‘Stagger’ out for Super Stayers glory

[Wandering Eyes]

Young NSW trainer Jack Strutt, 24 – a final year law student – has aptly ‘laid down the law’ with dual Group 1 winner Stagger Out Lee.

They strutted their stuff in the Bold Trease on Melbourne Cup night in late November last year and last week produced a staggering $21.60 Zoom Top win.

And they could once again be a ‘law unto themselves’ in the $100,000 to-the-winner G1 Sportsbet Fanta Bale Super Stayers (730m) series, which kicks off with three heats at The Meadows on Saturday night – Night Two of the ‘Unmissable’ Australian Cup Carnival.

Not only is Stagger Out Lee (Mar ’20 My Bro Fabio x Parrydise Star) ultimately eyeing her third G1 victory in a matter of months, she is ironically aiming to become the first greyhound to land the Zoom Top-Super Stayers double since champion Fanta Bale in 2018.

A winner of 11 races (with 16 seconds and nine thirds) from 58 starts, and $268,200 in prizemoney, Stagger Out Lee (Box 1) is engaged in Heat 2 (Race 2, 6.57pm).

In an even betting affair, Stagger Out Lee ($3.80) is on the second line of Sportsbet’s heats market – behind last year’s Super Stayers winner Mepunga Ruby ($3.40) – while she’s $9 in ‘All In’ betting.

“We just travel on the day of the race… It doesn’t knock her about; she’s pretty relaxed.”

Prior to the Bold Trease final, Strutt said: “Everyone says I’m mad. But I’m unsure whether I want to go straight into practice. I’m really enjoying training greyhounds.”

And he hasn’t altered his opinion, reiterating: “I go back to finalise my double degree next week. I’ve got one semester to go and exams in June. I’ll probably put ‘law’ on hold.”

Back in August 2021, Strutt moved from Wagga to Anakie (30km from Geelong) and worked for nine months for ‘Team Grenfell’ (Correy and Samantha), which certainly knows a thing or two about winning ‘majors’.

“It was really beneficial,” Strutt added. “The Grenfells have a team of 80 or more greyhounds, so I was learning 10 times quicker than working for a small kennel. I picked up a lot along the way.”

And it’s obvious he’s ‘graduated’ into training ranks with ‘honours’.

Strutt admits he was surprised Stagger Out Lee jumped out so well in the Zoom Top and was so close to the lead so early on, given she’s noted for her powerful finish.

“It was definitely a shock, but I know that’s what she’s capable of. However, I don’t think she had been in the leading division for the 25 starts prior – except possibly for one start. She just gets into a ‘one-paced rhythm’.”

But he was matter of fact about her winning odds of almost $22 in the invitational race. (She returned $6.10 claiming the Bold Trease after winning a heat at $6.60.)

“She’s been up against the best and they’ve probably had better form. I don’t pay too much attention to the odds, I stay detached. It’s nothing we can control.”

And Strutt is not perturbed about a possible third road trip from NSW to Vic in three weeks if Stagger Out Lee were to reach the Super Stayers final.

“We just travel on the day of the race… It doesn’t knock her about; she’s pretty relaxed.”

But he’s a trifle concerned on her ‘red’ draw, saying “I would have preferred from middle to wide”.

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Stagger Out Lee is owned by Strutt’s father, Paul, who was a provincial representative rugby player.

“Dad had a couple of seasons with Wagga Brothers and then was captain/coach of Tumbarumba Greens and won an Eric Weisel Medal (league Best & Fairest),” Strutt said.

“He also played for Yanco and then Temora Dragons. My grandfather, Frederick, played in the NRL for St George Dragons and also captained Eastern Suburbs (now Sydney Roosters) for two seasons.”

And Strutt provided an interesting sideline to Stagger Out Lee’s personality at home.

“She’s real lazy; she just wants to sleep all day.”

WATCH: STAGGER OUT LEE (B6) takes out the Zoom Top from MORAINE SUZIE (B2) and CAWBOURNE MAGIC (B1).

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