Suffragette sets the standard in Launching Pad semi-finals
SUFFRAGETTE looks the greyhound to beat in next week's Group 2 Launching Pad (515m) at Sandown Park after a sensational victory in her semi-final of the $150,000 to the winner series on Thursday night.
Jumping from box two in the final qualifier of the night, the Kerrie White-trained bitch began brilliantly, recording a fast 5.00 to the first mark.
The quick beginning allowed the daughter of SH Avatar and Ebby Miss to roll to the early lead over Princess Pout (box six) and, although she never set up a huge margin on her opponents, she was too classy in the run to the line when scoring by 0.2 lengths in 29.35.
Owned by Geoff Slattery, Suffragette has now won seven of her 16 career starts, three of which have been at Sandown Park.
There were some other nice performances in the semi-finals, kicking off with Shantui which put in a tenacious last to first effort to win the opening qualifier.
Jumping from box six, Shantui was fairly away but got a bump in the early stages and was relegated to the tail of the field around the first turn.
Left out in front was Brazilian Brae (box three) which led until the home turn when it was galloped on by race favourite Mepunga Blazer (box eight).
The incident also inconvenienced Knock Wave (box one) and Zipping Hooch (box two) which were both racing near the lead, with Shantui able to go around the outside, hitting the lead half way down the straight and drawing clear to win in 29.72.
Zipping Hooch recovered to run second and will also progress through to the final.
Zippy Daph, a granddaughter of former top stayer Amity Bale was too good in the second semi-final, leading all the way from box two in 29.64.
Trained by Andrea Dailly, the daughter of Cosmic Rumble and Pandora Bale defeated Zipping Bronze by two lengths on the line, with race favourite Yarraman Ace (box six) finishing fourth after finding trouble.
Brueghelino (box two) and Fast Times (box three) vied for favouritism in the remaining semi-final, but when the lids flew open it was roughie Oronsay (box four) which bounded straight to the lead.
Once she found the bunny, nothing else was given a look-in as the Jessica Sharp-trained greyhound stretched out to defeat He's Loaded in 29.69.
The Launching Pad will be the second group final Oronsay has contested throughout her short career to date, with the black and white bitch already the winner of the Group 3 Vic Bred Maiden final at The Meadows.
The final of the Group 2 Launching Pad will be run and won next Thursday night.