Crudeli’s Equanimity wins 2017 Group 2 All Stars Sprint
CONSISTENT WA greyhound Equanimity (Barcia Bale x She's Historic Mar '15) has earned himself a plane ticket to Victoria to contest the world's richest greyhound race after a dominant victory in Saturday's Group 2 All Stars Sprint (520m) at Cannington.
Prepared at Nambeelup by Enzo Crudeli, Equanimity was sent to the boxes as a $16 chance and when the lids flew open he made it a one act affair, leading throughout to defeat West On Maisie (Barcia Bale x Zelemar Fever Mar '15) to win by two lengths in a handy 30.11.
Despite the double figure price, Crudeli said he wasn't surprised to see his front-running sprinter race so well.
“I was quietly confident. I checked the field out and there weren't too many quick beginners – he had three lengths on the others early and if you're out in front they've got to catch you,” Crudeli told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“He seems to kick and find that bit extra with 20 or 30m to go – he did that again on Saturday night. He looked as though West On Maisie had him turning for home – but he dug deep and he was actually pulling away again at the finish.”
Equanimity, which won the Group 1 Perth Cup at the start of the year, took his record to 40 starts for 16 wins, three seconds and six thirds, with his prize money now sitting just above $260,000.
He has hit his best form again in recent weeks, having now won two of his past three starts – although Crudeli said he has been happy with him all along.
“Looking at his form on paper you might think he'd lost form, but since the Perth Cup he's made around 10 finals each time he had drawn badly.
“When you take everything in consideration he's had a pretty good year.”
Crudeli confirmed Equanimity will now head across to Victoria to trial at Sandown Park, with a crack at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup the plan later this month.
“He won't be the fastest dog over there, but he will love the tight corners at Sandown Park and if he can get out in front anything can happen.
“He goes well. He has exceptional early pace and he just keep winning races so he has earned himself a go in Melbourne.”
The heats of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup will be run at Sandown Park on November 17.