Straight comes alive as SA Nationals heats take centre stage
Damien Smith enjoys career best night at The Bridge
Sunday Meeting
On a chilly Sunday evening at The Bridge, it was the Damien Smith show with the local trainer collecting four winners to give him a night to remember.
The improving Bookaloo got things rolling, showing her enjoyment of the one turn circuit. Over the 395m trip, she was outpaced from an inside draw, but showed some real smarts when recovering after losing ground and balancing up outside the leader at the top of the straight. She was far too strong in the home straight, running away for an impressive three-length win in 22.64.
The impressive Canya Candy then took out the fast lass race of the night over the same distance, showing some excellent speed to go to the lead early and looking untroubled from there, as she won in 22.66.
Next up was a new arrival for Smith’s kennel, with the highly talented Nangar Express stepping out for the first time in SA. From box four over the 455m trip, he fired straight to the lead early and took control. Holding a clear margin around the turn, he never looked in trouble and strolled home for a great 25.68 victory, a slick time given the conditions of the night.
Finishing off the night was the quickly improving Weblec Marquise, who also won over the 455m distance. A safe start saw her up on speed early and right in the firing line. Around the turn, she got pushed off the track, but that didn’t phase her as she resettled and clicked through another gear, powering to the lead and running away for a cracking 25.81 victory.
Tony Hinrichsen had a winning night, with his chaser On The Northerns putting together a slick performance to win well from the 395m trip. From box six, the black dog fired out to the lead after the boxes opened and was doing things very well early. After setting up a clear lead early, he extended it going into the turn and was travelling strongly. At the top of the straight, the race was all but over, as he stormed away for a four length, 22.62 victory. That was his ninth career win and took his earnings to a shade over $24,000!
Tuesday Meeting (Straight track)
Heats of the National Straight Track Championships were the highlight for the Tuesday’s program, with four heats being run in preparation for the final which will be held next week.
The first heat was taken out by the Bosko Stamenkovic trained So Be It, who franked some good recent form to book its place in the final next week. Despite being four-and-a-half years old, this chaser has only had 14 career starts and entered having won its first two starts back off a six-month break. From box seven, he got out to an early lead and although he tired late, he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Myall Ray to go through to next week’s final!
The second heat went to the Nathan Goodenough trained Paxton Dutton, who has been a real star at the straight track for quite a period of time. With heats run over the 350m trip, Paxton Dutton was a bit tardy early from box eight, but was given plenty of room to work with early by staying up the track. In an enthralling tussle, he worked to the front with 100m to go and looked to have the race in the bag, but as they approached the line, he started to get weary. With the finish line approaching, it was a sensational finish between him and Agent Nineteen, but he did enough and won by the barest of margins in 19.20.
Heat third went to 2023 SA Short Course Greyhound of the Year in Cash On Delivery, who is trained by Cameron Forshaw. After winning the Thunderbolt earlier this year, he is one of the favourites not only for the state final but in the National final as well and booked his place into the next round on Tuesday. From box two, he flew out to the lead early and set up a big margin. Mid-race, he was travelling beautifully and had the race sewn up. Towards the end he did get tired but had done more than enough and won in 18.94, the fastest of the three heats. If he shows that early speed again in the final and repeats that run, then he’s going to take a stack of beating.
The last heat went to the Gavin Haris trained Zinfandel Austin. The promising youngster had his toughest test to date yet in his career and handled it perfectly. In arguably the toughest of the three heats, he came out well from box eight and put himself on speed early. After working to a narrow lead early, he was never able to break free from the pack, but he did hold his margin right the way up, eventually going on to win by a length in 19.07. He will certainly enjoy drawing wide next week!
A terrific week at The Bridge, with plenty of excitement looming next week!