The 2014 National’s have brought Australia’s best stayers to Cannington to compete against each other for the $75,000 prize.
Being the home state, WA has two chances of recording a win, with David Hobby’s Bingle Monelli and Paul Stuart‘s Ash Flash in the final.
Ash Flash has dominated the staying ranks since she made the trip over from Victoria. The daughter of Velocette – Ashleigh Ella has had nine wins from 15 starts over the distance, and placed on four other occasions.
Her come from behind style leaves onlookers hearts in their mouths. She is almost always last out of the boxes, but manages to find her way through the field convincingly week in, week out.
For owner breeder Trevor Rhodes her racing style is all part of the excitement she brings to the track.
“It’s all in the decisions she makes.” Trevor Rhodes explained.
“She has lead a couple of races from box one early on but her racing style is set now. It’s really exciting!”
Ash Flash’s come from behind style was something Rhodes was hoping would be corrected or improved with a move from Victoria to the West.
“It was to give her some confidence, she was up against some really good dogs over here (Victoria) and I spoke to Darren McDonald and he thought she was the kind of dog that needed confidence because she was just hanging back. We thought she would get over hanging back when she was confident.”
“She is more confident now, but she still hangs back. I thought she might learn to lead.”
As a pup, Ash Flash would run with anything and everything she could. After she exhausted her brother Hillbilly Flash, she would be looking for something else to run with.
“I thought she would have to be a stayer.”
Strength and plenty of luck in running is what she will need to have if she is to rein victory in the 2014 National Distance Final. The field is full of talent, especially from Victorian’s Xylia Allen and Sweet It Is.
“She will have her hands full on Saturday night and I don’t think the box matters to be honest. Obviously Xylia Allen is the best dog we have seen and Sweet It Is is a fantastic dog that comes from behind, which is just as exciting.”
“She has a full field, and she is likely to be behind them. It’s a difficult task but I don’t think it’s beyond her. If everything is to go right for her, things would have to go wrong for other dogs in the race.”
Rhodes has made the trip over to see his special little bitch run in the biggest race of her career.
“The venue is terrific, the people are terrific and the crowds are terrific. It’s a good family track.” Rhodes says of Cannington.
The National Distance Championship is set to jump at 8.52pm Perth time from Cannington’s 715 metre boxes. A WA win would make the event all the more special for the home crowd.
Comments: Michael Stringer (Trainer) – “She is well drawn in the red. She loves to rail hard and has a good record from the red box. She has done well to get in the race and I just hope she measures up against the two Victorian stayers. Xyla Allen is an out and out champ and Sweet It Is is a very strong stayer. Pained Dotty in new to staying ranks but she has acquitted herself winning three out of four in NSW.”
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
–
–
–
–
Box 2
Race Odds
$6.00
Heat Replay
Wag Tail (QLD)
Trainer
Christina Harman
Owner
A Team
Prizemoney
$93,540.00
Last 10 Starts
1251134111
42 Months
Black
Bitch
by
Velocette
–
Bacardi
Cruiser
Start
Well
Running
Middle
Finish
Strong
Prizemoney Rating
$1,948.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
48
18
11
5
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
38%
71%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
0
0
0
0
Box 2 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
4
0
2
1
Comments: Christine Harman (Trainer) – “With her inside box I like her chances. Xylia Allen looks to be able to win at all tracks so she will be hard to beat. Wag Tail trialled really well at Cannington on Saturday night, so hopefully she stands up to her trial. Normally she doesn’t travel very well, but this time she seems to have.”
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
–
–
–
–
Box 3
Race Odds
$13.00
Heat Replay
Ash Flash (WA)
Trainer
Paul Stuart
Owner
Trevor Rhodes
Prizemoney
$87,615.00
Last 10 Starts
2112112573
34 Months
White
Bitch
by
Velocette
–
Ashleigh
Ella
Start
Fair
Running
Wide
Finish
Good
Prizemoney Rating
$2,190.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
40
17
6
5
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
42%
70%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
15
9
3
1
Box 3 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
4
1
1
0
Comments: Trevor Rhodes (Owner/Breeder) – “She is a chance, I wouldn’t say she is a big chance but if everything goes right we are in the race.”
Comments: ARG comment – Last week she was more then impressive taking out the WA National Distance, holding off Ash Flash. This week her competitors are of a higher standard and may find it hard to keep up with the likes of Xylia Allen. Saying that if she jumps like she has been and finds herself in the lead there could be enough trouble behind her to sneak a victory.
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
42.04
42.11
15.42
15.58
Box 5
Race Odds
$31.00
Heat Replay
Token McLaren (SA)
Trainer
Donald Foster
Owner
H Foster &
D Foster
Prizemoney
$68,185.00
Last 10 Starts
1121412111
42 Months
Blue
Dog
by
Token
Prince
–
Stevie
McLaren
Start
Well
Running
Middle
Finish
Strong
Prizemoney Rating
$1,071.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
51
23
9
9
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
45%
80%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
0
0
0
0
Box 5 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
6
3
1
1
Comments: ARG opinion is – Token McLaren has been in great form in South Australia, but this is a much tougher ask with the likes of Sweet It Is and Xylia Allen.
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
–
–
–
–
Box 6
Race Odds
$2.60
Heat Replay
Xylia Allen (VIC)
Trainer
Jenny Hunt
Owner
Janice Wheeler
Prizemoney
$701,375.00
Last 10 Starts
1141111111
44 Months
Black
Bitch
by
Turanza
Bale
–
Tayah
Bale
Start
Good
Running
Middle
Finish
Strong
Prizemoney Rating
$9,478.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
74
37
10
11
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
50%
78%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
1
1
0
0
Box 6 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
10
7
2
1
Comments: Max Julien (Caretaker) – “Her record proves that she is going to be very competitive, even flying over at such a late date. She is Australia’s best.”
Comments: Darren McDonald (Trainer) – “She is a very good bitch and has a reasonable box. It’s a hard race with some very competitive greyhounds including Xylia Allen.”
Comments: Noelene Holloway (Trainer) – “Hopefully she gets away early, she will need to be up there early to win the race. There is no reason why she wont love Cannington but she will have to improve on her trial which I have no doubt she will.”
