Forget the evidence and focus on the Final Verdict

By Jeff Collerson
Punters should discard Final Verdict's last start sixth at Goulburn according to trainer Stephen Arnold who expects the dog to go close to winning at Bulli on Saturday night.

Final Verdict has box six in the 400m Mr Bugs Pest Control Stakes where he will tackle a masters' event for the first time.
"When he finished sixth over 350m at Goulburn on April 24 he had not previously raced or even trialled on the track,'' Arnold said.

"The distance proved a bit short for him as Final Verdict was climbing all over their backs near the finish and wound up only four lengths from the winner.

"He had won the only two previous races he had for me, at Bulli and Dapto, and he will like being back at Bulli on Saturday because he goes good there.



"Final Verdict has won three of his four starts at Bulli and ran 22.53 in a 400m Free-For-All for me on April 4 and had previously clocked 22.36 there.

"Box six should not be a worry on Saturday night because Final Verdict loves being drawn out wide.''

Saturday's best bet looks to be Drink Shoeys, who has box six for the in-form Michelle Sultana in the 400m Ladbrokes Odds Boost fifth grade.



Drink Shoeys found the 340m too short when a fast finishing second, beaten two lengths, at Bulli last Saturday night.



Third to leave the boxes, he was outpaced slightly and after being fourth at the top of the straight, flashed home to beat all but the winner, Force To Excel.



Drink Shoeys has clocked fast times at Maitland, recording 22.06 for the 400m journey and a slick 25.07 over 450m.



It is doubtful if any of his rivals on Saturday night would be able to match those figures.



Fab Two Times was beaten narrowly when a fast finishing second in a smart 22.40 at his race debut over 400m at Bulli last week and could go one better in Saturday's Southern Engine Reconditioning Maiden over the same course.



"We would be more confident if Fab Two Times was in a 472m event rather than 400m race,'' said Alan Proctor, whose wife Christine trains the 17 months old youngster.

"Fab Two Times is very strong at the finish so we nominated him for 472m last Saturday and again this week but there weren't races available over that distance.

"But he did improve heaps last week because when we trialled him at Bulli he took 22.91 to run 400m so he found plenty last Saturday.

"If Fab Two Times can get across to the rails from his box seven draw he should give a good account of himself.''

Fontezza is unbeaten in three Bulli 400m outings but trainer John Chapman concedes the dog faces his toughest task in Saturday night's Ladbrokes Live Streaming Free-For-All, 400m.



"He has really taken to Bulli, he chases hard there and while Fontezza has won 11 of his 23 races, Bulli is his favourite track.

"But I would have preferred him boxed out wide and he has drawn three on Saturday.

"With dogs like Hardaway Titan and Rumble Master in the race Fontezza can't afford to put a foot wrong.''

Best Bet Drink Shoeys (race 4)



Best Value Fab Two Times (race 1)



Quaddie race 5 - 4, 7, 1



Race 6 - 2, 6, 3



Race 7 - 2, 7, 3



Race 8 - 4, 6



$20 for 37.03%