It’s really fairly simple according to trainer Kristy Sultana, and the box draw for the semi-final of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg is kind of irrelevant. Flying Ricciardo “just has to do what we know he can do.”
The series favourite after a stunning 29.22s heat win last Saturday - the second fastest time ever run around Wentworth Park - drew box 8 in the fourth of four semi-finals, in what looks on paper a very winnable race for Flying Ricciardo, and it’s a similar story for interstate raiders Fernando Bluey trained by Victorian teenager Kayla Cottrell, West Australian Tommy Shelby, and also local star Wow, in their semi-finals.
“He’s just got do what we know he can do. He’s just got start,” Kristy said. “He’s handled box 8 before. He had it at Bathurst in the Million Dollar Chase series and was able to cross the field pretty easily.
“There is some speed in the race, and Here Comes Joe can get out well and did lead last Saturday, but hopefully we can get across the field into the first turn.”
On times from last week’s heats, Flying Ricciardo’s 5.37s first sectional stands up well against his rivals. Next fastest from the heats was Winlock On Top - not normally a fast beginner - who produced a career best first split of 5.42s when he led the field in his semi-final. He has drawn alongside Flying Ricciardo in box 7.
Here Comes Joe (box 6) split in 5.46s, while the Next fastest first sectionals from last week’s heats in this semi were Devel Sixteen and Aston Sapporo at 5.51s.
West Australian Tommy Shelby have drawn box 1 in semi-final 2, and while some interstate visitors have said in the past the box can be a little awkward if you’re not used to it, the Australian Cup winner will be a short price to advance to another Group 1 final.
Tommy Shelby flew out of box 7 running 5.34s early and gave nothing else a chance clocking 29.40s in his heat win last Saturday, and while the decision to move the Easter Egg back a week meant a clash with the Perth Cup meaning Tommy wouldn’t be able to contest his local feature, connections look to have made the right call to stay as he looks perfectly placed to have a shot at the $250,000 the following week.
Fellow heat winners Zulu Warlord (29.47s) and Shima Jake (30.01s) have drawn boxes 6 and 7 respectively, while the speedy Fire On Ice who has run 5.32s to the first marker at Wenty, has drawn box 3.
Victorian Fernando Bluey had no trouble with box 6 in the heats leading all the way in 29.47s and posting the fastest first sectional of 5.33s. It was a very impressive performance on the back of just one trial at Wentworth Park the week prior, and due to his faultless manners from the boxes, his trainer said box draws really don’t matter for the dog.
He has drawn box 5 in the opening semi-final for 18-year-old Kayla Cottrell who became the youngest trainer to win a Group 1 earlier this year when Fernando Cazz won the Rookie Rebel at The Meadows.
Alongside Fernando Bluey is another heat winner from last week Zipping Kyrgios who coincidentally ran the identical time of 29.47s in his heat win.
Karina Britton’s Wow the second fastest heat winner with a stunning 29.38s performance, has come up with box 2 in semi-final 3.
His main opposition may come from Victorians Lakeview Walter who posted 29.58s in chasing home Zipping Kyrgios, and Jim Zarr Dashian who clocked 29.74s in finishing second to Flying Ricciardo.
