Kevin Hutton updates on 'remarkable' Start The Engine and 'classy' Rioja Oisin
Burford trainer has big-race targets for prolific-scoring kennel stars
Picture from Kevin Hutton X feed and SIS
Start The Engine 'just made for Oxford'
Start The Engine is proving “a remarkable little dog”, says his proud trainer Kevin Hutton.
The prolific-scoring May 2023 son of Ballymac Cashout Ballymac Trudi is on a run of 11 straight wins, all at Oxford, and has been kept to the Cowley track since arriving at Hutton’s Burford kennels earlier this year.
Making a winning his debut at Oxford in April, the John Maher-bred runner won his first seven races over the 450m trip and is a winner now of 20 races, being beaten just twice in 22 starts.
He was unraced in Ireland having been purchased by his owner Mark Wightman at eight weeks old.
Hutton said: “I remember sitting round a table at an Oxford trials session with Mark having a cup of team and he picked him out from an advert on Greyhound Data. Now look where he is!
"Start The Engine has a huge will to win and he’s absolutely made for Oxford, so it’s just made sense to keep him there for Mark, who's a local owner.
“Mark gets great pleasure from watching him in action, although a shot at the (Ladbrokes) Winter Derby early next year at Monmore might just see us think of a race away from Oxford!”
Hutton also has news of Rioja Oisin, who reappears at Oxford on Sunday, having chosen not to enter his star sprinter in the Arc National Sprint.
He said: “We decided to give Nottingham a miss with Oisin. He wasn’t at his best there last year and we have to be mindful of him so he’ll just be kept to the odd race here and there. Longer-term, he’ll be taking in the Sandy Lane Sprint, the new event at Oxford, and the (Arc) Silver Salver at Central Park. He's such a classy sort."
