2018 Easter Cup Final - Review
The Tony Rasmussen team claimed another feature race win at headquarters tonight when Ashom Monelli claimed the third running of the $7,000 Easter Cup final.
In what was an outstanding final field assembled the son of Mogambo and Jackie Bale started one of the three main favourites alongside kennel mate Zudactyl Monelli and reigning SA Greyhound of the Year On Fire for Cameron Butcher.
As the start was affected from the 600m boxes Zudactyl Monelli bounced out nicely from box 2 to be hot on the heels of early leader Emily As for Captain Abbott while Ashom Monelli worked across from his wide box to move into third. Unfortunately for On Fire supporters he was severely checked when crowded into the front straight and was spat out the back to last as the field raced down front straight. When leading, Emily As rolled of the fence leaving the front straight, presenting Ashom Monelli with a beautiful run along the inside to move into the lead. Zudactyl Monelli moved to the outside of Emily As making him cover more ground and was checked going past Emily As into the back straight. Spring Bloom for Greg Board started to make ground into third. Ashom Monelli pinched a race winning break down the back straight as he turned for home in no danger. He went down to the finish line to win by 1 ¼ lengths in a slick 34.89 from kennel mate Zudactyl Monelli who was far from disgraced in second and continued to make ground over the later stages. Spring Bloom held on for third another 4 lengths away just a head of Tyla Grace for Liz Chegia while the luckless On Fire still got home well into 5th with supporters putting a line through that performance tonight.
Owned by Tim Aloisi and Matthew Lehman, Ashom Monelli has now won 22 races from 59 starts with 19 placings and career prizemoney of almost $95,000. Over the 600m middle distance at Angle Park he has now had 5 starts for 4 wins with Tony Rasmussen advising on the presentation dais that he will likely be stepped up in distance and target the heats of the SA Distance Championship over 731m on Thursday 19th April along with kennel mate Zudactyl Monelli.