The Australian Sprinters Shield Prelude
January 28, 2009Sat 31st Jan
Australian Sprinters Shield final.
On Saturday the cream of the Australian sprinters meet at Sydney Regional for the final of the Australian Sprinters Shield, run over 1100m.
The top five horses from each of last weekend’s semi-final races have qualified their stables for the final on Saturday, they are:
Aquananu Avalon Park
BecStars Canning Vale Estates
Capsule Corp Compy Champions
Counterfeit Cunning Stunts
Dazed and Confused Devinals
Glue Factory Haydos
Horses for Courses Mick's Nags
New Scotland Yard Old Wesleyens Equine
Penguins Red Right Hand
Sheepbilly Skip Gardens
Sponges Toongabbie Tyros
Tulloch Lodge Windy Hill
Yarraaman Gundhi
Eight of these stables are based in Adelaide, including last season’s winning stable Sheepbilly. The stable’s prize horse Dorothy will most likely start clear favourite in the betting ring after winning last season’s Australian Sprinters Shield and two previous cups from Europe. The only thing that may stop him is an injury, having run three races in the previous two weeks.
(Sheepbilly) – “No not worried about an injury as the last couple of races haven't taken a lot out of him even though he ran very good times, also he's had some helpful training this week and 8 days rest.”
(TK – Hairboy) – “Dorothy has certainly been active recently, but is usually well managed and doesn't seem to have had any injury niggles recently - which is usually a sign to spell the horse. There's definitely a chance for injury with any horse that has been run that often”
One stable hoping to rain on Sheepbilly’s parade and win his first Sprinters Shield is Adelaide based Dazed and Confused, who is running Trapeze Oim.
(Dazed and Confused) – “Trap's preparation has been going exactly to plan. His schedule has been pretty light of late, with fortnightly races in the local league as his only runs. He has done OK with this Jockey so far, but the pairing looks to be strengthening and I'm hoping for a good run on Saturday”
Three past winning stables have made it back to the final, Yarraaman Gundhi, BecStars and most recently Sheepbilly. BecStars won previously with Miss Tilly, and Yarraaman Gundhi with Kahun Monglow, but both these stables have decided to enter horses other than their past winners. BecStars unavailable for comment at time of publication on entrant Wing Anda Prayer.
(Yarraaman Gundhi) – “To be honest, I hadn't really thought much about who I'm going to run yet. It won't be Kahun though, who is needed to help me stay ahead of an extremely competitive league. I'm still procrastinating on the decision given the track conditions.”
The Shield final is dominated by Class 1 stables, but two plucky young Class 2 stables have made it through to make a challenge. Haydos is one of those stables, based in Bondi Junction, and has entered a horse, Anton Tac Destine, which was purchased from Hirsute Hoofers.
(Haydos) - “Yeah, it’s great to be able to make my 1st sprint shield final, and even better to be one of 2 class 2 stables, I hadn't actually noticed it.”
“Anton has been running really well as shown by his 3rd in the semi against a quality field. Hairboy did a great job with him so it’s just about getting the right jockey on.”
(Hirsute Hoofers) – “… a forced sale by my stable due to financial pressures. Got a great price for him, and it seems he's had a little training since then. A horse that always used to perform for me, but might have been looking for an extra hundred metres. Maybe in the wet this will actually be his day?”
This season’s final is expected to be run on a slow-heavy track. Is this going to have an effect on this season’s race?
(Dazed and Confused) – “The wet track has been know to effect Trap in the past, however a concentration on stamina building at training lately should hold him in good stead.”
(TK-Hairboy) – “Very wet always slows the race down greatly, which should even the field. I'd be expecting the horses with more than just raw speed to step up a little.”
So, who to bet on?
(Haydos) – “I think Dorothy is my tip been a dominant sprinter for a while now but if not there are plenty of other great chances in what is looking like a really tight final.”
(Dazed and Confused) – “I'm hoping for a gallant run from my horse, however a top 5 finish would be the best I could hope for. Can't go past Dorothy as the one to beat. We've certainly spent a lot of time chasing that horse around the track”
(Sheepbilly) – “Not really worried about anyone in the final, if he (Dorothy) runs well he'll win. Any one of the horses in the final might run the race of their life and come from nowhere to win, my tip for a place is Igoo Maya Ted.”
(Yarraaman Gundhi) – “Who knows. There are some extremely good sprinters out there (including yours). I'd be surprised if it was from my stable though, looking at the competition... Anything can happen on race day though, especially in the wet.”
Posted by Aquananu. Posted In : The Sprinters Shield
