Next Top Model Contests West End Distance Championships
At closing time Thursday morning, GRSA received 25 nominations for the 2010 West End Draught Distance Championship.
This means that there will be three heats of the Group Three event at Angle Park next Thursday 31st December 2009.
The $27,000 Final will be run the following week on Thursday 7th January, with the winner's purse of $18,800.
There are 9 nominations from interstate, headed by the Jason Thompson trained Next Top Model; she was here for the Oaks series in September, but has since stepped up to the longer trip. She is due to contest the Sale Cup Final on Saturday night, where she will be one of the favoured runners. Robert Britton will bring a four-pronged attack with Melandri, Bees Wax, Benji Magic and Tetrahedron. Melandri will be coming back from a trip to WA for Aust. Stayers Cup and also a race this Saturday night. Rob won the Distance Championship last year with Gunnadoo Magic. We also have a couple of WA greyhounds in Historically and Octane Al from the Enzo Crudeli kennel; both are winners over the longer trip at Cannington.
The local contingent will be headed up by Tafari Bale. The Lisa Rasmussen trained greyhound represented SA in the National Distance Final in September and has since gone on to some solid efforts over the 731m at Angle Park. These included a 43.28 win three starts back and a last start victory in the West End Draught Distance Prelude. Kimberly Jinx won two starts back over this trip for Gavin Harris, while kennelmate, Springvale Coops is an up and coming youngster, having its first go over this trip tonight (Thursday). Springvale Coops has recently performed well through the Classic 2009 series, as did Satanic Cash, which is also debuting over the distance tonight. He won last start over the 600m for Bob Isaacson and gives the impression he is well suited to the longer trip. Another interesting runner is Roxio Bale for Shaun Matcott, which has great form over the 600m middle distance and will make her debut at the 731m in the series.
Old timer, Token Ned is worth a special mention. The Paul Barry trained greyhound is a former state national distance representative and was retired mid-year. However the now five year old has this month returned to racing, doing so with a win over the 643m at Gawler, showing that he still has what it takes.
The other highlight of the racing next Thursday will be the running of the $3,750 New Year Sprint. The winner of the New Year Sprint gains automatic entry to Adelaide Cup TOP 16 and the Advertiser Interstate Challenge if nominated for the Sky Racing Adelaide Cup.