Rasmussen crew lands 6 from 11!
Fantastic Radley kicked off the spectacle on one of our last remaining Thursday nights at the Bridge. After making a mistake early, Radley was able to work to lead and close curtains on the race. An easy start to the night for multi punters around the country. The second of the night was a pretty quiet maiden and it was a complete one act affair with the odds on favourite in Mallee Dreamer leading all the way. She is a sister to the promising Mallee Magic and is certainly not far behind on ability. A four dog grade 6 over the 395m trip for the third of the night and it was another all the way victory, this time to Milly May. She clocked respectable splits of 5.09-22.72. The fourth was a 4/5 over the 455m journey and we saw the first very heavily supported runner of the night in Woodside Zulu. The black dog started odds on and whilst he wasn’t able to lead, he did navigate a path for himself to find the front and land a terrific 25.64 victory. Line Seeker was an eye-catching second behind in his first up run.
Sweet Antarers flew out to lead the fifth of the night in a neat 8.14 split. Mid-race, Toby West went whooshka and picked up the leader in a few strides, in a brilliant display of acceleration. After that it was race over and he landed a great 25.85 win. Adam Manton and his team has been doing an awesome job with their dogs lately and Toby West reaffirmed that with the victory off a few weeks let up. The sixth of the night was the first heat of the SA nationals and Fantastic Shell started favourite in an open race. Silent Jacko led early in the race with Rushes and Fantastic Shell in behind. Approaching the turn, Rushes made his move and hit the front, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides. He landed a very nice 30.11 victory. Race 7 was the second of the National sprint heats and surprisingly Terrific Keith started a $2.50 favourite ahead of Danyo’s Charlie. It wasn’t much of a race after about 5 strides with Danyo’s Charlie able to get straight over from box 4 and find the arm. He flew around and led all the way, clocking electric splits 11.77-29.81, which given the slow track was terrific. Charlie has arguably found career best form and looks near unstoppable in the final next week. Maybe the next step is an Adelaide cup tilt? He is going very good. Race 8 was a ripping little grade 5 over the 395m scamper. Weblec Blade and Undercut were able to lead the field, going head to head around the turn. As they straightened up it was little Victa Buzz that saw a gap and said that’s my lure! As she punched her way through to hit the front and snatch an awesome victory. She would be close to one of the most in form bitches in the state and is showing the ability that she has always had.
Photo: Danyo's Charlie as he scorches around to land a heat of the SA Nationals
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography
Race 9 was a tame grade 6 over the 395m and Victa Maggie looked an absolute certainty from the 6 box. It was feet on the dashboard stuff pretty early for her backers, as she ripped out a 5.04 early split to lead easily, before landing a comprehensive 7 length victory in 22.54. Race 10 and Victa Haydn was absolutely crunched in the market, starting a $1.30 favourite in a race that he should have been winning. Highly Praised was best to leave from box 7 with Finniss Flash getting underneath it. After a tardy start, Haydn got mobile mid race but ran straight up the ass of Finniss Flash which spelt disaster for the thrill seekers that took the $1.30. Don’t Tell Lies was able to utilise the trouble and hit the front, holding on for a win ahead of Aston Odyssey. The last of the night saw a multi banker for many around the country in Victa Reid, who started a $1.30 favourite just like his brother in the race previous. Reid actually began alright but just got outpaced early with the inform Zinfandel Oompa able to find the top. Burn The Box was able to scoot through midrace and find the back of Oompa. In the straight it was strength that proved the difference and Burn The Box was able to get past and land a very deserved victory.
Dog to follow: Zinfandel Oompa - She is a bitch that is really at the top of her game right now. Her runs back this preparation have been superb and the great conditioner in Gavin Harris has got her in super order. Will be back again next Thursday for the city meeting and whatever field she meets you have to give her a great hope. Track was heavy and the first attempt back over the 455m was against the 23kg rocket, but she went super! No disgrace getting run down by the quality/inform Burn The Box and she was able to beat home Victa Reid who has been in good touch as well.
Best Bet (Monday night) - Dam Reckless (Race 7, Box #2) - Due for a bit of luck with our best bets so here goes. A bitch that was certainly steady when initially transitioning to SA, but that was at Gawler and that track is tricky! Has taken to the Murray Bridge facilities like a duck to water… Her straight track runs have been nothing short of electric and the form lines terrific. She ran over the 395m Thursday and went super from out wide, showing a mix of speed and strength. I actually don’t mind the 4 day back up and step up in trip, for this scenario. Drawn a strong field tomorrow night but that will just mean a better price. The map is perfect with Crush Your Enemy (a.k.a - Crush Your Outside Enemy), drawn outside her and he will get straight off the track, potentially giving the likely favourite in Meet Joe Black something to think about. A great chance to get on the arm and if she does, they would have to go super to get past her.