Sooty Keeping tops National Futurity heats, box draw finalised

National Futurity Heat 1 – Sooty Keeping (29.51)

Sooty Keeping produced a standout performance in the first heat of the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park, overcoming a poor start to secure a decisive victory. Missing the jump by two lengths from box one, the Charmaine Roberts-trained chaser quickly recovered, railing sharply to move from last to first by the back straight. By the home turn, the $1.50 Dabble favourite had opened up a commanding lead, crossing the line 4.5 lengths ahead of Taormina in an impressive 29.51 seconds, just 1.5 lengths outside her personal best.

Trainer Charmaine Roberts expressed relief and pride in her greyhound’s effort despite acknowledging the challenges at the start. “Look. Seriously, all I could see was Shane saying, ‘Oh my god.’ She’d come out worse than ever,” Roberts said. “Yeah, she did everything right after that, but you can’t win races coming out like that. That’s fact.”

While box one was not her preferred draw, Roberts noted her preference for middle boxes in future races. “I didn’t like her in box one. Shane does. I prefer her in four or five,” she added. As the team prepares for the box draw for the final, Roberts highlighted her unusual preferences. “I actually want her on the second line. I prefer her in the four. And if she is on the first line, the five. She’s not going to come out clean either way.”

Reflecting on what it would mean to win the Futurity, Roberts said: “It’d be huge. It’s just a big story behind her – she’s from my uncle Eddie. It stems back to my dad when they purchased dogs from Millers many years ago, and that line’s still there. But by god, she’s gotta improve those box manners.”

National Futurity Heat 2 – Zipping Serrano (29.86)

Zipping Serrano, an $8 outsider with the top greyhound bookmakers, delivered a tenacious performance in the second heat of the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park, showcasing her grit and determination. Jumping cleanly from box two, the Minnie Finn-trained chaser quickly positioned herself behind early leader My Munro. As the race progressed, Zipping Serrano surged along the inside, taking the lead off the back straight and holding off a late challenge from My Munro to secure victory by a length in 29.86 seconds. Kenya Charlie finished third, two lengths behind the runner-up, with Prim and Precise rounding out the top four.

Trainer Melinda Finn expressed satisfaction with Zipping Serrano’s effort, particularly considering the challenges leading up to the heat. “I was really pleased with her run tonight because she went in underdone. She’s had three weeks without a trial because she had a bad laceration here on her back foot,” Finn said. “I was just hoping she’d hang on, and she did.”

Looking ahead to the final, Finn reflected on Zipping Serrano’s potential, emphasising the importance of a favourable draw. “The inside boxes are ideal for her,” she noted. “If she gets them, she’s definitely a chance.” For Finn, the opportunity to contest another prestigious Futurity final is a testament to the dedication and hard work invested in preparing greyhounds for top-tier competition. “That’s what we get up every morning and work hard for—to try and win these big races,” Finn said.

National Futurity Heat 3 – Laura Keeping (29.62)

Laura Keeping showcased her emerging talent with a determined victory in the third heat of the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park. Starting from the challenging box eight, the Jay Opetaia-trained chaser displayed exceptional early speed to cross the field and settle into second before taking the lead on the back straight. Clocking an impressive time of 29.62 seconds, Laura Keeping held off a late surge from the $2.20 betting site favourite Peloponnese to win by two lengths. Screaming Violet rounded out the placings in third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.

Trainer Jay Opetaia expressed his excitement after the race, particularly given the challenging wide draw. “She’s a good little box dog, so it’s hard to get across from the eight,” Opetaia said. “She looked like she began well, and she showed a bit more acceleration than she has in the last couple of weeks. Once she was up the front, she was always going to qualify.”

Reflecting on her performance, Opetaia acknowledged the effort behind her development, highlighting the challenges of preparing greyhounds for high-stakes events. Looking to next week’s final, he said, “We want her in one, two, or three for sure. It’s hard to win big races out wide.” With four wins from seven starts and a rapidly improving track record, Laura Keeping is firmly positioned as a contender for the prestigious Futurity title.