Another Journey to the Bright Lights

Jane Carruthers, of course, is well-known as the former owner-trainer of superstar Rapid Journey. On Saturday night 15 November she once again returned to the city spotlight when the Ron Steel-trained Assassin Journey (Whisky Assassin x Rich Journey), which Carruthers owns, took out the Bull N Barley Cup final over 520 metres at Wentworth Park.

Assassin Journey, a fawn bitch who had failed in three previous outings at Wentworth Park , scored by a length and a half from Iigloo Osti with Celestial Gift just a ‘lip' away third in a fair 30.40.

The winner had qualified with a brilliant six and a half lengths victory over Irinka Dennis at Dubbo on 2 November. Ironically, Irinka Dennis ran 29.94 to win two races earlier on final night, a time that proved to be the equal-best of the evening.

Assassin Journey has now raced 26 times for 12 wins, four seconds, and three thirds, but the $8,000 first prize money is easily her biggest pay-cheque to date.

Iigloo Osti, the runner-up, had the best record of the finalists at headquarters, having won four of 20 previous races, with 10 placings. The white and black dog won his qualifying race at Bathurst , defeating Celestial Gift. The latter gained a start in the Wentworth Park final when Sporty Ranger (the Kempsey qualifier) was scratched.

Fourth home was Lucky Fina ahead of My Best Girl, Joey's Puzzle, Perception, and Osti's Force.

The Bull N Barley Cup, an innovation of the late Bill Baker, a chairman of the GBOTA from the late 1980s and into the 1990s, every now and again throws up a good performer who proves capable of mixing it with the best. For example, 2005 victor Go Wild Bean went on to run third in the 2006 Golden Easter Egg and was a finalist in the National Derby, Bulli Gold Cup, Lismore Cup, and Richmond Derby. Mojestic, winner of the Bull N Barley in 2006 went on to add the Black Top to his trophy cabinet while 2004 winner Nitro Bird finished fourth in the 2005 Adelaide Cup.

-Duncan Stearn

(The author of The Ultimate Accolade: New South Wales Greyhound of the Year Title 1965-1985 and Bernborough: Australia's Greatest Racehorse. Visit www.bernborough.net for more information or email: duncanstearn@gmail.com)