Federal Outlaw swoops to straight track success for Rawlings
The headline act on Tuesday’s Murray Bridge program was the South Australian National Straight Track final with some of the state’s best short-course stars stepping out.
With an even box draw providing many of the favourites a winning hope, it was the Ben Rawlings trained Federal Outlaw who swooped late to take out the race in 19.05 with the Ashlee Griffiths trained Cash On Delivery finishing in second.
Speaking after the race, Rawlings said he was thrilled to get the chance to represent South Australia once again in the National Straight Track final
“We have been lucky enough to go before and to go again and represent South Australia is a good thrill and Melbourne makes it a bit easier for us to travel,” Rawlings said post-race.
Federal Outlaw came into the final as one of several winning chances after producing an eye-catching second from box seven finishing off strongly behind He’s On Fire despite finding some trouble in the heat.
Rawlings said that he was optimistic following the box draw with his chaser better suited to the inside draw and was pleased it was able to claim the win.
“From the seven last week, he kept trying to crash over and probably bumped five or six times and only got done a neck on the line,” Rawlings said.
“I thought with the draw if he could clear the two without that interference he would be right there.”
“It didn’t look like there was much interference and the main hopes all got their chance. It was a solid enough field and we were lucky enough to get the job done.”
Rawlings and Federal Outlaw will be joined at Healesville by the Ashlee Griffiths Cash On Delivery with the top two runners earning places in the National final.
Rawlings said he was thrilled for Griffiths and was looking forward to representing SA alongside her.
“Ash’s dog (Cash On Delivery) is a rocket,” Rawlings said.
“She was working with us early days before she started training a few more dogs so to see her get a dog of that sort of quality and be a representative in this sort of race is good for her as well.”
The Straight Track success could be the first win of a big week for Rawlings who has the favourite Could Be King in the SA National Sprint final at Angle Park on Thursday night.
“I’ll be hoping he gets some luck early but if he can get to the outside and not be too far off them,” he said.
“We know what finish he has got so hopefully he will be thereabouts.at the finish.”
The National Straight Track final will be held at Healesville on Saturday morning on August 26 with the Sprint and Distance finals to be run at The Meadows that evening.