HALSE HOPING FOR CLEAR AIR FOR YOUNG GUN
Star youngster Premium Share faces the toughest test of his 21 start career when he takes on a high quality lineup in tonight’s CROCMEDIA WA Sprint Championship Final over 520 metres at TABtouch PARK Cannington.
The regally bred son of Kinloch Brae and Shared Equity is seven months younger than the next oldest dog in the field and has had less than half the starts of the majority of his rivals yet he remains the $2.10 fixed odds favourite with TABtouch.
The reasoning behind his favouritism is quite simple – he has been airborne over the last month winning his last four starts at Cannington, three of them in best of night times. He was the fastest qualifier out of last week’s heats where his time of 29.61 was more than six lengths quicker than the next fastest qualifiers Eighty Eight and Chips and Trains.
There is an awful lot to like about Premium Share’s form but the draw in box five, a box he is yet to win in after three attempts is cause for caution.
Trainer Chris Halse broke the race down in a straight forward manner.
“Premium Share is flying of late and he heads into this race full of confidence but he will still need his share of luck early to get to where he wants to be.” Halse said.
“His form speaks for itself and I am really confident in his ability – he just needs clear air to wind up.” Halse added.
Halse will also be represented by reigning National Sprint Champion West On Augie who will be looking to emulate the deeds of Hall Of Fame sandgroper Sandi’s Me Mum and become only the second ever chaser to win two National Sprint titles.
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West On Augie led in his heat before being run down late by Eighty Eight in the time of 30.09.
Halse believes Augie can improve significantly on his heat run in tonight’s State Final.
“Since the Paradise Street Trophy win he has had a few niggles and this week I have been able to ramp up his work again.” Halse said.
“He is getting a bit older now but he is a proven big race performer and from the draw he should be able to sit handy to the speed.” he added.
The third Halse representative is Chips and Trains who has drawn box seven.
“Chips has been racing consistently and draws where he is comfortable using the track. He may need to find a few lengths to beat a couple of the real topliners but he’ll be doing his best.” Halse suggested.
Paul Stuart is the other trainer who holds a very strong hand with Eighty Eight, Starlight Yoyo, Slingshot Gypsy and Campini.
Stuart leans towards the prospects of Starlight Yoyo who has drawn in box two.
“Starlight Yoyo has been racing well and probably has the pace to beat Eighty Eight down to the rails – if she can do that and then hold out the wider brigade to the first corner she should take some stopping.” Stuart said.
The inside draw for Starlight Yoyo is a major factor. She has had 8 starts from box two for 6 wins and a placing and from boxes 1-4 she has had 22 starts for 16 wins.
“She loves being drawn near the rails and generally when she sits on top of the speed she is hard to run down.” Stuart said.
Stuart gave a strong place hope to his runner draw in box one Eighty Eight.
“He won well last week and was strong to the line. He might be a few lengths off a couple of the others at their best but he loves the rails and I thought he had a great place chance.” Stuart said.
Stuart was blunt in regards to the draw for Campini in box eight.
“It’s a shocker” Stuart said
“He really wants to get down to the rails and to top it off he has a dog drawn inside of him that likes to use the track so he maps to get an ugly run.” Stuart added
“Funnier things have happened and he has a massive engine but whether or not he gets a chance to open it up from out there is the big question.”
“My other runner Slingshot Gypsy has the early speed to be up on top of the pace but a few of these may be a bit strong for her in the home straight.” Stuart concluded.
The other runner Dandalup Casper did a fine job in his heat to run third behind Premium Share and despite him being a $61 outsider with TABtouch his presence in a WA Sprint Final will provide a massive thrill for Trainer Tania Thomas and the connections.
In the CROCMEDIA WA Distance Championship final elite stayer Reidy’s Runner is a hot $1.60 favourite with TABTOUCH.
The Christine Bennett trained stayer has won 8 of his 16 715 metre starts at the track and his personal best time is some 10 lengths quicker than his nearest rival.
The six dog field is in the backmarkers favour and if he races anywhere near his top he looks awfully hard to beat.
The Shayne Williams trained Back On Lava looms as the logical threat from box one while Grace Ali and Incredible Hero look likely to set a hot tempo up front.
Be trackside tonight to see all of the CROCMEDIA WA Sprint and Distance championship action.
DAVID SHORTTE
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