner Steve Kemp with Slick Badger
Kemp unphased by the clock, instead eager to sing the praises of trainer Shane Pulbrook who he says has “done wonders with the dog”.
“Shane isn’t getting the credit he deserves but he’s done a magnificent job so far. A lot of your top trainers are used to getting this calibre of dog but for Shane and me, this is the best we’ve ever had,” Kemp said.
“I gave him Badger and the brother, Slick Felix, when they were pups and Felix was clearly the better one. But Shane has turned this dog into something he wasn’t when I pre-trained him and I’m loving it to be honest.”
Pulbrook doing the hard yards in the lead up to the heats, travelling back and forth between his base at Tahmoor and Shepparton for four straight weeks to give Slick Badger the best chance of performing well.
“He had a trial and three race starts at the track so Shane did everything he possibly could have to help him win. It’s a 16-hour round trip and I don’t know many people who would have done those hard yards,” Kemp added.
Slick Badger debuted in a heat of the Ladbrokes Future Star Maiden at Maitland last October
Slick Badger drawing Box 5 for next week’s $40,000 decider, with Kemp confident his boy’s 24.76 track and trip PB - set just eight days ago - is good enough to win the final.
“Box 5 does not bother him as he’s a reliable beginner who runs a pretty straight line. He ran home in 13.53 last week and I don’t know if there another dog in the race that can do that, he just needs some luck,” he added.
“Lakeview Emily will be odds on from Box 1 but Boracay Storm is in the 4 and he ran the fastest first split in the heats by half a length, so hopefully he gives ‘Badger’ a good cart across into the race.”
“I’m just that excited we made the final. I know you want a good draw to win the race but for us to produce a dog like this in only our third litter bred, it’s just something else.”
The Group 2 Shepparton Cup will be contested on Monday, March 24.
