Seeking Justice the fastest qualifier for 2016 Group 1 Galaxy
SEEKING Justice will be aiming to secure his first win at the highest level after winning his heat of the Group 1 Galaxy (720m) on Saturday night at Cannington.
Stepping fairly from box five, the brindle dog was able to slip into third spot in the early stages behind leader Hard Bargain (box three), trailing by three lengths in the run to the line on the first occasion.
Heading down the back and Seeking Justice began cutting down the margin, switching to the outside around the home turn and kicking clear to score by five and one quarter lengths in 42.41 – the fastest time of the four qualifiers.
The win was the 20th of Seeking Justice's career at start 47, with the former Victorian now trainer locally by leading conditioner Keith Harding.
Harding knows a thing or two about winning the Galaxy, having trained the inaugural winner Afro Freeway, an inductee in the WA Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame, in 1982, as well as the great Elektra in 2008.
Alka Casey ran on well for Sean Kavanagh to finish second, booking her place in next week's final in the process.
The second heat went to a roughie, with Hodor upsetting some of his more fancied rivals to score in a moderate 42.78.
The son of Kinloch Brae and Natural Sapphire was only fair into stride, but used box two beautifully to push up along the fence in the early stages, allowing him to work his way into third spot in the straight the first time.
At the half way point Hodor made his move, circling Sweet Intention (box one) and setting out after the leader Dublin Bull (box three). Down the back and the red brindle dog got a rails run, assuming the top spot and charging clear to score by three and one quarter lengths over Zipping Bella (box four) which worked home nicely to fill the runner-up spot.
Group 1 Superstayers winner Luna Jinx was the class runner in the third heat, however the blue bitch was slow to begin from box six and never got into winning contention for the race after finding trouble in the early stages.
With the favourite out of play, Enfield Mask took up the early running from box two, however it wasn't to be for long with Lofty Ambition (box one) assuming the front down the back, with Dyna Nihilist (box eight) working his way through the pack to challenge on the outside swinging for home.
In the straight the Enzo Crudeli-prepared Dyna Nihilist was going stride for stride with Lofty Ambition, but was able to do enough to score by a head in 42.71.
The fourth and final qualifier went to classy Victorian Lioness Lulu for trainer Mark Giddings. A winner of the recent Group 1 Association Cup, the fawn bitch began beautifully from box three and made it a one act affair, scoring by a widening eight lengths in 42.66 over Ryno's Raider (box six).
It was the fourth win for the daughter of Big Daddy Cool and Jackie's Capri from her past five starts, with the 26.5 kilogram speedster the one to beat heading into the $80,000 to the winner final next Saturday night.
The box draw for the Group 1 Galaxy will be conducted on Sunday night.