Cash On Delivery claims Murray Bridge Straight Track Cup
Cash On Delivery has won the 2023 Weblec Ace & Mepunga Blazer at Stud Straight Track Cup Final at Murray Bridge on Tuesday afternoon.
Jumping from box eight, Cash On Delivery scooted out to an early lead enjoying clear running room out wide as it got out by three lengths by the mid-part of the race. It then held off the fast-finishing Aston Ziebell and Federal Outlaw, to claim the crown in a quick time of 18.88.
Speaking after the race, trainer Ashlee Griffiths said she was thrilled with Cash On Delivery’s performance.
“I was thrilled with the run,” Griffiths said.
“He went better than last week; the track was a bit better too after the rain last week made it a bit slower.”
“He had to have an easy week leading into the heats and we knew he’d be feeling better this week with his work that he did.”
After last week’s box draw, Griffiths said that box eight would suit Cash On Delivery and the race went to plan with it enjoying space out wide after Aston Ziebell in box seven moved toward the inside part of the track.
“It (the wide draw) definitely helped him as we knew he would go straight line and that was what happened,” Griffiths said.
“He pinged the lids at the start and just kept going and did what he had to do from there.”
There are plenty of options coming up for the talented chaser including the SA National Straight Track Championship heats in early August. But for now, Griffiths said a return to Gawler was likely for Cash On Delivery who was just 0.01 shy of breaking the 400m track record last month.
“We will probably go back to Gawler with him and have a crack at the track record given he was just a nose off last time,” she said.
“Hopefully he can do that and then we will have to wait and see how he is and what is coming up from there.”
Earlier on the card, the Nathan Goodenough-trained Taylor Toves claimed the Cup consolation with an impressive win from box six. After having no luck in its heat last week, it jumped well before pulling away to win by two lengths in a time of 18.97.
Dave Peckham also enjoyed a good day out on the straight track, registering a training double to go with his second-place finish with Aston Ziebell in the cup final.
Federal Flash was the first, producing an excellent run-in race four to hold off the Tim Richards trained Oh Louise by two and a half lengths in a time of 16.61 over the 300m journey. Cawbourne Stella completed the double for Peckham with an impressive wire-to-wire victory from box one.
The next Murray Bridge meeting is on the one-turn track on Friday afternoon.