Aloisi team to attack Anniversary Cup tilt
Alosi Duo Needing Luck In Anniversary Cup
An awesome night of chasing awaits this Thursday night at Angle Park, with the final of the 2024 Anniversary Cup set to take centre stage, with an excellent final field assembled.
Three super strong heats were run last week, with the South Australians winning each of them. Riot Rooster was the fastest of the three, continuing his brilliant form by running a flying 30.24, whilst kennelmates Kai Bale (30.32) and Ravers Army (30.78) produced stirring victories in their respective heats.
In what is a significant boost to participants, the Anniversary Cup final this year carries with it a total prize pool of $50,000, for which $34,000 will go the way of winning connections on Thursday.
The box draw has thrown a huge spanner in the works for the final, with the four interstate visitors in the final drawing boxes 1-4, whilst the four South Australian hopefuls have drawn boxes 5-8, dispelling the myth of the ‘visitors draw’.
With the draw falling the way it has, it certainly presents a challenge to local trainer Tim Alosi, who will be looking to continue his success of last week, where he took out a training double thanks to Kai Bale and Ravers Army.
Ravers Army was an upset winner of a star-studded heat last week, when he overcame an injury enforced month break, to produce a boil over of sorts and earn his way in the final, with Aloisi in praise of his chasers ‘never say die’ attitude.
“He’s had a few little injuries, and we spent a bit of time to get them right and I thought he had come back really good, but then in his last run he split a webbing.” said Aloisi
“To be honest, I wasn’t 100% sure that we would put him in the heats, he hadn’t had a trial or anything like that, but we decided to leave him in and he won.”
“It (the heat win) definitely surprised me, when the fields came out I kind of thought, woah, Schillaci and then Peaky Boo are obviously two very good dogs and then drawing box seven wasn’t ideal. The dog probably doesn’t get the respect he deserves, he’s not the fastest of dogs but he will give his all and that’s what I thought he did in his heat, because he hadn’t had one trial, he hadn’t even been worked (since his last start). So I thought his run was good and it’s about where he was at, they only went 30.78 and he did get very tired, because he would usually run home in about 12.60 and he ran home in 13 dead. But, at the end of the day, it didn’t matter what time they ran, as long as he won. It shows you the type of dog he is, he just doesn’t give up, he looked gone up the back and he just kept going.”
Kai Bale was the other winner for Aloisi, with the ex-Victorian based chaser showing his true ability, with a strong effort, getting the victory thanks to an impressive 12.51 run home time. That run made it two straight for Kai Bale, after taking out the consolation of the Mount Gambier Cup two weeks ago.
“It was a very good run; you’ve got to remember that was only his second look at Angle Park. I ‘quality’ trialled him and that was his first look at Angle Park ever, then we went to Mount Gambier. His two runs there were enormous. So far in Adelaide he’s only been slowly away which will be his downfall, but motor wise, his run homes have been enormous.” said Aloisi.
Alosi is disappointed with the box draws given to his two chasers and concedes that both will need plenty of luck if they are to win the race, but knows they both have the tenacity and ability required to take it out, if they are afforded some luck in the race.
“Obviously my best chance will be Kai Bale, but both are boxed terribly. If I could pick some boxes that I didn’t want, that was them, so they would both need a lot of luck early.” lamented Aloisi.
“If he’s (Kai Bale) to win or be there abouts, then he needs to jump with them and position nicely after the first bend and not find trouble. Obviously at Angle Park, with box eight and you come out with them and are slowish away, then you tend to be caught wide and find trouble.”
“For me the main danger would be Zali Keeping. I think her first run last week was good. I think from box four that she could position up nicely. I wouldn’t write off Buddy Monelli, because he’s a mad railer and has group form and I think that with his second look, he could improve big time. They are all pretty good dogs though and I think anything can win, but off the box draw, they are the two that can run some races.”
One of the other feature races on the night will be the 2024 South Australian Distance Championship. Despite just four dogs being drawn for the event, all eyes will be on Lena Jinx, with the phenomenal talent likely to start as a red-hot favourite, as she has her eyes set on potentially lowering her current track record, following a super-fast 42.50 prelude victory last week.
A big crowd is expected on Thursday, with the racing to start from 6:40pm.
Best Bets:
Silver Luck (Race 1, Number 2)
Supreme Sword (Race 7, Number 1)