There’s plenty to celebrate when Cannington hosts the Tabtouch Nationals on Saturday night.
It’s the 50th anniversary of the event and the Nationals continue to be one of the most prestigious race dates on the Australian greyhound racing calendar, a tradition that has grown every year since Best Sun claimed the first National Sprint title back in 1965.
It will also be the final time that the Nationals will be held on the existing Cannington circuit as the track will be closed in the middle of next year, which will leave the future of a city greyhound racing in WA in an uncertain position.
Many of most memorable Nationals moments of all-time have taken place at Cannington including Acclaim Star’s win when the track held the event for the first time in 1979, home town hero Sandi’s Me Mum storming to a popular victory in 1989 and Rapid Journey’s amazing comeback in 1998.
As in previous years the 2014 edition of the Sprint Championship (530m) promises to be a ripping affair.
Leading sunshine state trainer Tony Brett comes to Perth with plans on taking out the silverware with his latest superstar Flash Reality.
A winner of 11 from his 17 career starts the exciting youngster has gone a long way in a short time and has already claimed two major trophies in his home state, the Group 1 Winter Carnival Cup and Group 2 QLD Derby.
He clocked 30.28 in his first sighter over the 530m trip at Cannington in solo trial last Thursday and if he gets room to move in this race he’ll be hard to contain.
Flash Reality does tend to need time to gather momentum into his big striding action however so he’s vulnerable from box three, where he’s surrounded by greyhounds that can ping the lids.
From box two Chica Destacada is a good chance to lead, while Zelemar Fever (box 4) and Crackerjack Dak (box five) will also be vying for the early advantage.
Chica Destacada looked very impressive in taking out the NSW series and she knows this track well having contested the WA Oaks only a few months ago.
Trainer Doreen Drynan believes that her greyhound has developed into a better chaser since then and is hoping for a big performance.
Local champ Zelemar Fever dispelled some, but not all, of the doubts about her form with her victory in the WA Sprint final last week.
Zelemar Fever is still not exiting the traps as quickly as she was when she was at her peak earlier this year but she’s a strong chaser and will always keep coming.
She also has the benefit of the home ground advantage but she’s at her best when she’s setting the agenda out in front and if she can’t find the bunny against this quality of opposition she’ll find it tough.
Her fellow Linda Britton-trained kennelmate Star Recall has been a consistent performer but she’ll need her absolute best here.
Wildcard entrant Bessy Boo has drawn poorly but will be charging home in the late stages.
In the National Distance Championship (715m) history beckons for megastar Victorian stayer Xylia Allen (pictured).
The excitement felt by WA fans about seeing Xylia Allen in the fur for the first time will be tempered by the very real possibility that Jenny Hunt-trained chaser will erase the record of a local legend.
If Xylia Allen runs first or second she’ll go past Miata on the all-time stakemoney list and a win will also see her become the only greyhound other than Dashing Corsair to collect both a National Sprint and Distance crown.
The Xylia Allen camp are supremely confident coming into this race and are unconcerned that the greyhound has never set a paw on the Cannington circuit prior to Saturday night.
With ten wins from her past 11 starts there’s no arguing her form.
The main threat to Xylia Allen’s prospects is fellow Big V chaser Sweet It Is.
The talented black bitch from Darren McDonald’s kennels is a dual Group 1 winner herself and she has raced at Cannington before, having competed in the final of Galaxy in February.
The wide draw shouldn’t trouble Sweet It Is.
Even though she got edged out by Bingle Monelli in last week’s WA final I still think Ash Flash is the most dangerous of the two locals.
She’s likely to spot them a bit of head start but as long as she stays within striking distance during the middle stages Ash Flash will give herself a chance to steal it at the death.
I also don’t mind QLD representative Wag Tail as a smokey.
She’s a pretty handy type and she looked very comfortable on Cannington surface when she ran 41.76 in a solo trip last week.
Best Bet: Xylia Allen (Race 6)
Best Value: Chica Destacada (Race 8)
Quaddie: Race 5 – 2
Race 6 – 3, 6, 7
Race 7 – 3, 7, 8
Race 8 - 2, 3, 4
$20 for 74.07%
