Dyna Lachlan Dynamite In Paws Of Thunder Semi Finals
At Wentworth Park last night, Dyna Lachlan cemented his reputation as one Australia's best greyhounds by running the fourth fastest time of the year around the Glebe circuit and by making the second semi final of the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder a one act affair, leaving greyhounds like Birthday Boy and Cindeen Shelby struggling in his wake.
Beginning quickly from box eight,he was able to lead with ease running sectionals of 5.45 and 13.86 before finishing the race of with an impressive 15.88 to win by 4.5 lengths over Cindeen Shelby in 29.74, easily the quickest of the Paws Of Thunder semi finals.
In dominating the race the way he did, the Andrea Dailly trained son of Go Wild Teddy ~ Benden Flex (Ashom Bale ~ Vista Bale), not only took his career record to 23 starts for 16 wins and 4 minor placings, and gained a start in the $100,000 to the winner Group 1 Paws Of Thunder final; but also adds the Group 1 final to his resume which includes a fourth in the Group 2 Queensland Derby behind High Earner, a Victorian National Sprint Championship final win and a second behind Dashing Corsair in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship final at Cannington.
Last night's commanding win will not only secure Dyna Lachlan favouritism for the Group 1 final after the box draw landed him in box one, but will almost certainly guarantee him a start, win or lose next week; in the invitation only $100,000 to the winner Group 1 Topgun to be run at The Meadows next month. In past history the winner of the Paws Of Thunder, as the most recent Group 1 race is almost always gains a run in the Topgun.
In the other semi finals, Cosmic Rumble started a short favourite in his semi after his 29.64 heat win the week prior, but again proved he needs a wide draw to be any chance against better opposition. He could only manage third behind the game Arthur Ritis who came with a sweeping run to win 1.5 lengths in 30.17 from Railway Max.
Take The Kitty proved why he is one of New South Wales best and most consistent greyhounds by handling his box eight drawn to perfection and trailling kennelmate After Party to the back straight, before taking control and holding on to win by a neck over After Party in 29.95. It was Take The Kitty's seventh sub 30 run at Wentworth park this year. The finish will also give Hunter Valley legend Kenny Cheetham on of his biggest thrills in recent times, starting two live chances in the Group 1 final with Take The Kitty drawing box two and After Party box five.
In the final semi it was always going to be a case of Excel Like Time leading early from box one, but the question was could High Earner came after him and go around him to win? The answer was no. As we pointed out in the Greyhound Tips last week, Excel Like Time's best chance to win the Paws Of Final was to keep drawing box one three weeks in a row. Well the graders managed to give him the red two weeks in a row resulting in his 29.96 heat win and last night's 29.94 semi final win over Snozz after pushing up early to lead practically all the way. Unfortunately his chances to win the Group 1 final have nose dived after drawing box eight for the final.
The official box draw for next Saturday night's Group 1 Paws Of Thunder was conducted trackside last night and is below :
2009Group 1 Paws Of Thunder Final
- Box 1 – Dyna Lachlan Andrea Dailly
- Box 2 – Take The Kitty Kenneth Cheetham
- Box 3 – Arthur Ritis Darren Sultana
- Box 4 – Cindeen Shelby Kel Greenough
- Box 5 – After Party Kenneth Cheetham
- Box 6 – Railway Max Tina Womann
- Box 7 – Snozz Jason Mackay
- Box 8 – Excel Like Time Anthony Azzopardi
- 1st Res – High Earner Christine Robartson
- 2nd Res – Bogie Bomber Tony Brett