Harris with two chances in Howard Ashton final
The annual running of the Howard Ashton feature at Angle Park will take place this Thursday night, with the SA Bred Group 3 series drawing together a quality field of eight, to do battle for the $25,000 first prize. Springvale Max and Springvale Rex are two of the finalists, and both qualified after two extremely impressive heat runs, which their trainer Gavin Harris was very pleased with.
“I was very pleased with Max, I was a bit nervous about box seven because he hasn’t got a good record out of box seven.” said Gavin
“Rex came home strong so I was pleased with him as well. He bumped He’s All Purpose and was making good ground on Ray Murray’s dog (Air Pumbaa), but he ran a good race too.”
Springvale Max has gotten better and better with each run over the 530m trip, after his early career suggested he might only be a ‘short courser’. Now Gavin is looking forward to seeing him over 600m.
“I’m pretty pleased with him! (Springvale Max) At Angle Park I think he’s won 8 out of 12 over the 530. In his early days I was a bit worried about him running out the 530 strongly, but it was only a few starts ago that he ran a 12.50 run home, when he ran that 30.39, so he came home like a rocket.”
“One day I will try them over a bit more distance, but that will probably be July or something when I do that. Mum was a distance dog, she won twenty races over it (the 730m trip).”
After the final on Thursday, both dogs will be heading to the Gawler Produce, a series run every year for paid up eligible dogs.
“They are paid up for the Gawler Produce, so I'll be out their with them. Then after that I’ll see what happens.”
Gavin gives Springvale Max the better chance out of his two runners, but concedes that it’s going to be a battle to beat He’s All Purpose.
“Nah! (in regards to being happy with the draw), if Max had got the three then I would have been excited, but especially with He’s All Purpose getting box 1, it sets it up for him a bit. He (Springvale Max) does handle Angle Park pretty good though.”
“Max is the better chance, but He’s All Purpose is the one to beat, because he will get an easy cart to the first turn and can run 30.20. If he runs up to his best then no one will catch him.”
The Howard Ashton final will take place at 9:11pm local time.
