MIGHTY HEATS FOR WA DERBY
On Saturday night at TABtouch Park Cannington some of Australia’s most exciting young sprinters are set to take centre stage in three heats of the Group 2 Britton’s Formalwear WA Derby over the 520 metres.
A mixture of star local talent along with some classy visitors from the Big V make for spectacular viewing.
In heat one the gifted Victorian Catch The Thief has come up with box one and is the current $1.50 favourite with TABtouch.
Trained by Matthew Clark, Catch The Thief has had 16 starts for 9 wins and 4 seconds including some sharp victories over the 515 metres at Sandown in 29.21 seconds and 29.23 seconds.
The son of Aussie Infrared and Dundee Ally had his first start at Cannington over the 520 metres last Saturday night when a narrow winner over Sir Monty in a best of night time of 29.76 seconds.
Once again Catch The Thief will meet Sir Monty who looms as the major threat coming from box seven, a draw he has had twice for two victories.
The quality doesn’t end there with Group 1 Perth Cup place getter Buster The Brute drawn in box eight, in form sprinters Chimera Monelli and Steve Monelli in boxes two and six while the Glen Rounds trainer Amarillo Highway, a winner at 7 of 14 starts is in box four.
You would expect Catch The Thief to derive great benefit from his first look at the Cannington circuit last week and he appears a deserved favourite in the first heat.
On to the second heat of the Britton’s Formalwear WA Derby and boom sandgroper Tommy Shelby is a warm favourite with TABtouch at $1.85.
The Steve Withers trainer speedster has had 12 career starts for 10 wins and two placings and has multiple feature race wins including the Perth Cup Consolation.
The son of Fernando Bale and Serena Fly High returned from an injury enforced layoff last Sunday when cruising home in a Mixed Grade 4/5 over the 520 metres in a Best of Night time of 29.80 seconds.
Tommy has come up with box three while his main market rival Fernando Star is a $3.30 chance from box seven.
Fernando Star won the recent Greyhounds WA Mandurah Derby Final in fine style from the same draw in seven, overcoming an uncharacteristic slow start to rail the pants off his rivals and salute.
Group 1 Perth Cup runner-up Zack Monelli possesses one of the most powerful finishing bursts in WA chasing and he broke the 490 metre track record at Mandurah in a heat of the Derby only three weeks ago. If he lands close he will be breathing fire late in the piece. He is a $4 chance.
All Zipped Up ran second behind Fernando Star in the Mandurah Derby Final as the outsider of the field and he will again be going around at odds of $41 here.
The third and final Derby Heat holds more intrigue with emerging star Cindy’s Oliver well backed with TABtouch when markets opened.
The Tom Dailly trained chaser has run with success over a variety of distances and his performance to win a very strong Free To All last week was a sterling effort.
Despite drawing a shade awkwardly in box six Cindy’s Oliver has overcome difficulties within the run to still salute in recent times and he appears capable of doing so again here.
From box one Redcap Monelli is well served and he will be storming to the line in the back half of the event.
The Glenn Rounds trained Aeroplane Eric will come from box eight and adds some spice while Brankstone’s Boy, Canya Bandido and Werewolf Monelli all look like adding some early burn to the event.
All three heats of this year’s Britton’s Formalwear WA Derby are excellent races in their own right and you can guarantee that next week’s Group 2 Final will be one of the strongest ever seen in this state.
Enjoy all of the action at Cannington from 7.01pm on Saturday night.
David Shortte