Countdown to the 2019 Crocmedia Nationals
State heats of the 2019 Crocmedia National Championships got underway on Thursday night with South Australia and Queensland conducting their Sprint heats while Tasmania conducted Sprint and Distance heats.
Winners around the grounds were Wise Misty and Amber Marie in Queensland, Fantastic Yankee and Canya Chase in South Australia while in Tasmania Bronelly Jacob and Dalhaus won the Distance heats and Lenard’s Boy, Be Like Bill and Hello Rhonda won Sprint Heats.
On Saturday night at the Meadows Perth Cup winner Orson Allen has drawn box one and is a $1.40 favourite for his heat while the clash between Black Opium and Dyna Patty will be fascinating in the Victorian State heats.
In New South Wales at Wentworth Park their first heat is wide open with Good Odds Buddy, Bogan Doonie and Jamella Jet at the head of the market while in the second of their heats Good Odds Harada is a $2 favourite.
It will be our turn here in WA on Saturday night at TABtouch Park Cannington when some of our hottest property strut their stuff in races 4 and 5 in heats of the Crocmedia WA Sprint Championship.
Leading Trainer Chris Halse holds a strong hand heading into Saturday night’s heats represented by Premium Share, Chips and Trains, West On Augie and Wise Ricciardo.
Defending National Champion West On Augie has come up with box one in his heat (race 5), a draw he has had 6 times for 4 wins and a placing.
West On Augie has been well backed with TABtouch firming from $2.40 into $1.95.
Trainer Chris Halse heads to the races hoping his prolific winner can recapture some of his best form.
“ I was a bit disappointed in his last run but he was coming off a big few weeks which included a win in the Paradise Street final over 600 metres so he might have just been a bit flat.” Halse said.
“We gave him last week off to freshen up a bit and he seems to have enjoyed it.” Halse added.
“Normally when he’s feeling fresh he comes out running and hopefully he can do that on Saturday and cash in on the good box draw.” Halse said.
“He runs into some pretty smart types including Starlight Yoyo and Campini so he is going to have to be on top of his game to get through.” Halse added.
Halse’s other representative in the race is Wise Ricciardo who has drawn out in box eight.
“Wise Ricciardo needs to find the fence to show his best so in reality the pink is a horror draw for him.” Halse said.
“All we can hope for is for him to get his share of luck and sneak into the top four to qualify for the final” Halse added.
In the first of the heats (race 4) up and coming sprinter Premium Share has drawn box three while kennelmate Chips and Trains has come up with the red.
Premium Share has caved in from $1.50 into $1.34 with TABtouch.
“Premium Share is one of the quickest dogs I’ve ever had and he is improving with every run.” Halse said.
“His effort to run 29.61 last week on a night where no other sprinter broke 30.10 underlines just how much ability he has.” Halse added.
“The key for him is to miss Chips and Trains in the early stages of the race.” Halse commented.
“Chips and Trains likes to get up the track and I am hoping Premium Share either pings and crosses it or slightly misses it and tucks in behind Chips and Trains into the first corner.” Halse explained.
“With a clear run I am very confident that Premium Share will prove the testing material” Halse said.
In regards to Chips and Trains Halse was hoping for a top four finish to get through to the Final next week.
“Chips and Trains is racing consistently and despite his trait to use a bit of the track he actually has a decent record from the draw.”
“All we can hope for is for them to get around safely and qualify for the big one next week” Halse concluded.
WA will be well represented in the Group 3 Darwin Cup final at Winellie Park on Sunday afternoon with Enzo Crudeli having three runners and James Jeffries two.
Crudeli has Verne Allen in box three Two Times Twice in six and Dyna Oscar in eight.
Kennel Spokesperson Graham Crudeli found it hard to split the trio.
“Verne Allen has been a great old campaigner and has drawn ideally down near the rails, Two Times Twice doesn’t mind wide and was a great heat run and Dyna Oscar should get room to move out in the eight.” Crudeli said.
“If forced to make a pick I would probably lean slightly towards Verne Allen as an each way play given he has drawn where he wants to be and the fact he is at double figure odds.” Crudeli said.
James Jeffries was delighted with his two heat winners Tom’s Desire and Quara’s Zade but conceded the box draws for the final weren’t ideal.
“Tom’s Desire was the fastest qualifier and he can handle the draw ok but I just hope that Zade doesn’t cause him any issues early on in the race.” Jeffries said.
“Zade has a poor record when drawn wide and he will be wanting to get across to the fence so I just have to hope for a clean passage.” Jeffries added.
“If Tom’s Desire can get some clear air in the early stages of the race he will be hard to hold out.” Jeffries suggested.
“Tom is comfortable chasing down dogs and if he was to sit within a few lengths of the likely leader Weeona Jimmy he would be a massive chance of coming home all over the top.” Jeffries concluded.
DAVID SHORTTE