A selection of the best South Australian bred greyhounds going around will line up to contest the Group Three Brian Johnstone Memorial at Angle Park this Thursday night.
The 2014 instalment of the event is restricted to greyhounds whelped between June 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012.
This year's series has been dominated by not only Jeff Britton's Anakie kennel but also by the Vapour Whirl – Foot Luce (Hallucinate – Scarlett) litter, the progeny of which make up exactly half the field of the $25,000 to-the-winner event. Britton also has four runners in the race, three of which hail from said litter.
Among the recent winners are Uncle's Miss, Jean Jeannie, Uncle Remus and Handsome Shiraz. The 2013 final was taken out by Ernie Bung Arrow.
Here is a look at this year's final in depth with comments from connections;
ARG Comments: Zippy beginner who looks drawn to lead this field. If he does, he will need to find plenty in the last hundred metres with some very classy finishers engaged here.
Jeff Britton (Trainer): “He is going well and he loves the track. It seems to suit wide runners, dogs like him and Allen Deed, not that he runs as wide as him. He is definitely a chance if he gets the room he needs.”
ARG Comments: A strong type who has an impeccable record at Angle Park in a relatively short career. Will need to begin well like he did last week to be any chance in this classy field.
Jeff Britton (Trainer): “She has a bit of pace and should be up there early. She doesn't have any great turn of foot during the race and can be a bit one paced but she is some sort of hope. She is running it out well and looks like she might get a bit more ground down the track.”
Jeff Britton (Trainer): “She looks well drawn out there. She might not always show it but she has a bit of pace, I think she has shown it from box eight before. I terms of the boxes, she looks to be the best drawn of the lot of them.”
ARG Comments: A dour, run-on type who will just keep coming. She has better records from inside draws and may lack the blue riband quality of her litter mates engaged in this one.
ARG Comment: Another young dog who has only managed three victories from 30 goes over this journey. He looks tested in this company.
Best Angle Park Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
30.11
30.37
4.45
4.47
The early pace in the race looks to be from Gun McBain (2), Spicy Peppa (1) and Weblec Belle (6).
Classy performer Oakvale Destiny (3) is already a multiple group winner and could find the fence early, she is only a moderate beginner but has exceptional sections after that and could rail through and explode away.
Texas Titan (4) likes to use plenty of the track and loves the track. If he gets some room in the run to the first turn, expect him to be very prominent.
Oakvale Flyer (7) looks very well boxed out wide. Her race is likely to hinge on how well she leaves the traps.