NSW chaser Shall Not primed for Straight of Origin showdown
NSW appears to be in the box seat for the Straight of Origin final at Capalaba on Sunday, with the 366m feature set to put state bragging rights on the line for another year.
The top hope is the Darren Sultana-trained Shall Not (-166.67), who is flying the flag for the NSW squad out of box one, but he will have to beat some talented dogs from both NSW and Queensland.
“He is good to go,” Sultana said.
Sultana is no stranger to the event, having taken it out last year with Mr America, who finished in a time of 19.54, the fastest time from the four times the race has been run. He said that defending the title did not add any extra expectations.
“Once you put the dogs in the box anything can happen,” Sultana said.
Shall Not stepped out for his first and only race at Capalaba in early June, winning by 2.75 lengths over Panama Canal in a time of 19.53, a fraction faster than that set by the winner of the event last year.
“You have to take on dogs there who have had a lot of races and starts there,” Sultana said.
“That race and trial will definitely help now that he has had two looks there.”
Capalaba 1/2 Grade June 4 2023 (366m) – Shall Not (19.53) T: Darren Sultana
On that occasion, the Barcia Bale x Hillary dog jumped from box six, but has secured box one for Sunday’s race.
“He has been beginning well but if he misses the start on Sunday he may be in a little bit of trouble,” Sultana said.
“He has the box but now he has to use it and get that run. Hopefully, he begins well, gets the run, and then happy days.”
Kennel mate Slingshot Rusty (+3300) will also race in the $40,000 to the winner invitational, jumping out beside his half-brother Shall Not from box two.
While it will be Slingshot Rusty’s first start at Capalaba, his form is not to be written off (32: 14-7-3) having raced and won over similar distances at Goulburn, Bulli, Shepparton and the Richmond straight.
“The dog has the ability and his best attribute is if he nails the start he can take off,” Sultana said.
“He is sometimes a little hit and miss but I am not sure he can run the times that the rest of the dogs can run.”
The NSW contingent also includes Phantom Jasper (+1400), who has won five of six starts at the track, and is trained by Casino-based trainer Tyson Barton.
The Glenda Dart-trained Commands Respect (+1300 will be debuting at the track having won at shorter trips at both Ipswich and Albion Park.
The Queensland team consists of four of the best locally trained chasers.
Coonamble Kid (+750) has run the journey 23 times, bagging the win on 13 occasions and landing in the placings five times.
Trainer Chris Brydon will have his My Redeemer x My Kinloch dog ready to go when he flies out of box six, having won or placed at Capalaba in two out of three starts from the green box.
Brydon however said that in this field the box draw is not favourable for his chances.
“Terrible draw for him,” he said.
“Lose Your Cool (7) will cut him off and Phantom Jasper (5) wants to go wide.
“I think he has no chance from there and Shall Not (1) looks a good thing.”
The Tony Brett chaser Panama Canal (+650) is highly competitive, having won 20 times from 32 starts and earning connections $78,960 in prize money along the way.
His last three starts have been his three Capalaba starts and have seen him finish in the money twice, while on track debut he finished fifth. His Capalaba victory was a decent guide for this race, beating home Coonamble Kid before last start finishing runner-up to Origin favourite Shall Not.
Jedda Cutlack trains winners and that is the case with her hope here, Valhalla (+900).
Valhalla has had six runs down the Capalaba straight for four wins and two seconds. Not only does Valhalla win, but he does so dominantly, with wins by margins that include 3.25 lengths, two victories by five lengths, and in May thumping the field by 6.5 lengths in a blistering time of 19.45.
2023 Wayne Harris Final (Capalaba, 366m) – Valhalla (19.68) T: Jedda Cutlack
Cutlack was not happy with the box draw but confidence in Valhalla remains high.
“Less than thrilled about the box draw, but he’s been flattened out of the three before and still come home for a massive win,” the young gun trainer said.
“Obviously Shall Not drawing the one puts him exactly where he wants to be and makes him the danger.
“I’m confident I’m taking a competitive dog to the track and we just hope he gets a clear run.
“I would still rather be in the race with a poor draw than not in it at all.”
Lose Your Cool (+450 with greyhound betting sites) is a chaser to black-book right now with a record of six wins and a second from seven career starts, all at the Capalaba track, and will be the most supported member of the Queensland squad. This is his home track and has won two from two out of the black box.
“He had a hit out on Monday up the straight and now he is in cotton wool,” trainer Jeff Crawford said.
“He does not need a lot of work so he is ready for Sunday now.
“We were very happy with the box draw.”
Having beaten hot property Valhalla by 1.5 lengths at his last start, Crawford said that race will be remembered as the making of his potential as a quality chaser.
“Three starts ago Jane (Jeff’s partner and owner) came home and told me that the Straight of Origin was coming up and that people were saying that if Lose Your Cool kept going well, he could get a look in,” he said.
“I laughed and said that there were plenty of good dogs ahead of him.
“He has gone on to prove his record and found himself in the mix, but that win beating a very capable dog I think stamped him into this race.
“His best attribute is his speed and he punches up to get to where he needs to be.
“I don’t think we have seen anywhere near the best of him.
“He is fit, ready to go and the box draw has been very favourable for us so he just needs to turn up on the day.
“It’s a very good field and it’s going to be a very fun race to watch.”
2023 Listed Straight Of Origin
2023 Straight Of Origin Box Draw & FieldCapalaba366mListed$40,000 to-the-winnerSunday June 18 2023Race 812:22 AEST
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1 Shall Not
T: Darren SultanaF: 1111Career: 42: 26-6-3Prizemoney: $42,210
-166.67
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2 Slingshot Rusty
T: Darren SultanaF: 1133Career: 32: 14-7-3Prizemoney: $46,410
+3300
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3 Valhalla
T: Jedda CutlackF: 1121Career: 16: 5-3-3Prizemoney: $26,380
+900
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4 Commands Respect
T: Glenda DartF: 3232Career: 57: 23-15-7Prizemoney: $86,815
+1300
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5 Phantom Jasper
T: Tyson BartonF: 1116Career: 41: 18-2-5Prizemoney: $47,995
+1400
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6 Coonamble Kid
T: Chris BrydonF: 1128Career: 53: 22-5-11Prizemoney: $66,095
+750
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7 Lose Your Cool
T: Jeff CrawfordF: 1111Career: 7: 6-1-0Prizemoney: $12,370
+450
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8 Panama Canal
T: Tony BrettF: 6512Career: 32: 20-2-2Prizemoney: $76,960
+650
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Odds correct at time of publication