Stewart optimistic heading into Gawler Produce final
Run this Sunday night at Gawler, the 2023 final of the Gawler Produce Series, shapes as quite an open race after an intriguing box draw.
Two quality packed semi-finals were held last week, with the Tracey Amos-trained See My Future getting up in the last stride to win in 30.84 to win his semi-final, whilst the Barry Stewart-trained Fantastic Tommy won with a great show of early speed, running 30.87 to claim the other semi.
Fantastic Tommy has been near faultless in his two starts this series, having done everything right in his heat run, before getting run down late, and of course winning last week in the semi-final.
The journey has been on the mind of Bary Stewart, since he purchased the dog late last year.
“He became available (through Jason Fletcher in Sydney), the syndicate had enough dogs there so I decided to buy him.” Stewart said.
“I had bought a slot before I bought him! I did it with Fantastic Victor and I thought just in case I buy him or the syndicate buy him, I will take a chance and pay the $121 for him, which I did.”
After just his first South Australian start, he was given some time off and since his return, he has been simply brilliant, running good times wherever he has gone. It was an injury enforced spell and one that saw Stewart take his time to get it righ
“He hurt his shoulder, it was deep seeded and it took a long time to fix.” Stewart reflected
Following a sound run in his heat, where he led but was rundown relatively easily, Stewart didn’t have a great deal of confidence going into the semi-final, with the win coming as a pleasant surprise.
“It was a good win, it surprised me actually,” Stewart said.
“I didn’t think he would win after he drew box four, because it was a reasonably tough field and he drew the winner of the heat from the week before, which beat him fairly easily.”
“I didn’t think he would win, but he surprised me with how quick he began, which he needed to and he will need to come out quicker again this week!”
It looks to be a tough ask on paper for the final on Sunday, with Fantastic Tommy drawing box eight. The wide draw means that he will have to be faultless if he is to claim the $14,000 first prize, which Stewart is well aware of.
“He has to lead to win and I am doubtful whether he can get across, that’s my worry,” he said.
“I don’t think he can come from behind but his section to the post is the quickest out of any of them, provided he can jump the same, although his run to the back isn’t quite that good.
“He’s only run 16.03 whereas Coorong Cam has gone 15.79, so he’s got about four lengths on him down the back. So even if Tommy can lead, Coorong Cam could go around him and head him off anyway, that’s the worry.”
The Gawler card will start at 5:27pm local time, with the Gawler Produce final set to be run at 7:48pm.