Will Pedrosa – The King Of Cannington Go Back To Back?
Star chaser, Pedrosa, will start favourite in next Saturday night's W.A Sprint Championship final after crushing his rivals again last night. The white-fawn superstar showed his usual dashing speed to record 5.58 to the first mark on his way to a booming 8.75 length win in 30.04 over Big Jo King who will join him in the final.
A February 2008 whelping by Big Daddy Cool out of Brooklyn Rain, Pedrosa has tasted success on 25 occasions around the 530 metres of Cannington and his most recent time was as quick as he's gone since October last year, proving that his best may still be in front of him.
Given any luck from box four, and Pedrosa will again represent W.A in the National Sprint Final to be held at Albion Park in just over three weeks time. In 2010, trainer Paul Stuart made the trip to Adelaide for the national final where Pedrosa was given his favourite pink rug. But with such a hot field against him, Pedrosa could only manage fourth behind New South Wales' Smooth Fancy in what was a great race in quick time.
A year later and Pedrosa could be the only member of the class of 2010 to back-up for another chance at National glory, but there will be many who will be vying to grab that ticket to sunny Queensland.
One such chaser is Vocal Enforcer, who has gained much attention after several fast wins throughout the months of June and July. Having beaten Pedrosa no more than a month ago, the son of Black Enforcer and She's Vocal is twelve months younger and will like its' chances of toppling the champ, having been gifted box two for the final.
Coming-from-behind to catch Bomber Command, who set a cracking pace up front, Vocal Enforcer showed real maturity to win the heat, despite battling with traffic for majority of the race. Running 30.28, Andrew Mclaren's charger packed too many guns at the business end and looked impressive in doing so.
Rousay kept his good record in tact by flashing home for second, while Bomber Command did enough to qualify safely and will make life interesting from box one if he can show the same early toe.
Classy bitch, Rock Pool, showed she still had what it takes to compete at the top level by winning a thriller in 30.36. From box five, the Ben Abercrombie-trained runner couldn't find enough pace to cross Brencole Bale or Olivia's Asset and once Premium Love put itself in the picture, the race was suddenly anyone's for the taking. Nailed to the fence, Rock Pool dug deep and found enough to get the head down on the post, ahead of Olivia's Asset whose cheeky run will not go unnoticed.
Close up was veteran chaser Brencole Bale in third place, making another feature final at four years of age and giving Linda Britton three chances for representational honours.
Oliver Allen and Spring Legend were the most notable names to miss out, with both dogs not beginning well enough to avoid interference from wide draws.
There were also two heats of the W.A Distance Championship scheduled on the program. With only ten nominations received, Greyhounds W.A had little choice but to stage two heats of five, with every entrant progressing bar last placing in each heat, to which reserve duties were given.
Heat one went to Pickle Mickle in 41.80, after settling fourth and being too strong for Scuttlebut and Royal Grip. Former Victorian, Barney Stinson set the pace but faded out to be the unlucky fifth placegetter.
Kalden Athena took out heat two with a lead all the way performance, stopping the clock at 42.10. Tailing the field and missing the final was rank outsider, Montaceto.
Just to make life complicated, race favourite Time to Speed, who came into the race with four wins on the trot, pulled up with a dislocated toe and has been stood down for a fortnight. Subsequently, it will not be able to take any further part in the series, and as a result, the box draw has been delayed until early next week while it is decided what to do with the unfortunate scratching.