Explosive short course sprinting action will be the order of the afternoon on Sunday as the speed merchant’s chase after final field positions for the $25,000 Railway Sprint final at Group 1 level.

Pictured: Nangar Star, last year’s Railway Sprint winner

Four 318m heats will see the first two place-getters being rewarded with a place in next Sunday’s dash for cash. Here’s a run down on those heats, including their TAB Futures market (winner of the final) quotes – Win option 953, Top 3 Finish option 954.

 

Railway Sprint heat 1, race 3

1. My Girl Chloe $3 & $1.50: She won the Hatrick 305m Group 2 Dash For Cash and she has drawn to advance through to this final based on her current solid 318m form.
2. Harkonen Bale $61 & $16: He’s picking on a tough series to celebrate his 100th career race in this dash, especially being on track debut.
3. Solarian $81 & $21: He ran fourth in last year’s final and his recent strong Cambridge 375m sprints says he’s in the right form to make this final.
4. Cawbourne Midget $101 & $26: Her latest 305m sprints has been in C2/3 company, therefore obviously this is a considerably tougher task. She raced 305m on Friday.
5. Speed Lorde $81 & $21: This bloke is a proven sharp 318m sprinter on this circuit. The worry is that he can be hit or miss at the jump.
6. Allegro Lass $10 & $3: She has tasted feature sprinting success before. Her recent 318m sprints around here says she in right form to make her presence felt here.
7. Tumbalioo $61 & $16: He’s had one taste of open class sprinting. He isn’t the quickest into stride, which is a concern in this line-up.
8. Bigtime Ellie $81 & $21: Promising sprinter, who will be facing her toughest career test in this sprint after her last start C3 305m win. She raced 305m on Friday.
   Reserves
9. Fresco Star $201 & $51: He’s a dead set railing sprinter, who isn’t the quickest away from the traps. That’s the biggest concern for him at this level.
10. Allegro Boom $101 & $26: She’s a recently downgraded open class sprinter who must improve on her 18.79s 318m best time if she’s racing here. She raced 305m on Friday.

  

Railway Sprint heat 1 contenders includes (from left): My Girl Chloe, Speed Lorde, Allegro Lass

 

Railway Sprint heat 2, race 4

1. Jump Up $51 & $13: The switch back to an inside trap, after recent wide draws, is likely to assist him here as he can push forward along the rail.
2. Ekali $81 & $21: He certainly isn’t the quickest away from the traps which means he looks for racing luck. He does owns a potent finish which he can use to telling effect.
3. Spelling Misteak $61 & $16: Track debuting visitor who has no option but to win the break if he’s going to feature at the business end here.
4. Allegro Gun $8 & $2.60: Being on track debut is the concern, however he commands total respect by being the Hatrick 17.07s 305m track record holder.
5. Vegas Burst $51 & $13: He has been sighted finishing strong from early midfield positions after jumping from wide traps. He cops a rough draw here. .
6. Unileven $101 & $26: His sprint here will come down to how he exits from this trap. He has been known to ping away and he can feature by using that healthy tactic here.
7. Sopoaga $61 & $14: He was trying to push up onto the early pace when he was jostled, losing all claims during his Addington 295m warm up dash for this on Thursday.
8. Cawbourne Mezza $41 & $11: He delivered the meet best 21.40s Manawatu 375m time last Monday. His sound wide trap stats says he must be considered from out here
   Reserves
9. Fresco Star $201 & $51: See heat 1 comment
10. Allegro Boom $101 & $26: See heat 1 comment

  

Railway Sprint heat 2 contenders includes (from left): Eklai, Allegro Gun, Unileven

 

Railway Sprint heat 3, race 5

1. Cawbourne Elpaso $51 & $13: He finished fourth in the Group 1 295m Galaxy Sprint. He’s better from a wide draw, although his stats from this trap makes for tidy reading.
2. Stole Me Wallet $61 & $16: She has been competitive since she recently stepped up to open class sprinting. Track debut here makes it tougher. She raced 305m on Friday.
3. Swimming Goat $3.50 & $1.60: Addington 295m track record holder who owns amazing stats over that dash. Demands total respect, even though this is his first race away from home.
4. Fantastic Sid $81 & $21: The start will be crucial for him and for those drawn inside him as he is likely to turn hard left. He’s strong and is likely to finish stoutly from where ever he settles.
5. Simple And Plain $14 & $4: She’s a sharp 318m sprinter who is quite capable of leading this field throughout, especially if provided with a clear early racing passage.
6. Effective Power $41 & $11: She regained her open class sprinting stripes when leading throughout to win her C4/5 318m sprint in a meet best 18.31s last Sunday when C4 graded.
7. Lover $26 & $7: He is a known strong Hatrick 305m sprinter who tends to mix his race starts. That’s the worry surrounding his claims from out here.
8. Bigtime Thinker $26 & $7: She is on track debut here, however her qualifying claims has been boosted by being allocated this trap. She owns tidy trap-8 stats.
   Reserves
9. Fresco Star $201 & $51: See heat 1 comment
10. Allegro Boom $101 & $26: See heat 1 comment

  

Railway Sprint heat 3 contenders includes (from left): Swimming Goat, Simple And Plain, Effective Power

 

Railway Sprint heat 4, race 6

1. Von Trap $26 & $7: He’s a potent sprinter over this 318m dash, although he is more effective from the wider traps. Cannot dismiss his qualifying claims.
2. American Warrior $8 & $2.40: NZ Cup winner who endured a luckless Addington 295m sprint on Thursday when resuming. He won his only 318m here in a smart 18.28s.
3. Eva Diva $21 & $6: She’s an ultra consistent Sunday 318m sprinter around here. Her claims over this dash can never be ignored.
4. Kennel Boy $81 & $21: Tardy starts has been his Achilles paw lately. He can finish strongly, however he cannot afford to blow the start in this dash. He raced 305m on Friday.
5. Sedgebrook Babe $26 & $7: She has been a marvellously consistent Hatrick 305m sprinter for a very long time. Cops a rough draw for her track debut, however she can jump quickly.
6. Cawbourne Matty $81 & $21: He has been contesting the pace in his recent C4 assignments. He must do likewise in this dash. He raced 305m on Friday.
7. Daisy Lara $61 & $14: She’s a recent open class graduate, who was hindered following a slow start here last Sunday. She must use her known early pace here.
8. Cawbourne Craig $81 & $21: He was sighted doing his best work at the business end in his recent South Island 310m and 390m sprints. He owns sound trap-8 form.
   Reserves
9. Fresco Star $201 & $51: See heat 1 comment
10. Allegro Boom $101 & $26: See heat 1 comment

  

Railway Sprint heat 4 contenders includes (from left): Von Trap, American Warrior, Eva Diva

 

By Peter Fenemor