WA National Distance Championship Heat’s Preview
In less then a month Cannington's 715 metre distance will be the visiting home of Australia's best stayers for the 2014 National Distance Championship. As part of the series this Saturday night WA's stayers will vie for a position in next weeks deciding final. With just the two heats on show the first four placegetters will receive a rug next week, with a possible ticket to a Nationals victory on the line.
Heat One – 8.53PM, Perth time
The Paul Stuart trained Ash Flash is set to start as the $1.90 favourite from box six. The white bitch has only been unplaced twice over Cannington's 715 metre distance. Her signature come from behind style can leave punters with hearts in their mouths, but her strength is hard to pass up.
Bingle Monelli for trainer David Hobby will exit from box four paying $3.50. Running in top grade over the 700 and has seen her run in the top three in all of her starts. She tends to find the lead early and therefore will be able to take advantage if trouble holds up Ash Flash.
Ben Abercrombie's Mullet Hunter is currently paying $6.00 for the win from the favourable box one draw. With just the three starts over the 715 metre journey, Mullet Hunter is finding her strength quickly and last week ran down the very talented Free Candy. She will be at the front end of the field for the majority of the trip, but with strong chasers Bingle Monelli and Ash Flash, Mullet Hunter is going to have to hope for trouble behind her.
Oaks winner Free Candy will jump from box two at $6.00. She has had just the one journey around the 715 metre distance for a second placing and has produced convincing victories over the 642 with a 100% strike rate. Like Mullet Hunter, Free Candy will be at the front of the field and will need trouble behind to claim victory.
Heat Two – 9.12 PM, Perth time
Reverberate will start $1.70 favourite from box seven in the last heat of the night. Her consistency of late has seen her only finish unplaced twice over the staying journey at Cannington. This little bitch looks the likey winner of this heat because of her strength.
Ben Abercrombie's Mondavi will start from box one paying $6.50 in his seventh journey over the 700. The red box will help the brindle chaser and looks to be a better place chance in this classy field.
Obama Keeping for trainer Terry Erenshaw is making his 715 metre debut from box three. The black dog has been impressive in his three starts over the middle distance including winning last week. He is set to start on Saturday night paying $5.00. It's hard to see Obama Keeping win this heat; he looks to be more suited for a place chance because of his lack of experience over this distance.
Houdni Monelli is jumping out of box eight with punters given an $8.00 chance for him to take out the race. Last week he made a return to the 715 metre distance after a stint over the 530 and finished fifth. With a 700 metre run under his belt he will look to be a better chance in this race.
The winners of each of the heats will go home with $5,225 and find themselves a step closer to representing WA against the rest of Australia's best stayers.