Britton brings strong contingent for Group 3 raid
The Spring carnival at Angle Park ramps up on Thursday night with the heats of 2023 Group 3 South Australian Oaks and Derby. Always a popular pair of races on the calendar, both Group 3 finals will carry a $25,000 first prize next week.
The Derby looks quite strong overall with some hot form being brought into the series from numerous chasers, particularly the Victorian dogs who will head across the border
Victorian trainer Jeff Britton looks to have a super strong hand to play in the Derby series with three quick dogs engaged over the two heats, namely Weblec Wolf, Departed and Mepunga Smokey.
It’s hard to envision a dog that could come with better form that what Mepunga Smokey will arrive at Angle Park with, with the son of Barcia Bale set to create an imposing presence.
Mepunga Smokey’s recent form includes an impressive 29.67 victory at The Meadows last start which followed a red hot 29.29 run at Sandown in the Speed Star match race series before that.
Early in his career, Mepunga Smokey was putting together some very eye-catching runs on the one-turn tracks in Victoria but would always let himself down early with his box manners. Things have now turned for the chaser and he has put things together and is now showing plenty of early speed which is allowing him to show how fast he is and trainer Britton puts the improved form down to his better box manners.
“He’s always had ability, but he was doing a lot of things wrong as a pup,” Britton said.
“He would come out two behind them, but he’s worked out how to come out of boxes now. I didn’t think he could go 29.67 at The Meadows, but he just seems to be getting better as he gets a bit older.”
Mepunga Smokey has come up with box three in the second heat of the series and will be hoping to make the most of a lack of early speed in the race. His main dangers in Aston Costello and the South Australian Buzz The Hustler have drawn outside him so if he is able to jump and hold them out, then he will take plenty of beating in the race.
“I just hope he can get out well and get another run on the track. He showed a bit of speed but didn’t finish off his trial that well.” Britton said.
“Maybe it was because he’s had a little bit too much in the last week. He’s had a pretty easy week, Saturday morning I trialled him and since then he hasn’t done a lot, just trying to freshen him up for Thursday,”
Britton will also have a hand in the first heat with one of his chances being Weblec Wolf, who is part owned by local South Australian, Neville Loechel. Weblec Wolf has drawn kindly with box three and comes into the race having won in 29.47 at Sandown Park two starts ago and that form will have him right in this race and series.
“I think he had run on the track before when Nev had him. He trialled a 100th (of a second) quicker than him (Mepunga Smokey) when we trialled, but he came over home a couple of lengths quicker. He’s running 29.40 around Sandown which is good, he should be competitive, put it that way,” Britton said.
“These pups that can run a bit tend to have up and down form because they are finding hard races very quickly, you win your first couple and you look pretty good and then next minute you’re amongst the elite and you don’t look so good. It was just nice to get him (Weblec Wolf) back down and give him a trial and he’s gone pretty well.”
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Before the heats of the Derby, two Oaks heats will be run in races two and three on the card with the first four from each heat to make their way through to the final.
The first heat looks to be quite even, with Senna Wick and Zipping Mahalia the best of the two South Australian chances in the race. Wynburn Honey who is currently in the care of Lauren Harris and Ryan Tugwell will be hoping for more luck this week, after producing an eye-catching run last week despite walking out of the boxed in her first start on the track.
Weblec Jewel will likely start favourite in the race after drawing box one, given that she was a 29.70 winner at Sandown Park two starts ago. She is part of a strong contingent from the Britton kennel that has earmarked this race.
Heat two of the Oaks is arguably the strongest of the two heats and has one of the big guns for the series in the form of Mepunga Surprise who has already proven herself to be a top-class animal, having won in a fast 29.33 before at Sandown Park. She has stepped up in trip in recent starts and been winning over the 660m distance, so she will need to handle the drop back in trip.
Kirin Corby has a strong chance in the heat with Where’s Poppy set to start one of the favourites, given her excellent recent form. She’s won four of her last five starts and last start she put together a career best effort, when winning a strong grade 5 race in a hot 30.66 time, with her early speed a feature of her racing.
Racing will start at 6:34pm on Thursday.
Best Bet: Springvale Max (Race 7, Number 1)
Value Bet: Schillaci (Race 5, Number 6)