Yarramundi Paul Drawn Perfectly In Brian Johnstone Final
The final of the Group 3 Brian Johnstone series will take place on Thursday night at Angle Park. Last week saw trainer Vadim Roz take out both of the semi finals with chasers that he trains but also bred.
Yarramundi Paul was one of the semi final winners and he was able to show smarts and determination to deal with early trouble, before rattling home and letting his strength do the talking. The win was impressive and pleasing for Vadim.
“His heat was excellent. He was last before finishing post the first time and had to go three wide, which he’s never happy going around dogs, he doesn’t go full speed.” said Roz
“He will improve a lot being near the rail, so I thought he did a good job to go around them.”
“It didn’t surprise me because the dog has been within two lengths of Zippy Tesla after a two day back up and three lengths behind Mallee Magic. The dog can run, he’s just been drawing terrible boxes and he’s not gifted with early speed.”
“He doesn’t really like Angle Park, at Gawler and Murray Bridge he comes out really quick. He’s just a bit tardy early at Angle Park, then he’s got to work hard to get around dogs and chase them down.”
Machismo was the other semi final winner, taking out his race in a slick 30.56, ahead of the consistent Spring Honour. Yarramundi Turbo ran third in his semi as well which saw him qualify for the final, which means Vadim will have three live chances in the final, all of which from the Dec 20’ My Redeemer x Gemma Nismo litter. Gemma Nismo was a fantastic race bitch which Vadim bought for the purpose of breeding, so it would no doubt be a fantastic achievement if one of these chasers is able to win. The box draw has been kind for Vadim with Yarramundi Paul drawing box one, underneath his brother Yarramunidi Turbo in box four.
“I think the box draw is very good, (Yarramundi) Paul in box one improves out of sight once he’s on the rail, (Yarramundi) Turbo next to him in box two is a wide runner so will give him plenty of room. He could possibly jam the field up through the first corner which would be an advantage to (Yarramundi) Paul.
“Yarramundi Turbo is a genuine wide runner, boxes 6, 7 and 8 are better for him ” said Roz
“Machismo will be last out but he will slot in behind (Yarramundi) Paul and it will be race on. They just need to have some luck through the first corner because I don’t think they are the fastest dogs in the race.”
“This is the grand final basically, everything has been prepared for this one race and if one of them wins it then great, but if they don’t that’s okay.”
“Greg Board’s dog (Spring Honour) is going enormous, he’s a flawless beginner and will get room to accelerate, he’s going really well. Lauren’s dog (Finniss Redeem) in the three has been very consistent, he beat (Yarramundi) Paul a couple of weeks ago fair and square.”
“I think if anything it’s a very open final but I am drawn to have every chance to do something.”
Vadim will also unveil a first starter in the form of Emerley Zoe (Shime Shine x Saldana) in race two, a bitch he hopes might progress into a nice type.
“I think she will need more time. It’s hard to get field trials so she has no field experience. I think she will improve with the run.” said Roz
“She’s one of the first pups to race by Shima Shine.”
“It’s taken a long time with her, but in six months I think we will see that she has some ability.”
“I won’t be surprised if she does win, but it’s almost best not to win because you go straight into grade sixes and juvenile and get pushed around.”
“She’s had a couple of 274s, she has a bit of speed. There are a couple of experienced ones in the race that I am concerned about. I think she needs to draw inside as well, she just follows the lure.”
Zipping Nebraska will line up for her third start since having a lengthy break, when she competes in the free for all over the 730m trip. After a handy first up return, the fawn bitch was able to capitalise on some fortune in her second up run last week, winning in a handy 43.45. Tomorrow night she will leave from box one in what appears a relatively even field. It has been an unlikely return to racing, with Zipping Nebraska having been brought home for retirement, before completing a couple of handy trials which saw make a return to racing.
“In the last few months we got her back home and we were ready to retire her. She came inside a couple of times and she went to the beach, then we started trialling her and she’d been trialling like a stayer, so we just built her up. We would trial her with other dogs and every time she was nearly running them down so we just thought we would give her another go racing.” trainer Ashlee Griffiths said
“Her first run back I wasn’t too confident as it was her first ‘700’ in a few months and she just got too far back, but managed to still run on alright, her next run I thought she could run a place and would be better for the run A few people told me she was going to win, she got in a good spot for her and didn’t get to far back and ran on good.”
“I think she’s a chance Thursday if she doesn’t get too far back early, she’s been confident in herself and feeling good all week. Hopefully she will just improve with her middle splits.”
Jack Trengove will unveil a debutant for his kennel in the form of Quest For Extra, with the black dog having his first start for six weeks after showing some good ability in Victoria. The black dog has been welcomed to South Australia with box eight, but has found a winnable grade six assignment. Trainer Jack Trengove will be hoping he shows his early speed and can work his way to the front early.
“My mate and I bought him off Greyhound Data and he came over with an injury.” said Trengove”
“He has had four weeks off and he’s had two trials back. He’s going okay but he is going to take a couple of weeks to get better.”
“If he can get through the corner cleanly on Thursday then he should go okay.”
The quality Zipping Chew will return after a two month break, when he lines up from box four in race eleven on Thursday. In his limited starts in South Australia, he showed both speed and strength, winning a few races, which include a 30.58 effort three starts ago. It is a quality lineup he will be against on Thursday night with some nice types engaged, that include Panorama and Karmen Kristy, but with a clear look, then Zipping Chew will certainly appear threatening, with trainer Kiah Hurley no doubt hoping that eventuates.
“He had a knee injury which is the reason for the time off.” said Hurley
“He’s had a box to box since his last start.”
“He should be there at the end, hopefully he gets a clear run to have a crack at them at the end.”
Best Bet: Victa Reid (Race 4, Number 6)
Value Bet: Spring High Low (Race 5, Number 1)