Lucy Wires Sets The Summer Distance Plate Time Standard
Lucy Wires excited the greyhound racing audience in her heat of the Group 2 Sportingbet Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park on Saturday night by going within one tenth of the track record for the staying distance. Naturally, she was the fastest heat winner and will head to the boxes as favourite for next week's final. Here's a look at how both heats panned out and the final box draw and field for next Saturday's final.
Summer Distance Plate Heat One
Born Ali (7) was a three and three quarter length winner in the first heat in a time of 42.35
Benarkin (2) led the field by a long way down the back and it was a very strong effort for Born Ali to gun him down and run away with the win. Benarkin is still learning the staying caper and wasn't disgraced, running 42.59.
Veteran Mimicking (4) was at the back end of the field early but worked his way into the run to run home over Set To Shine (8) for third. Set To Shine copped a check rounding the turn the first time but was able to qualify for another Group final at Wentworth Park.
Summer Distance Plate Heat Two
Trainer Robert Britton completed a training double in the staying heats with Lucy Wires (2) making her return to Wentworth Park a victorious one. She scorched around the Glebe circuit in 41.82, which was within a whisker of Miata's 41.81 track record. The record looked under threat from the moment the boxes opened and Lucy Wires came out running. She is normally making her run from behind but on Saturday night she bounced on the bunny and it was all over.
Destini Fireball (7) tried his heart out chasing Lucy Wires but he was unable to make up any ground and wound up third.
Smart Valentino (3) was storming and home and it would have been interesting to see if he could have challenged Lucy Wires down the home straight but as he rounded the home turn he climbed all over the back of Destini Fireball, which halted his momentum. He was still able to overcome Destine Fireball to fill second place, seven lengths behind Lucy Wires.
Dyna Willow (4) had no luck in the run after being stuck midfield for the early part of the race. She was still able to run fourth and qualify for the final next week.
The box draw for next Saturday's final is:
2014 Summer Distance Plate Final Box Draw
- Box 1 – Destini Fireball (42.28)
- Box 2 -Smart Valentino (42.26)
- Box 3 – Set To Shine (42.79)
- Box 4 – Benarkin (42.59)
- Box 5 – Lucy Wires (41.82)
- Box 6 -Dyna Willow (42.52)
- Box 7 – Mimicking (42.71)
- Box 8 – Born Ali (42.35)