Get Carter Has One Eye On QGOLD Summer Sprint

TOP class Queensland galloper, Get Carter, is conspicuous as he charges through his races sporting a blinker, but owner-trainer Grant Franklin could not care less if rivals are disparaging about his dog.

Get Carter wears a blinker after “an indiscretion” as a young dog, and even though Grant is well aware he is racing genuinely these days, he has no intention of changing things.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

“I don't care what people think,” says Grant. “He's going so well, I don't want to change a thing.”

Get Carter has drawn box two in a heat of Thursday night's QGOLD Summer Sprint (520m) at Albion Park and he is surely the most improved dog in the state.

He followed a narrow second to Bear's Bullet in the G1 Ipswich Gold Cup with a flashing finish for second to Jay Is Jay in last week's Group 3 Queensland Flame.

“Yes, he races in blinkers,” said Grant. “Because he was naughty when he was young. I honestly don't think he needs it anymore.”

Grant rates Get Carter the “second best dog in Queensland”.

“I reckon he proved that last week when chasing home Jay Is Jay,” said Grant.

“He and Jay Is Jay ran the same final section but my dog was never going to pick up the winner.

“And, the way he ran past so many good dogs last week, was something.”

Get Carter (Bernardo-Abby Boom) was bred by Grant from a multiple winning bitch he bought from interstate and a litter sister to top class Victorian galloper Speed Star, from the family of Miss Hanify that has done so well for Col Graham and his family on the Northern Rivers of NSW.

“My mate Peter O'Reilly had the straw to Bernardo which we used on Abby Boom and got a very nice litter,” said Grant.

“But, Get Carter was a long way from the best at break-in.

“There were two other dogs in the litter better than him, but they could not get 500 metres.”

Get Carter has been a goldmine for Ipswich trainer Grant.

He has started 60 times for 12 wins and 29 placings earning $146,000.

“He took a while to get going, but has really come on lately,” he said. “He's been a late bloomer.

“I knew he was something when he ran third to Valpolicella over 600 metres back in July beaten narrowly in 34.73.”

Grant Franklin, 58, has been training on and off for 30 years.

“For the first 20 years I was learning,” he admitted.

Thursday night's racing highlight is the clash of the Zammit staying stars, Mick and Selena Zammit's Icy Eyes and Tony Zammit's Valpolicella, in the 710m FFA.