Great Night for SA at the Nationals
2016 UBET AGRA National Championships – REVIEW
Exciting local sprinting star Worm Burner broke a 23 year drought for South Australia when he took out the Sprint Final of the UBET AGRA National Championships held at Angle Park on Saturday night in brilliant fashion.
In front of a large parochial crowd the Cameron Butcher trained South Aussie exploded from box 6 to surprisingly cross long odds on favourite Zambora Brockie from Victoria to the cheers of his supporters. He ran his first split in a flying 4.37 with Zambora Brockie for Anthony Azzopardi in hot pursuit with Times Square for WA trainer Chris Halse moving to third from his wide draw. Down the back straight it seemed the louder the crowd cheered the further Worm Burner was able to extend his lead over his rivals running a sick 16.66 of the back straight. Finding himself in front for the first time in his career saw Worm Burner blister through his final section in a sizzling run home of 12.51 to record an unbelievable 29.17 for the 515m journey leaving his challengers in his wake by almost 6 lengths to the delight of the oncourse patrons. He defeated Zambora Brockie, Times Square and Dundee Osprey who claimed fourth, all gallant in defeat breaking 30 seconds themselves but were no match for the son of Oaks Road and Little Looper. The crowd continued to cheer the local champion as he returned to the dais for the presentation. In what was a high quality Group 1 Final, Worm Burner stamped himself as not only the local star but a star on the National scene.
By winning tonight Worm Burner became only the fifth South Australian to take out the National Sprint Title since the inception of the series back in 1965. Previous local winners were Kate’s A Scandal (1981), Scenic Spa (1985), Stetson (1986) and 23 years ago was Casino Tom (1993). Worm Burner also broke into the top five times ever recorded on the Angle Park loam with his sensational 29.17 equal with Betty’s Angel who recorded the same time 10 years ago. Betty’s Angel also has the third fastest time at 29.12 recorded in 2007 while superstar Brett Lee holds the track record at 28.88 in 2001 and the second best at 29.04 also in 2001. Others of note are Big Daddy Cool running 29.14 in 2004 (4th overall) and champion Fernando Bale with local Eduardo joint seventh running 29.20 last year.
As part of SA’s Breeders Super Bonus Scheme it was also a windfall for his breeder Alan McCulloch, who after spending many thousands of dollars on breeding will receive $12,500 as part of his Oaks Road x Little Looper’s litter winning a Group 1 final. Alan also receives $1,000 as the breeder for not only Worm Burner but also his sister Springvale Bryne for making the Group 1 finals. Trevor Davey will also receive $1,000 for Fabregal trained by Robyn Mackellar making the National Final.
Worm Burner has now won his last 11 starts giving him the imposing record of 28 wins and 9 placings from just 43 starts with prizemoney of almost $165,000. His next target will be the Group 1 UBET Adelaide Cup to be run on Friday 7th October before a likely invitation to the Group 1 Sky Racing Topgun at the Meadows on October 22 with the $600,000 Melbourne Cup just around the corner at Sandown on November 18.
South Australian greyhounds were to the fore earlier in the night with Parsec Bale for Wendy Matcott and Springvale Bryne for Gavin Harris running out of their skin to fill the placings in the Group 1 UBET AGRA National Distance Final behind Victorian staying star Ring The Bell for Gerry O’Keeffe.
As the lids flew open Queenslander Big Easy Red and NSW stayer Cardiology matched their motors running blistering first sectionals as they reached the winning post on the first occasion. Ring The Bell and Springvale Bryne sat just off the pace getting a cosy run while Parsec Bale settled near the tail of the field. Down the back straight Cardiology sped to the clear lead running of the back straight in a blistering 29.25 just .03 outside of Proven Imapla’s third split record with the chasing pack in hot pursuit. As heads turned for home Cardiology was beginning to paddle with the high quality field charging home. Spearing to the lead in the final straight was Ring The Bell who showed his class and stamina over the gruelling 731m journey to go on and record a brilliant victory for Victoria. The son of Kinloch Brae and Absolute Stunna won by 2 lengths in a flying 43.22 with South Aussie Parsec Bale sprouting wings over the concluding stages to grab second from fellow local Springvale Bryne in third. Taking nothing away from Ring The Bell who was absolutely brilliant in his victory but the performances of both local stayers to claim the minor money on their home track set the big crowd alight in anticipation of what was to come later in the evening.
Ring The Bell has now won 15 races from his 45 starts with 15 minor placings and prizemoney just under $200,000. Victoria has dominated the National Distance Title since it was first held in 1969 with the “Big V” winning 25 of the 48 finals after Ring The Bell’s brilliant win.
Congratulations to all the State’s representatives for making to Adelaide for the National Championships in what was an achievement in itself however SA surely hasn’t had a better night of racing on the National stage than Saturday night.
Go the Croweaters.