Enigmatic speedster Saint David set the time standard in the heats of the $410,000 group 2 Launching Pad at Sandown Park last night.
Resuming after a 10 week lay-off, Saint David (pictured above with handler Brendan Pursell) took full advantage of the inside draw to rail strongly at the first turn and race to five length victory in 29.39 – an identical time to which he ran to break his maiden in September last year. His win was the first leg of a winning double for trainer Robert Britton, who also led home Slingshot Gypsy which recorded victory in 29.64.
The much hyped New South Wales chaser Beast Unleashed continues to live up to his reputation as one of the country’s most exciting young chasers by recording the biggest victory of the series so far, defeating West Australian visitor Waterloo Monelli by 8¾ lengths in 29.43. The win was his fifth in six career starts and third in a row at Sandown Park, leading all of the way in each.
Owner Brendan Wheeler had two heat winners, Dyna Patty taking out the night’s opening heat in 29.45, followed by Australian Cup finalist Dyna Forrest saluting in the night’s penultimate heat in 29.86.
Navajo Bear ($21.70) and Especial Shiraz ($27.20) scored upsets in their respective heats, while Come On Emmaline rounded out the heats with an impressive all of the way win in 29.59.
The Launching Pad is Australia’s only sweepstakes event. There were 64 places available in the series which each sold for $2000 each and is open to greyhounds with 1-6 wins and no more than 30 starts. The first four place getters in each heat progress to next Thursday night’s semi-finals with the remaining runners contesting the consolation series.
The Launching Pad final will be run on Thursday 29 March and coincides with the club’s popular Easter Kids Fun Night.
Click here for full results and replays from last night’s heats.
Click here for the box draw for the semi finals
Saint David runs 29.39 to set the time standard in the heats of the Launching Pad
