2016 Howard Ashton Final - Box Draw
Tonight at Angle Park there were two exciting semi finals of the 2016 Howard Ashton where the racing was tight and tough to see who qualified for next week’s Group 3 final.
Hukanui for Tony Rasmussen was sent out as the race favourite in a hot semi final 1 with plenty contenders given a chance of causing a boilover. Team Roper for Alan McCulloch began beautifully from his wide draw showing great speed to lead with Paddy McBain for Todd Kelly following him across from the pink. Hukanui began better than expected and was poking up on the inside along with Relton on the first turn. Entering the back straight both Team Roper and Paddy McBain both sped away, with Hukanui finding trouble and checking off heels as he tried to make ground. Down the back straight McLaren Missile for Tania Foster began making quick ground after a very slow beginning and went past Hukanui who looked like he was struggling to stride out. As heads turned for home Team Roper had fought of the challenge of Paddy McBain however McLaren Missile was powering home strongly and made a dive right on the finishing line. The judge seemed to take forever to post the number with him declaring a dead heat between Team Roper and McLaren Missile in a stirring finish running a sizzling 29.74 for the 515m journey. Paddy McBain ran another solid race in third while Hukanui fought on bravely to finish 4th as it appeared as if he may have sustained an injury during the event. Subsequently after the event Hukanui was vetted and found to be injured and given 6 weeks injury time. The connections advised the stewards that he would be unable to take his place in the final next week and withdrew him from the event prior to box draw allowing for the fastest fifth from either semi final to be drawn into the final field.
The second semi final was also full of quality with punters settling on the Ben Rawlings trained Wilba Best as favourite just ahead of Harbormaster for Kirin Corby and Allinga Val for Yvonne King. As the boxes flew open there was a charge to the first turn with 4 or 5 greyhounds looking to lead however Wilba Beast pushed through and took control out of the front straight hotly pursued by Harbormaster. Don’t Kid Me for Ray Fewings and Molly Be Nimble for Cameron Butcher settled in 3rd and 4th while Allinga Val found trouble and was checked back near the tail. Off the back straight and it looked like a two dog war with Harbormaster trying to get on terms with Wilba Beast while Don’t Kid Me held down third spot. Billy McLaren for Tania Foster and Garry McBain for Todd Kelly both made steady ground from the rear. Turning for home Wilba Beast was able to hold all challengers at bay and went down to the line a solid winner in a flying 29.79 while Harbormaster lost no admirers in running second. Don’t Kid Me ran another solid race in third while Billy McLaren automatically qualified for next weeks final by running fourth. Eyes were then turned to the clock to see who was the fastest 5th gaining an automatic spot in the final with Garry McBain running 30.30 just ahead of Relton who had run 30.35 in semi final 1.
It looks an outstanding final after the box draw was conducted with main players Paddy McBain, Wilba Beast, Team Roper and Harbormaster all drawing favourably however any one of the 8 could take out the Group 3 final next week.
The Final field in Box Draw order is:
1. McLaren Missile Tania Foster
2. Paddy McBain Todd Kelly
3. Wilba Beast Ben Rawlings
4. Don’t Kid Me Ray Fewings
5. Garry McBain Todd Kelly
6. Team Roper Alan McCulloch
7. Billy McLaren Tania Foster
8. Harbormaster Kirin Corby
9. Relton (1st Res) Rob Harnas
10.Dakota Barbie (2nd Res) Kerry Stagg
The $37,500 Group 3 Final will be run next Thursday night 2nd June. It will be race 8 on the program and is listed to jump at 9.09pm (SA time). It will be a terrific nights racing with not only the Group 3 Final but also the Shane McQueen Heats programmed for Open greyhounds over the 600m.