Cannington gets to celebrate 50 years of the National's on Saturday night with eight of Australia's best sprinters showcasing their speed from the 530 metre boxes in hope of becoming the 2014 Group One National Sprint Champion.
WA trainer Linda Britton is the only trainer in the National's series to qualify two greyhounds into the final field. Zelemar Fever and Star Recall made it through after running first and second in the deciding final last week.
Star Recall holds the least experience of the two jumping from box six. With only 30 career starts and 16 wins to her name she has more then made her mark on WA greyhound racing.
The Daughter of High Earner – No Recall is one of seven talented bitches that come from the litter of 10.
This isn't her first group campaign, at the start of the year she made the trip to Victoria in the hope of an Australian Cup victory with litter sister High Recall. Although unsuccessful, the 26 kilo bitch returned to her home track Cannington in fine form producing a 30.37 victory and has been hard to beat since. Two months ago she recorded a flying personal best of 30.18 and has been an integral to the success of the Britton kennel.
Star Recall's racing style sees her jump to the front of the field on most occasions with an average first sectional of 5.73, her best being 5.59. Its hard to fault her performance in recent weeks, she hasn't been unplaced in 13 starts, eight of those being wins. Star Recall always has a cheer squad on track courtesy of her owner Kevin Dover and his family.
Saturday night is a tough ask for the WA star, but racing on her home track will give her the confidence she needs for a Group One win.
“Star Recall is a more experienced race dog compared to Australian Cup time so that should work in her favour. She is also much better suited on her home turf.” Trainer Linda Britton explained.
“It's hard to separate Star Recall and Zelemar Fever in the race. They both know the track very well but Zelemar Fever is three to four lengths quicker then Star Recall.”
On paper Zelemar Fever had been in a minor slump in form of late with her first win in a over a month coming last week. The daughter of Bombastic Shiraz – Noaki Pace found her early speed again, charging home to win by two lengths over Star Recall in a time of 30.40.
“I'm pleased she is coming along, she has hit form again.” Britton explained.
Zelemar Fever isn't a newcomer in group races, with her Group One Temlee victory at The Meadows the highlight of her and trainer Linda Britton's careers.
Zelemar Fever will jump from box four on Saturday night, a let down compared to the red box she won from last week.
“It's no secret that she loves box one and she hasn't drawn as well this week, but if she begins I give her every chance.”
Owners Gary and Craig Weston will be hoping Zelemar Fever struts her stuff all the way to the boxes and back to the winners dais on Saturday night to add another group title to her name.
At 9.37pm Perth time, the boxes will open and in a matter of seconds the Group One National Sprint Champion will be named, taking home not only the title but $75,000.00 in prizemoney.
Comments: ARG comment: She has done well to get here in the absence of Buckle Up Wes. May find this a hard task even though she has a great record from box one.
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
–
–
–
–
Box 2
Race Odds
$4.40
Heat Replay
Chica Destacada (NSW)
Trainer
Doreen Drynan
Owner
Dee and Pee
syndicate
Prizemoney
$56,615.00
Last 10 Starts
1136526115
27 Months
Black
Bitch
by
Cosmic
Rumble
–
Eluthra
Start
Well
Running
Middle
Finish
Well
Prizemoney Rating
$2,264.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
25
10
4
3
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
40%
68%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
2
0
2
0
Box 2 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
1
0
1
0
Comments: Doreen Drynan (Trainer): “Box two is a good box to have but it all depends on the start and if there is any trouble. I think Tony Brett's dog Flash Reality and Linda Britton's Zelemar Fever will be hard to beat. She (Chica Destacada) has had three starts around Cannington, two race starts and a trial so I didn't feel the need to trial her again.”
Comments: Tony Brett (Trainer): “Box three is all right; he just needs to do what he has been doing the last couple of weeks and the big track suits him to the ground. It's a hard call to pick a winner, I think the winner will come from the inside; the two (Chica Destacada) has been here before. Also the WA chasers having a hometown advantage is a big thing.”
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
–
–
–
–
Box 4
Race Odds
$7.00
Heat Replay
Zelemar Fever (WA)
Trainer
Linda Britton
Owner
G Weston &
C Weston
Prizemoney
$233,750.00
Last 10 Starts
1343311122
42 Months
Black
Bitch
by
Bombastic
Shiraz
–
Noaki
Pace
Start
Good
Running
Rail
Finish
Strong
Prizemoney Rating
$3,292.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
71
29
10
9
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
41%
68%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
32
17
4
5
Box 4 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
17
6
1
5
Comments Linda Britton (Trainer): “She isn't drawn as well as last week but if she begins i put her in with a good chance.”
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
29.90
30.40
5.60
5.71
Box 5
Race Odds
$6.00
Heat Replay
CrackerJack Dak (VIC)
Trainer
Andrea Daily
Owner
Jordean
Prizemoney
$52,975
Last 10 Starts
1281822111
32 Months
Black
Dog
by
Mogambo
–
Lil's
Memory
Start
Fast
Running
Rail
Finish
Well
Prizemoney Rating
$1,394.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
38
16
10
3
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
42%
76%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
0
0
0
0
Box 5 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
2
0
1
1
Comments: Jordan Cooper (Owner) : “If he doesn't lead he can't win. It's a tough field and we will need everything to go right.”
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
–
–
–
–
Box 6
Race Odds
$5.50
Heat Replay
Star Recall (WA)
Trainer
Linda Britton
Owner
Kevin Dover
Prizemoney
$97,430.00
Last 10 Starts
2131411111
28 Months
Black
Bitch
by
High
Earner
–
No
Recall
Start
Fast
Running
Middle
Finish
Good
Prizemoney Rating
$3,214.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
30
16
6
4
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
53%
87%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
21
8
6
4
Box 6 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
5
3
1
1
Comments: Linda Britton (Trainer) – “If she begins, I think she is in with a good show. She is much better suited on her own turf.”
Best Cannington Times
Best
Last
Sect. Best
Sect. Last
30.18
30.54
5.59
5.72
Box 7
Race Odds
$18.00
Heat Replay
Bessy Boo (NSW)
Trainer
Christine Proctor
Owner
Ashley Wilson
Prizemoney
$127,715
Last 10 Starts
3431341125
43 Months
Black
Dog
by
Bekim
Bale
–
My
Black
Bess
Start
Slow
Running
Rail
Finish
Strong
Prizemoney Rating
$3,115.00
Rating
Career Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
41
13
8
8
Strike Rates
Win %
Place %
32%
71%
Track & Dist.
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
0
0
0
0
Box 7 Record
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
5
1
1
1
Comments: Christine Proctor (Trainer): “The box isn't that great, either one two or three would have been best but that's the run of it. Chica Destacada is fast when she gets on the bunny and Tony Brett's Flash Reality is a good chance but every dog is a chance in the race. He is well suited to the track, the longer distance will suit him because his last sectional is strong and he will motor home. He can also come from behind so he doesn't need to be in front.”
Comments: Kim Johnstone (Trainer): “He is going to need a lot of luck; he isn't the best beginner so he isn't going to be able cross any of the dogs early on. I think Zelemar Fever will be hard to beat because its her home track as well as Tony Brett's Flash Reality because it's been racing enormously.”
