Smart Choice Makes A Smart Distance Debut

took the wraps off Smart Choice last night in Heat 2 of the Rapidvite Distance Championship Queensland Heats. On debut over the distance, the black dog ran a best of the night 42.34 and won well.

Last night's Rapidvite National Distance Championship Queensland Heats were a bit of a lacklustre affair, with only two heats and 11 runners facing the starter. With eight going through to next weeks final, it wasn't going to take much of an effort to qualify.

And that was exaclty what Nicely Done managed, just a run.

The recent President's Cup winner, who has a personal best on the track of 42.25, just plodded around last night and was easily reeled in by the very one-paced Billy Bee Sting in a pedestrian 42.70.

Billy Bee Sting sat never more than a 1.5 lengths off Nicely Done for the entire journey before peeling off the back of the leader and cruising on to win by .75 length, but Billy Bee Sting looked like he could've raced passed the leader at any point in the race, if he so desired.

With an easy task to qualify for the Rapidvite National Distance Championship Queensland Final, classy trainer Bob Giltinan obviously didn't have Nicely Done anywhere near the form that saw her running 42.44 to win the President's Cup at by 10.75 lengths back on July 31st, and she will no doubt improve dramatically for the final and start pre-post favourite despite last night's loss.

But, Billy Bee Sting won last night's race very easily, almost without trying; and if the Lorraine Atchison owned and trained dog knuckles down to next weeks task he could well make the final a very interesting affair.

Bob Giltinan will start both favourite's for next weeks final as the buzz continues around the Heat 2 winner, Smart Choice.

Smart Choice's 42.34 was much quicker than Heat 1 and according to Giltinan wasn't unexpected, “The dog had trialled a brilliant 37.67 at the last Wednesday in preparation for the Distance series heats.”

“He had plenty left in the tank,” said Giltinan.

Smart Choice cleared out over the concluding stages beating by 5.5 lengths with Californian Babe a further 4.245 lengths behind.

Smart Choice has drawn the rails for the final, with Billy Bee Sting drawn outside Nicely Done, as was the case in the heats.

Race No. 6Rapidvite National Distance Championship Queensland Final
non grade event over 710 metres at Albion Park

No.NameGradeFormBestLastTrainer

1Smart Choice42716142.3442.34Bob Giltinan

2My Mate Doug54675443.5543.55

3Nicely Done12381142.2542.75Bob Giltinan

4Misty Bear45736242.3642.70Barry Dull

5Special Gift51255343.0843.08Joy Harding

6Billy Bee Sting22133142.7042.70Raymond Burman

7Californian Babe31883342.4342.98

857774443.2643.26Raymond Burman

9Our Team Spirit57368543.5543.55

10Our Ally Kay56557543.6943.69Bill Sharpe

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