Lowanna’s Son does his mum proud in Group 3 Magic Maiden heat
HUSBAND and wife training duo Ray and Sharron Webster appear to have a smart youngster on their hands, with Lowanna's Son scoring a convincing victory in a heat of the Group 3 Magic Maiden (520m) at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
The black dog only stepped fairly from box eight but showed enormous acceleration to find the front in the run to the post on the first occasion, crossing the field and shooting clear.
Left out in front, Lowanna's Son put on a terrific chasing display, charging to the line three-and-three-quarter lengths clear of Mary's Pick (box six) to score in 30.23.
Co-trainer Ray Webster said he was happy with the performance, with Lowanna's Son always showing a fair bit of potential.
“He is a very nice pup,” Webster told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“We were reasonably confident he would do well going into the race, but I must admit I was a little bit concerned he would crash left at the start and bring himself undone.
“Luckily he didn't do that and I was very pleased with the way he went.”
Webster said the win was even more encouraging given his greyhound had to wait in the kennels until race nine, a daunting task for any chaser making their debut.
“He ran it out very well given that he was in the kennels all that time and it was only his second ever hit out over the 500,” he said.
“He has got a big motor and he is only 21 months of age – I am sure he will improve on what he did on (Wednesday) night.
“I think we are going into the next phase of the series with a very serious hope.”
Lowanna's Son is out of the Webster's former star performer Lagoon Lowanna which took out the 2013 Group 3 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park. ‘Franny' retired in June 2013 with the fantastic record of 52 starts for 21 wins and 12 minor placings, with Lowanna's Son being from her second litter, a June 2014 whelping to Barcia Bale.
Lowanna's Son is not the only talented chaser in his litter, with his brother, Ritza Lenny, one of the hottest pups racing in NSW and a leading contender for the Group 2 Launching Pad series at Sandown Park.
“It is a huge thrill for us because she (Lagoon Lowanna) was one of our favourites,” Webster said.
“She certainly had good box speed – she ran 5.30 to the first mark one night at Wenty – he (Lowanna's Son) is not doing that at the moment but if he can learn to get out well he is going to be a very handy dog.”
Webster said he would ideally like to see his chaser draw towards the inside for his semi-final, but says he should able to put himself into the race from any draw given he gets clear room in the initial stages.
“I would prefer to see him drawn on the inside in the semis, although he did prove last night that he can handle out wide so I won't be too worried if he draws wide again,” he said.
“I just don't want to be drawn in the middle. He tends to miss the start by about a neck but then accelerates quickly – so I would be a bit worried he would find trouble.
“As long as he gets that bit of clear room early he definitely has the ability to put himself into the race.”
The fastest heat winner on the night was the Ruth King-trained Benteke which scored a 29.82 victory from box four in heat four. The son of Collision and Pearl Napoleon had to overcome a poor beginning, but showed tremendous tenacity to find the front and score by a widening 10 length margin.
Other qualifying winners were Kay Dee Emm (30.96), Nangar View (30.36), Wicked Warrior (30.21), Fabulous Five (40.48), Berry Flex (30.46), Zipping Jordan (30.28), Cosmic Rhino (30.32) and Lochinvar Klein (30.46).
Four-semi finals of the Group 3 Magic Maiden will be run next Wednesday, with the top two from each race progressing through to the $25,000-to-the-winner final on Golden Easter Egg night (March 26).
Check out Lowanna's Son recording a commanding victory from box eight.