From broken hock to a third Category One success, Jaguar Macie looked every bit her old self when landing the £10,000 ARC Northern Flat at Newcastle on Tuesday night.
Contesting only her seventh race since breaking down in the Oaks semis at Perry Barr last October, Graham Rankin’s black, who only missed out on a Ladbrokes Gold Cup win by a length and a quarter (3rd race back), had won nine of her twelve races at Newcastle when she went to trap one in the final. . . .
Macie bettered her own personal best by one spot on going rated -10.
Newcastle boss Ian Walton said: “It was a great final with Jaguar Macie proving she is the Queen of the North with another breathtaking performance. She has just one leg left to claim to be the first greyhound to capture the Newcastle Cat 1 treble if she can take the ARC All England Cup in December.
“Macie was exceptional on the night and put up a brilliant 28.27 run with Mickeys Barrett running another big race in second. She capped off an excellent nights racing, with some cracking performances, Coolavanny Galiv was a brilliant sprint winner on the night and it was great to see Mickeys Barrett trainer Jason Gray getting a maiden success with Nelsons County.
“Next up is the British Bred Maiden Derby in May at Newcastle with a cracking £5000 first prize. Looking forward to it.”
Trainer Graham Rankin said: “I thought she ran fabulous to push the two out of the way at the first bend. There’s nothing to her but she wasn’t having any of it.
“I’ve watched the three (Mickys Barrett) run a few times now and I think he has a flat spot going into the third bend. Sure enough Macie pulled away from him then. But I think he is a real good dog in his own right and will win a big race this year.
“To be honest, I thought the going was more than .10 slow, looking a the other winning times. (Freedom Sky’s 28.67 was rated .20 slow -Ed) Macie has come out well from the race though she still isn’t really right. Her coat is still dull and she isn’t showing the enthusiasm for racing that she does when she is really well.
“We haven’t made any plans yet. I’ll speak to Tony (Armstrong) after he’s had a look at the Calendar and decide from there. I have a new dog coming in the kennel, Jaguar Gerry, who has won five of his seven races at Galway. I’ve seen there is a good puppy race at Nottingham which we may go for and we’ll enter Macie at the same time. Hopefully she could pay for the petrol. . . ”
Graham was also keen to praise the one person who has thus far avoided the limelight.
He said: “My wife Jeanette does a huge amount to help out, even though she has a job herself. She does the dogs when I am not there, feeding, cleaning and letting them out, or putting them in the jacuzzi. Without her help, I wouldn’t be able to do all this.”
Graham Rankin presents the winner alongside Monmore GM Ian Walton. Tony Armstrong gets to grips with the trophy
