POCKET WATCH TICKS OVER NICELY AT MENANGLE

An impressive trial at Menangle on Tuesday was enough to confirm a trip to Queensland next month for star New South Wales pacer Lombo Pocket Watch. The Jet Laag entire beat Inter Dominion finalist Our Brahman Boy in a 1:56.8 mile and trainer Paul Fitzpatrick was pleased with the effort.

"He came through the hit out very well and Gavin (Fitzpatrick – driver) said he was full of running on the line and was doing it easily" Fitzpatrick said.
"We will now head to Queensland for the Gold Coast Cup and the Queensland Pacing Championship before making a decision on what we do after that."

Lombo Pocket Watch ran quarters of 28.8, 30.5, 29.8 and 27.7 and showed no sign of pain from the quarter crack that forced him to return home from Brisbane during the winter carnival.

"He seems over his foot problems at the moment. The hoof has grown out and it looks good."
Fitzpatrick intends to start the "grey bullet" at Harold Park in the Free-For-All on Friday September 25th and believes it will be the perfect lead up to Queensland.
"It will be good for him to get one run under his belt before he goes north and he should be at his peak up there."

"I haven't really decided what his next target will be after that. He is nominated for the New Zealand Cup and if he is flying at the time I would be happy to take him across because I think the race would suit him."
"Gavin may even head over a couple of weeks before the NZ Cup and give Pocket Watch the chance to have a run over there and some time to settle in. The Miracle Mile at Menangle is a race we are obviously targeting too."

Stablemate Lonestar Legend will also head to Queensland for the two feature events. The former US pacer is owned by businessman Clive Palmer and Fitzpatrick thinks the five year old has done enough to warrant a run against the best in the country.

"Clive is very keen to see him up there and he is doing well enough so it is a good opportunity for us to see where he is at and how far he can go."

"He was a very good horse in America, he has loads of ability and I think with time he could develop into a top class horse here in Australia."
The two entires will be joined on the trip by a travelling companion with Fitzpatrick keen to keep them separated.

"They are both stallions so we will take another one with us as a travelling companion to keep them apart."

Make Me Smile and Ballbarboy will trial next Wednesday in preparation for their racetrack return but Fitzpatrick has ruled out heading to Queensland with the pair.
"They won't be ready so they will stay at home and we will find some nice races here for them."


LEW WAITING FOR THE ALL CLEAR FOR MICK

Dubbo trainer Barry Lew has been forced to change his immediate plans as he aims Karloo Mick towards the New Zealand Cup in November. It was expected that the son of Panorama would head north to compete in the Queensland Pacing Championship in October but a lingering virus has put an end to any travel plans. Test results later this week will provide Lew with a better indication of the gelding's health.

"Everything at this stage is still being aimed at New Zealand but I am probably about three weeks behind where I would like to be" Lew said.

"When he contracted the virus I knew that I would be struggling to have him right for the Gold Coast Cup however I thought we would be right for the group one (Queensland Pacing Championship) but I still haven't got the all clear from the vets to have him back in full work."

Karloo Mick will have a tracheal wash on Thursday and Lew expects to have the results back on Friday.

"He had a tracheal wash last week and while there had been improvement in his condition, the vets still wanted to see a bit more before giving him the green light to start fast work again."
Despite Karloo Mick's lack of recent racing, Lew is confident that the gelding will be able to return to the races and have two runs before heading to New Zealand.

"The old boy looks really good and I normally like to have him weighing between 458 and 460 kilograms when he races and he is about 470 at the moment so it won't take long to work that off him."

"He jogged today (Tuesday) and he didn't cough so that is a really good sign."
The concern for Lew will be finding a race in New South Wales for the two time Inter Dominion placegetter. Harold Park has a race programmed for M2 pacers and better on Friday October 9th and that may be his only chance for tough competition before leaving Australia.

"Ideally I would love to get at least two runs or trials into him. Harold Park will be an option and apart from that I am going to have to look through the calendar and see what I can find."

"I am happy to start him in New Zealand before the cup and if that's how it all plays out then so be it."

A desire to gain a start in the Miracle Mile still burns within Lew and he is hoping that a strong showing in New Zealand would help cement Karloo Mick a start in Australia's premier speed test.

"It would be nice to get an invite to the Miracle Mile but there are so many top horses around at the moment it won't be easy for him. Horses like Auckland Reactor, Smoken Up, Blacks A Fake and Be Good Johnny all have great credentials."

"I still haven't decided whether to put him in the Free-For-All in New Zealand and in the end it will depend on whether he is likely to gain a start at Menangle."