Finniss Flash breaks through for deserved victory
Race 1 and we kicked off with a maiden. Finnish Flash started a well backed favourite from box 4. Mallee Dreamer led comfortably from box 1, but that didn’t last long as Finnish Flash gave her windburn, taking over before the turn. Finnish Flash strolled in for a very well deserved victory in 25.57. Race 2 was a grade 6 over the 455m and Spring Flora started a very warm favourite off the back of an impressive maiden victory. Spring Flora was able to lead from go to whoa, running 8.05-25.78 in an impressive display. It’s taken a couple runs to see the best of her but I suspect she will go right on with it now. An even race for the third of the night with Exhilarating just starting favourite from box 1 ahead of a well backed Stars Aligned. Unfortunately for favourite backers Exhilarating walked out, which allowed Victa Maggie to lead from box 2. After a bit of trouble mid race, it was a two dog race with Victa Maggie leading and Stars Aligned behind her. In the home straight it was Stars Aligned that took over and landed a nice win in 25.71. Victa Buzz started favourite in the fourth of the card, on the back of a very good win the week before. Victa Buzz was able to work hard early and find the front, just getting around Saint Candy who flew out of the red. Saint Candy tried her darndest to catch Victa Buzz but was unable to, as Buzz landed a really nice 25.63 win. Bitches in form is a very good form reference for punting, so it will be worth your time following Victa Buzz and Spring Flora in the immediate future.
Race 5 saw a very well backed favourite in Rhyme Nor Reason off a much preferred wide draw. Hot Spartan was surprisingly able to lead early but was quickly overtaken by Rhyme Nor Reason, from which point the race was over as he walked in with a really nice 25.52 victory. Danyo’s Charlie started an odds on favourite in the sixth of the night from box 8. Rockstar Manners used box 2 beautifully to punch up and find an uncontested lead. He had a comfortable lead approaching the home straight, but Woodside Zulu found clear air and loomed as a huge danger. He made a big lunge on the line but just missed and Rockstar Manners held on in 25.60. Fantastic Shell was a warm favourite for the seventh over the 530m, with a map that looked to suit. Fantastic Shell jumped well but Spring Vinnie was able to hold up from the inside and was always going to be hard to beat from there. He went on to win, clocking neat splits of 11.95-29.85. An intriguing m/6 for the eighth of the card over the 530m and Dashing Wilma was a very well supported favourite. Wilma was able to get over from box 6 and lead which really should have been race over but she seemed to get a bit lost once she hit the front, which allowed Straight Blaze to get past her approaching the turn. They fanned wide coming into the straight but Straight Blaze had their measure and was too good, lobbing a really nice 30.42 victory.
Photo: Rockstar Manners in box 2 makes it three on the bounce since coming to SA)
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography
Race 9 was our Daish Irrigation and Fodder final over the 530m and this was the definition of even. The inform Footrot Fernando was able to lead from box 5. As they turned for home it was Vontae Mack that loomed large and took over in the straight, going on to land a strong 30.14 win. Mallee Magic started a dominant favourite in the 10th of the night. It was a complete one act affair for the brindle dog as he led all the way in a quick 8.13-25.50. Race 11 saw a hot favourite in Crush Your Enemy, which had lengths on the field on paper. Frodo Baggins led on his outside which certainly wasn’t ideal for favourite backers but Crush Your Enemy was somehow able to get to the outside and pick up the leader with ease, as he scorched home for a superb win. Race 12 saw a heavily backed favourite in Gemtree Maximus off the back of a Gawler Produce campaign. He was $2.30 into $1.50. Gemtree Maximus was able to return to somewhere near his best as he led all the way, clocking a 7.98-25.62 run.
Dog to follow: Burn The Box - A dog that’s always had a monster wrap, but taken a while to mature. He’s now had 42 starts and I have been taken with the way he’s gone about it the last two starts. His win last week at Gawler was really impressive, over 400, after being slow early but handling himself very well in the field to find the front. On Thursday he was almost able to run down Gemtree Maximus, which would have been no easy feat over the 455m. He probably goes back to Gawler now and follows the city program but I think you can follow and back him with a bit of confidence at the moment.
Best Bet (Monday night) - Came And Went (Race 8, Box #1) - Think this bloke is the emerging kennel star for Troy Murray. He has been going very nicely recently and running time! Maps well in the red with a few tardy beginners outside of him. He’s no rocket launcher early but does muster well. I think Gemtree Maximus takes up a large part of this market, but he has a very slick beginner outside of him which could make him burn a few petrol tickets early to hold it out. Think Came And Went can lob a spot in the run and nab Gemtree Maximus late.