Perth Cup Champ Ready To Party
11 January, 2018
Greyhound
Equanimity headlines a stellar field of greyhounds in this Friday’s Group 3 Birthday Cup (405m) at Mandurah, where he will be looking to add another feature win to an already imposing record.
It has been an outstanding 12 months for Equanimity and his owner and breeder Robert Brankstone, where the chaser burst on to the scene and elevated himself to be one star performers in Western Australia.
After taking out the Group 1 Perth Cup at just his 10th career start and Group 2 All Stars at Cannington last year, Equanimity won his heat of the Birthday Cup last week in a time of 22.82 seconds, the sixth fastest winning time on the night.
Brankstone said Equanimity, an $8 chance on TABtouch, deserved to be among the leading chances in the sprint event, and indicated the shorter trip would be no concern.
“He trialled there the week before his heat and he flew around,” Brankstone told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“We expected more in his heat run, but it turned out he had a few little niggles that may have prevented him from being at his best.
“But team Crudelli have done a great job getting him to 100% for tomorrow night.”
Miss Bamsy, trained by Jackie Wilson, and Desert Rampage, trained by Chris Halse, share favouritism for the race at $3, while Perth Cup runner-up and defending champion Pepper Fire is also in the field.
Brankstone said he was surprised by Equanimity’s price, but felt it was a good test for the Perth Cup winner.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he said.
“He’s going up against some good dogs that know Mandurah inside and out.”
The Birthday Cup jumps at 8.30 on Friday night.
Tim Walker