GREYHOUND trainer David Crosswell could not have hand-picked better boxes for his three candidates in tonight’s $7320 Gold Collar final over 515 metres at the UBET Racing Centre in Launceston.
He’s All Class has drawn the coveted box one while his impressive heat winner Classy Petal has drawn next door in two with another litter sibling to start from box three.
All three are from the same litter (Magic Sprite-She’s All Class) with Classy Petal the best performed in recent times with the bitch having won her past three impressively.
She flew the lids from box five last week to win her heat by over four lengths from the Patrick Ryan-trained Lil’ Miss Marny that will line up from box seven tonight.
He’s All Class also showed brilliant early speed in his heat last week but he was swamped over the concluding stages to finish third behind Turbo Riley and Fabulous Gem but the winner clocked a pedestrian time of 30.20 which was much slower than Classy Petal’s time of 29.82 which was only fractionally off the best of the night (29.75).
If He’s All Class and Classy Petal share the lead to the first turn then Classy Petal will most likely claim the trophy as she appears to be stronger at the business end of her races.
Amity Class has been consistent but she hasn’t shown the same tenacity as her litter siblings.
Fabulous Gem, prepared by Jillian Stamford at Westbury, was game in defeat behind Turbo Riley (Thirteen Black-Millie Grace) finishing less than a length from the Butch Deverell-trained dog that is owned and was bred by Karlene Cuthbertson.
By Peter Staples.