Box Draw - SA Sprint Championship
2017 BARGAIN STEEL CENTRE SA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS
– BOX DRAW
The best locally trained sprinters in the State gathered at Angle Park last night in two heats of the Bargain Steel Centre SA Sprint Championships.
The fastest qualifier for the final was the Paula Hearnden trained Marlow Brown in the second heat who sizzled around the Angle Park loam in a slick 29.70. Marlow Brown landed second from box rise hot on the heels of leader Aston Kody for Troy Murray and it looked like the two favourites were going to have a ding dong battle however Aston Kody sustained an injury entering the back straight leaving Marlow Brown with clear running over the concluding stages. He won by 1 length from Coorong Kid for Cameron Butcher who looks to be getting back to his brilliant best and Run The Jewels for Lauren Harris ran another nice race grabbing third.
In the first heat all eyes were on superstar sprinter Worm Burner for trainer Cameron Butcher. He had drawn perfectly in box 8 however after surprisingly missing the placings last week some form judges were wondering if he had come back to his brilliant best after the spider bite incident a few months ago. On dispatch he began nicely with the early lead taken up by Allinga Val for Yvonne King and Crisis Bale for Lisa Rasmussen. Down the back straight Worm Burner had got himself to the outside and looked like picking the leaders up easily however off the back straight he went for a needle eye opening on the inside with many favourite punters holding their breath as the field turned for home. Worm Burner shoulder his way through and quickly accelerated picking up Allinga Val near the finishing line to go on and win by almost 1 length in a flying 29.77. Allinga Val was super in the lead and will take some catching in the final while last years Sprint Champion Mrs Bubbles for Matty Payne ran another honest race grabbing third place and will look to defend her title. Worm Burner has drawn box 1 in the final and it seems only bad luck can beat him however he can occasionally find some trouble on the inside so the first 100 metres will be very interesting.
The $22,000 Listed feature will be run next Thursday night 19th January. It will be race 8 on the program and is listed to jump at 9.13pm (SA time).
The Final field in Box Draw order is:
1. Worm Burner Cameron Butcher
2. Coorong Kid Cameron Butcher
3. Texas Titan Nathan Wilson
4. Allinga Val Yvonne King
5. Marlow Brown Paula Hearnden
6. Zipping Geoff Kathy Johnstone
7. Run The Jewles Lauren Harris
8. Mrs Bubbles Matthew Payne
9. Crisis Bale (1st Res) Lisa Rasmussen
10.Blown Away (2nd Res) Lisa Rasmussen