2021 SA Sprint Championship Final - Review
Last night’s first feature race of 2021 may end up being one of the best races for the year when the big guns of SA sprinting stepped out in the Listed SA Sprint Championship final. Most focus was on SA’s two star sprinters in Shadow Mist for Lauren Harris who was tipped to improve significantly from box 1 after 4th in his heat after returning from the Group 1 Hobart Thousand series and Coorong Lucy for Cameron Butcher in box 2 who looked to be right back to her best after a blistering heat win last week.
The depth of last nights final was significant, with three Greyhound of the Year finalists engaged and all runners given some hope of taking out the title.
However it was the queen of SA sprinting who re-established herself at the top of the tree when she lead throughout to claim the $12,000 first prize and make it back to back victories in this race after taking out the 2020 edition.
The daughter of Worm Burner and Molly Be Nimble did what she does best and exploded from the boxes in a blistering 4.33 to the first turn to lead however Shadow Mist began very well and was hard on her heels as they left the front straight. Major Havoc for Tony Rasmussen from box 3 came out well to sit in third while Rushes for Lisa Rasmussen, Major Major for Troy Murray and Jack’s Well for Cameron Butcher jostled for positions in the early stages. Into the back straight and Coorong Lucy raced away and was going strongly with Shadow Mist sticking on well while Major Havoc was being challenged by Major Major along the inside. Jack’s Well began to make good ground from worse than midfield. Off the back straight and Lucy wasn’t stopping as she kept going into the front straight with a winning break, Shadow Mist gave his all but it looked like she had his measure on this occasion and Major Havoc was in a strong battle with Major Major for third. As they raced down to the winning post Coorong Lucy was powering home going on to win by 3.50 lengths in a flying 29.52 for the 515m journey. Shadow Mist looks to be close to his best running a gallant second while Major Havoc ran a huge race in third only 2 lengths away and pulling away from Major Major in the run home. Jack’s Well lost no admirers charging home from a long way back after having no luck early.
Coorong Lucy is bred by Cameron Butcher and owned by both Cameron and Yvonne Butcher and she now extends her amazing record to 48 starts with 35 wins and 7 minor placings and prizemoney of over $142,000.