Zipping Highland Seeking Launching Pad Success
The final of the 2023 South Australian Launching Pad series will be run this Thursday night at Angle Park, with the race drawing together a quality field of youngsters, who are all hoping to win their way to the Victorian series which will be staged in a few weeks time. The final carries a $3800 to the winner prize, but also a ticket worth $2000 into the Victorian Launching pad series.
With three heats last week, won by Live It, Could Be King and Agent Nine Nine, the final will bring together a good mix of speed and strength from the chasers involved.
The Ben Rawlings trained Could Be King will bring an intimidating presence to the final, after his massive best of the night win last week, running 30.47 with a strong run home time to match. Zipping Highland, who finished second behind Could Be King in the heat, will be looking for some redemption when he exits box six in the final.
Since joining Nicole Price’s kennel in December, Zipping Highland has shown a high level of form and ability, with some brilliant runs in the lower grades, which included a flying 30.74 win at Gawler four runs back.
His second in the heat last week was strong, running 30.75 himself despite receiving a big bump coming out the boxes.
Whilst he will need some luck from box six, if he comes out well and gets a clear run, then there's no doubting that he is a big hope to take out the feature event.
“I’m happy with him, he hasn’t had a clear run since he’s arrived to be honest. He’s always trying, I'm super happy with all of his runs and he seems to be getting better and better. He’s very field smart, he’s been going inside and outside, which you just don’t see in many dogs!” said Price
“He got hit as he came out of the boxes and for a bigger dog, if they’re hit like that then the race is over. You just lose all your momentum and the leader just got away (last week).”
“The dog has got a huge heart and it’s not something he’s always shown.”
“I don’t think anyone likes box six! My problem is with Ragin’ Riot coming across from box eight, which might hamper him. If the seven (Faster Than Slow) can hold it out, my plan would be to follow Benny (Could Be King) and be a lot closer this time. That would be my hope. I think he’s good enough if he gets a clear run, but it hasn’t happened since I got him and I haven’t got to see him run in free air.”
“I think Benny’s (Could Be King) is definitely the one to beat, it’s fast and it’s fast out, I just need to hope that I don’t run into traffic so I can be close enough. If he (Could Be King) does get tangled up and I can get around, then he’s (Zipping Highland) definitely good enough. I would love to see him in front up the back to see what he can do!”
Time graded to city finals are a regular event for the Thursday night cards at Angle Park and this week will see a 1-4 win final take place, following two heats on Saturday morning.
The two heat winners were Roxy Rover (31.50) and Love My Key (31.07), with the latter likely to start one of the favourites on Thursday night. Local Doll, who has put in some solid efforts since joining the car of Kim Johnstone, ran a close second behind Love My Key in her heat and will be looking to claim her first South Australian victory on Thursday.
She will exit box five in the final on Thursday night and with a lack of early speed drawn below, if she is able to step quickly then she will get her chance to work to the rail and lead early. Having run second in 30.86 a few starts ago before putting in some solid Gawler efforts, she certainly has the ability to be winning this race.
“I was trying to get an inside box and get her some confidence! (going to Gawler)” exclaimed Johnstone
“She just needs box one, two or three.”
“I thought she probably should have got past the dog (in the heat) but she just couldn’t decide (where to go) and I think she lost momentum.”
“Not ideal! (Box five). I don’t think she can cross, the problem is that she doesn’t even go straight for one step, she just goes to the rail. I would have liked to see in her box one, two or three and then I would have thought she would be a good chance, but from five she is probably just a place chance.
Adrien Chevalier will unveil a new chaser to his kennel on Thursday night when he brings Shian Gizmo to town, with the black dog having started his career in Queensland.
Whilst he only brings a modest record of 2 wins from 23 career starts, he has certainly shown ability with a quick 25.15 victory at Ipswich, which is a slick time.
It’s a kind draw to start his South Australian adventure, having drawn box one in a heat of the 1-2 win grade 6 series. Their will be two heats of the series, with the final to be run next week.
“It’s a syndicate of Murray Bridge horse trainers that own him. They wanted a dog after they saw the Murray Bridge Sprint Classic and this boy came up on Greyhound Data the week after they were there .”
“I’ve had him for about three weeks, I gave him a 395 at Murray Bridge and he went 22.61 last Wednesday night and then I went down Sunday Morning to Angle Park and gave him a box to box, he went 5.28 early, 17.90 to the back. It was the best of the morning.”
“The way he’s trialled and the way he is doing everything, he should be around the mark I would say. He should break ‘31’, I would say he would go around the 30.80 mark. I think there is plenty of improvement in him, I am just still working him out.”
Best Bet: Queen Of Scotch (Race 6, Number 4)
Value Bet: Copy Cat (Race 12, Number 1)