TASMANIA’S best sprinting greyhounds made their way through to the next stage of the Launceston Cup series by winning their respective heats at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston tonight (Monday).
Buckle Up Wes completely dominated his heat by beginning brilliantly from box four to lead all the way and score by 11 lengths from Fast Turtle with Wynburn Wizard three lengths astern.
Buckle Up Wes stopped the clock at 29.59 which was clearly the best of the eight heat winners.
Last year’s Tasmanian Derby winner has had mixed fortunes in feature races but his love of the Launceston circuit could give him a deserved triumph at Group level.
Hellyeah Bolt, one of the favourites to take out the final, won his heat by 13 lengths and ran the 515 metres in 29.97 defeating Chosen Jewell and Sober Moment.
Hellyeah Bolt has produced some sensational efforts in his home state but he also has shown his class interstate winning a race at AnglePark that was almost a consolation of the South Australia Derby.
Interstate invader Heidi Go Seek from the Angela Langton kennel at Anakie in Victoria1made good use of her inside box draw (1) to win her heat over Nooee’s Lad and Pendle Beri but the winner’s time of 30.25 was pedestrian compared to the two star Tasmanian heat winners.
Nooee’s Lad showed his customary speed to lead but Heidi Go Seek camped on his heels to the home turn where he eased around the leader and went on to win convincingly.
Black Rip won the opening heat in a time of 30.21 and while his time wasn’t the best he has brilliant box manners and that should ensure he gets a chance to make it through to the rich final that carries prizemoney of $40,000 to the winner.
The Shane Whitney-trained dog was purchased for a hefty sum and has proven to be a worthwhile investment winning seven and being placed four times from his 12 starts in Tasmania testament to his ability.
He won the Devonport Cup consolation (Angus Evans Memorial) and deserves to win a big race.
Varcoe made his way to the semi-final s with an effortless all-the-way win in his heat.
Varcoe began brilliantly from box one and gave nothing else a chance on his way to a convincing win over Jeff The Tipster and Tom Boy teddy.
m while the Debbie Cannan-trained Varcoe gave her rivals a galloping lesson leading all the way to win his heat in a time of 30.15 with splits of 5.09 and 17.89.
The Ricky Martin-trained Mental As Ben claimed his heat with a last-stride win over Teddy Tom Boy and Devonport Cup winner Are Ate.
Teddy Tom Boy led and had just shrugged off the challenge from Are Ate when Mental As Ben flashed home along the rails to grab victory in the shadows of the post.
Trainer Gary Johnson has had an opinion of Fighting Fang for some time and the dog justified that opinion by winning his heat.
Fighting Fang began well from box eight but not as well as Bain’s Lane that crossed to the rail from box seven to lead comfortably heading down the back stretch.
But Fighting Clang claimed him turning for home and went on to defeat Bain’s Lane by over two lengths with Camdale Luke flashing home for third ahead of Victorian entry Tic Tac Thomas.
The Mick Stringer-trained Mighty Lomar took no prisoners in his heat, leading all the way to score by over 10 lengths from Whodat Lass and Hellyeah Oliver in a time of 30.12.
The first four placegetters in each of the eight heats will progress to the semi-finals next Monday night with the first two placegetters in each semi-final to earn a berth in the $40,000 Group 2 final a week later.