Oopsy’s Win No Accident
Oopsy has secured yet another toy for her mother by winning the Distance Potential on Saturday night at Greyhound WA Cannington over the 642 metre distance. As promised breeder Helen Sayer buys her star broody Miss Marley a toy to add to her ever-growing collection after each feature winner she produces.
It took two strokes of luck to allow the Ben Abercrombie trained chaser to make it into the final, originally making up the field as second reserve. The scratching of both Wild Cindy and Infinite Wish saw Kody Charles' Flight Of Anevay jump from box five and Oopsy exit from box two.
“I didn't really think she would get a start being she was second reserve but when she got the run I was pretty confident she would go all right. I thought her run last week was pretty good for her first run over 600. I hadn't trialled her so she hadn't been out of the boxes and I was pretty wrapt with her run. I knew she would improve.” Trainer Ben Abercrombie explained.
As the bunny flew past to start the fifth event on the cards Velocity Sheba (box seven) was the clear leader out of the boxes. Working hard on the rails in the red, white and blue rug was Oopsy who pushed into second place with plenty of ground to make up. Vesta (box eight) followed in Oospy's footsteps, camping on the rails waiting for a clear run. It was only as matter of time before Oopsy made her strength known, striding past Velocity Sheba who finished second. White Fox (box six) produced a brave performance pushing through the field to finish third with Vesta rounding out the minor placing's. Oopsy's personal best performance of 37.56 was faster than the heats last week.
“I didn't think Jamie Marsh's (Velocity Sheba) would lead, I thought Eric Campana's (Supreme Jazz) would and then we would just tail it and then go past it. It's strong but it's got that flat spot so I thought we could go past it. The race was run a bit differently to what I thought.”
With the win and the $6,000 under her 25 kilo frame, Oopsy has made a gallant start to her middle distance career. The daughter of Collision – Miss Marley is bred to stay and do her best work in the second half of the race.
“I think she will make the 700 in time but I wont do it straight away. She isn't that young but she is still a bit green. She has only had a handful of lower grade races over 500. I don't know where I will go with her next, probably wont run her over 500 because they knock her around on the first corner a bit much.”
Oopsy's mother Miss Marley is now enjoying the finer things in life as a retired greyhound. Which includes Helen's bed and lounges as well as discovering a new artistic talent, painting Helen's kitchen in flour. Miss Marley has also learnt how to open the pantry door and help herself to midnight snacks.
Although Ben Abercrombie's night finished with a Distance Potential win, his star stayer Takahashi made a return to racing after a reoccurring stopper bone injury she sustained at just her third career start. Also a Sayer bred chaser, the daughter of Premier Fantasy – Tayza jumped from box four and finished second after rattling home.
“She is really keen and happy, she wants to be at the track. We had to change a lot of things to maintain the problem that she has got.”
“We work on her so much more and changed her work by keeping her on the lead a lot more, Neville spends a lot of time with her. We are always machining it. She pretty much has a pressure bandage on her leg 24/7.”
“Its good fun, you learn things because its right there in front of you, you just have to pick it up.”
The commitment that Abercrombie shows for partner Helen Sayer's breeding programme is heartening. Often amazed at the detailed knowledge that Helen is not only able to pick up but share with him, considering he confessed to never breeding a winner that is able to win their maiden.
“It's a good bad situation, I have had a lot of people over the years support me and now I only concentrate on Helen's dogs because I've got so many and I want to do her justice for the money she puts in for me and my kennels.”
“She is really just touching the surface with her potential as a breeder in this sate. This litter (Collision – Missy Marley) was the first litter since Helen set up that was really done in the right routine. She was just feeling her way back in and getting her brood bitches sorted out, she has everything down packed now.”
Takahashi didn’t start from box 7 and come 4th. She started from box 4 and ran second.
Correct Rob, has been edited .. Thanks
Takahashi didn’t start from box 7 and come 4th. She started from box 4 and ran second.
Correct Rob, has been edited .. Thanks