2014 Howard Ashton - Box Draw
2014 GROUP 3 HOWARD ASHTON – BOX DRAW
Last night at Angle Park there were three fantastic semi finals of the 2014 Howard Ashton where the first two placegetters from each heat and the two fastest third placegetters qualified for next week’s Group 3 final. In a night full of surprises the fastest qualifier for the final was the Des Hockley trained Wingard who continued his outstanding form in the first semi final last night running a sizzling 29.81 for the 515m journey. He blistered out of the boxes running a sizzling 4.36 to the first turn to led his challengers easily and from there was never headed going on to record a 1¾ length victory from Punishment who stuck on gamely with Nowak a further 3 lengths behind. Wingard will be looking to add to his impressive record of 17 wins and 13 placings from 36 starts and career prizemoney of just over $20,000 next week and whilst drawing box 6 his explosive early speed should see him start a warm favourite. Series favourite Dakota Premier who was shooting for his 8th straight win began fairly to find himself midfield and from there struggled to make any real progress finishing 4th and being declared the second reserve for the final.
In the second semi final a huge upset occurred when Woodside Jagger for Graham Smith at over $30 on the Tattsbet tote was able to lead most of the way and claim his spot in the final. After all eight greyhounds went to the first turn together Woodside Jagger and Miss Collash were able to pinch a break on the field into the back straight and from there it was just a matter of who would claim the winners prise. Woodside Jagger won by 1 length ahead of WA visitor Miss Collash for trainer Peter Sutherland who continues to improve each run in SA. The winners time was a solid 30.16 with Boojerooma finishing in third place a further 2 lengths away. Race favourites Winbrook and Dakota La Flash found big trouble on the first turn and tailed the field throughout. Woodside Jagger has now won 4 races from his 22 starts with 5 placings and after drawing box 7 in the final still looks to be one of the roughies for next weeks final.
The third semi final changed completion quickly down the back straight when King Chaos for Ben Rawlings who had led for most of the race began to shorten stride with the swoopers running home hard. The best of those was the Ossie Chegia trained Lexcen who swept past the field from mid field to go on and record a handy 3 length victory in a solid 30.00. She defeated Regal Looper for Cameron Butcher with Maiden performer Koombooyana Kid grabbing third a further 1¾ lengths away and a spot in next weeks final.
Lexcen has now won 3 of her last 4 starts and goes into next weeks final as a big threat after drawing box 3 and with her powerful finish could be running home the hardest at the business end.
The $36,000 Group 3 Final will be run next Thursday night 29th May. It will be race 8 on the program and is listed to jump at 9.11pm (SA time). It will be a super nights racing with not only the Group 3 Final but also the Shane McQueen Heats programmed for Open greyhounds over the 600m.
The Final field in Box Draw order is:
1. Koombooyana Kid Bosco Stamenkovic
2. Punishment Carole Scott
3. Lexcen Ossie Chegia
4. Nowak Richard Stasiak
5. Miss Collash Peter Sutherland
6. Wingard Des Hockley
7. Woodside Jagger Graham Smith
8. Regal Looper Cameron Butcher
9. Boojerooma (1st Res) Bosco Stamenkovic
10.Dakota Premier (2nd Res) Colin Simes
Further Information:
Shaun Mathieson
Racing Manager
(08) 8243 7100